It makes sense, but I've never heard it discussed in all the training I've had. I think it's a rare enough occurrence that it can almost be discounted. Black bears rarely make contact in defensive situations--most injuries occur associated with predatory attacks (or the people doing something they shouldn't be doing).
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Defend your food barrel?
- Thread starter Blukanu
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That probably depends upon where one is going. @PaddlingPitt has done some extended tripping in polar bear country and (I believe) always had a rifle along. Others, I suspect, pack on trips but don't mention it. After all, after awhile, daily carry doesn't seem any more noteworthy than wearing pants.
Personally, I've left mine at home on the out-of-state trips because my concealed carry permit isn't valid in Minnesota or Canada (and, when a guest in their state/country, it seems that we should respect their laws) and because I don't feel that added protection justifies the extra weight of firearm & ammo. That might change if I ever venture into white bear territory. Then I would probably pack a firearm and, perhaps, as @alsg mentioned, I might even stop by Mem's to borrow a big, white cat.
Besides, bear bangers are legal in Canada and are much lighter than any firearm I've seen.
Statistically, bear spray is a better deterrent than guns as more people survive encounters using spray. But both wouldn't be a bad thing either.
Ironically, here's an article from Bear Hunting Magazine that discusses the studies backing this up.
Ironically, here's an article from Bear Hunting Magazine that discusses the studies backing this up.
Bob, this made me laugh so hard I couldn't keep reading for a bit! I think most of my biggest lessons have been learned this way!Like Alan, I travel with a dog. Jake is as easy going as it gets - super friendly. However when animals enter camp his demeanor changes entirely. In the BWCA near habituated bear areas he has chased away a few bears. That said, I am fortunate Jake has very good call back, he leaves the bear and returns on command.
I do not use barrels like the OP. I use Oder proof bags inside of Kevlar bear bags tied to trees ( 2 different spots not near each other ) outside of my tent camp area similar to what Al posted. So far I have only had one incident where I needed to defend resources.
That hair raising experience some 30 years ago, remarkably ended without incident, even though I did every thing wrong a solo tripper could possibly do.
I was fishing and had 2 nice eater walleye in the bottom of my canoe. After cleaning the fillets and disposing of the remains on a large boulder in the middle of the lake, I stored my canoe about 50 yards away from camp, upside down and well out of the water. I was in camp food bag at my side getting ready to start my small cooking fire when I heard my canoe scraping on rocks. I looked over and found it right side up, on 2 large rocks - one near the bow the other the stern … with a large bear in the middle savagely licking the bottom!
I was suddenly filled with anger, grabbed my food bag, and ran toward the bear. I got within about 30 feet … and realized I had ALL my food in one arm … and turned my back to the bear and RAN back to my camp! I threw the bag on the the ground, turned to go back to the bear and save my canoe … but no need, the bear was 15 yards behind me. Still consumed with rage ( how dare this bear come into my camp ) I took a step toward the bear letting him know it is go time! The bear took a step toward me … letting me know he was not impressed. So there we are - at dusk, raw fish and food scattered all over camp, alone as I can be face to face with a bear about 10 yards away. Reality suddenly washed over me. I went from homicidal rage to instantly playing let’s make a deal. I stood my ground ( likely just paralyzed by fear) and the bear silently walked off into the bush.
I gathered my food, put it into 2 separate bags, raced into the bush to hide them and reluctantly crawled into my hammock tent for a restless sleep … feeling like a bear burrito.
The following morning, I retrieved my food bags loaded my badly scratched but undamaged canoe and was on my way … feeling very lucky to have received such an education without a severe penalty.
Wanting to fight a bear to save rations is a natural response I think. Being alone face to face with one can change your mind in a big hurry.
Bob.
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Curious about other methods people have tried/heard of..
I tried what I call a 'bear buoy' thing a few years ago on a canoe trip into fairly high-traffic grizzly bear habitat. We usually do widely-scattered, individual bear hangs as well as possible given the tree options & terrain, but I was in the mood for an experiment. We had some of our food in a couple of 'dry buckets,' so I tied 'em to some rocks & anchored 'em about 50' out in the lake (depth about 10'). The buckets bobbed mostly submerged, with a few inches showing above the water. In the morning, it looked like nothing had bothered them OR the food secured by other methods, so I have no idea if it's a worthwhile effort!
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Thoughts/stories/suggestions? (Other than that I clearly need to test my hypothesis by doing a whole bunch more canoe camping!!)
I tried what I call a 'bear buoy' thing a few years ago on a canoe trip into fairly high-traffic grizzly bear habitat. We usually do widely-scattered, individual bear hangs as well as possible given the tree options & terrain, but I was in the mood for an experiment. We had some of our food in a couple of 'dry buckets,' so I tied 'em to some rocks & anchored 'em about 50' out in the lake (depth about 10'). The buckets bobbed mostly submerged, with a few inches showing above the water. In the morning, it looked like nothing had bothered them OR the food secured by other methods, so I have no idea if it's a worthwhile effort!
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Thoughts/stories/suggestions? (Other than that I clearly need to test my hypothesis by doing a whole bunch more canoe camping!!)
On raft and drift boat trips we keep a cooler in the boat. They are substantial modern ones with the rubber closing device. So far, when bears have been in camp they have never looked in the boats. We hang our dry food when in a forest. Dogs are my first and best defense. Second would be banging pots and throwing rocks, then bear spray, then a warning shot. Then the last resort if all else fails is 5 shots from a large caliber revolver. I can only imagine using a firearm if a bear zips open a tent and comes in without knocking, or attacks someone.
I had a 35 pound cow dog named Snuffy that was fearless. I took her bear hunting and she found tracks several times. She chased a bear out of our BWCA camp one night by herself. She chased two bears out of camp on the Trinity River one night in California. She ran a bear out of camp at high speed on the Klamath River up by the Oregon border. That time she had back up with two other dogs and they ran the bear for at least 1/2 mile in the moonlight. The next morning she went out and showed me all of the bear tracks in the whole vicinity. I love running rivers with dogs.
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Thanks! 8 )
I stumbled into this community while reading about the new NRS dry box my wife just gave me for Xmas & finding intriguing hints of some sort of mythical Blue Barrel..? Tell me more!
And looking around a bit more & seeing what folks are putting canoes on & in, some of the adventures y'all have been on, the jerry-rig-it-yourself spirit..
Feels like maybe my tribe lives here!
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