Bears on back country elk hunt?

[HTCS]

In the middle of the ocean doing Gods work, prepping for a back country elk hunt in November...solo.  I have all the gear I need, every deployment I've been on for the last 16 years I've bought a little something here and there.  This year I'm finally going to be at home to hunt like I want to.  My wife just ordered my Danner High Ground boots AND I convinced her to buy my Mystery Ranch pack.  Now it's left to planning and daydreaming about the trip I'm in for.  Right now it's a 5 day solo hunt into the Packwood Unit.  My question is:  Have any of you back country hunters had any issues with bears?  Bear spook me a little, I've killed a few of them, but never while I'm sleeping...and Bigfoot, they scare the $hit out of me.  Bears at night are my main concern, really.  Any inputs, advice, or hell, even a story would be greatly appreciated.
THANKS!
Chief

[Elkrunner]

I wouldn't think you have too much to worry about as long as you do not have a bunch of food nearby you.  Bears typically will stay away from human scent.

[JLS]

I had a face off with two grizzlies at 0300 hours once, spooky.

Keep your camp clean and you should be fine.

[WSU]

I've back packed in that unit and never had a problem.

[casey58]

We were in the bears big time last year and didn't have a issue at night.  We did get charged by a sow with a cub that we jumped at 10yds but yelling worked and it took off.  Just hang your food a good distance from your tent and you should be fine.  It scares the crap out of me to I sleep with my glock next to my head.

[IBspoiled]

My thoughts,, Just trying to help

[HTCS]

Thanks guys...'cept for you IBS, that's not funny.     Ok, maybe a little bit.  Really looking forward to getting away for a few days and being alone.  Critters are the last thing I want to worry about...would prefer to worry about which MRE I'm going to eat for supper and/or how to pack out the huge bull I just dropped.  November can't get here quick enough.
Thanks again, Fellas.

[seth30]

I too sleep with a gun when I am in the back country.  We had a deer crash into our tent a few years ago  

[IBspoiled]

Bears at night are a serious concern, Just keep your food away from you and when your done eating wash yourself free of food scent. I'm no expert at backcountry hunting, But have had some good and bad experiences involving bears. Cook and eat your meals away from your camp or tent, and dont forget about the candybars in your backpack that you use as a pillow. I also sleep better at night with my light attached to my springfield xd so anything i can see is also in my sights.  I have come to the conclusion that bigfoot does not eat people but just likes to scare the hell out of them, for his own amusement. Sleep well and good luck on your hunt.

[Sunbkpk]

I have found that bears in the wilderness are usually less conditioned to humans and want to get away from me ASAP. Just take the precautions around food and you'll be fine. Grizzly country would be a little different. If you want some protection then bear spray is best for most people.  I bowhunt backcountry in the Yakima area and don't take bear spray or a handgun as I feel the risk is to small to warrant the extra weight. Personal choice for what makes you comfortable.

[HTCS]

Thanks IBS...good information.  I have a 1911 that I usually carry with me but it's heavy as heck.  Will probably pick up a .40 when I return for packing/hiking use.  I intend to take MRE's and eat those for a few days.  I've lived on them before, plus I won't have to carry pots and cooking supplies.  Going light and going hard...thanks again for the information.

[rtspring]

Chief, come home safe!!! Thanks for serving...

As others have said, keep a clean campsite and all should be well. Bears don't want to be around you if they can avoid it! Keep a pistol at the ready..
Good luck on your hunt..  All engines ahead full, come home soon brother..

Rtspring.    Hull Techs Rule!!!

[HTCS]

Working on the comin' home thing...coming home always takes the longest.
Really looking forward to getting out in the woods and away from 5,000 of my closest friends for a while, bears or not, I'm leaving civilization for 5 days and playing by myself.
Thanks for YOUR service.
Chief

[shootnrun]

I'm more worried about mice at night than bears, personally.

I did get charged by a sow last year who had treed her cub nearby. Yelling and a couple rocks turned her around so we could back off and let her get her cub. But we walked up on them, they weren't seeking us out.

[justaguy]

    I'm right there with you about getting the willies about bear when I'm in the woods alone, bigfoot, not so much. 

    The bears will really be looking for every easy calorie that they can find by that time of year. If the fuel's not easy to come by, they'll probably opt for more fertile options. I used to backpack a lot, sometimes solo, sometime with a couple of friends, but never for hunting. I only came across a couple of bears and they didn't want to have anything to do with me. At camp, I used to double ziplock all the garbage in gallon ziplocks and hang the garbage, food, snacks, and toiletries in a tree a couple of hundred feet away from camp. I'd always attach my bearbell, so you can hear if anything's trying to get your grub in the middle of the night and run the culprit off, rather than live on berries for the next few days. You'll probably find the robbers are mice and raccoon, most of the time. Also, I'd always stop to eat early in the evening and then walk another 30-60 minutes to find a place to sleep. That way the kitchen and food scents are several hundred yards away from where you sleep, and you've warmed back up a little before crawling into your bag. After a couple of days of humping a pack, your pack will be a salty mess from your sweat. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to leave that outside the tent or even up a rope in a tree. That might keep the mice from eating a hole in your new MR pack (I'm so jealous!). After you get your elk and are surrounded by blood and meat, all bets are off. You've rung the dinner bell. I'd probably opt for camping several hundred yards from where I stored the meat and getting it out of the woods, ASAP, but again, I've never been in that situation.
    On a side note, you'll be burning LOTS of calories at that time of year, doing what you're doing, so bring some butter to eat. It sounds gross, but a couple of tablespoons of butter in your hot chocolate with dinner will help replenish the calories and fat you've burnt during the day. Also, a little butter can help those MREs go down a little easier. Either way, don't stress the bears too much.
   Thank you for your service, safe seas home, and have a great hunt!