Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: nontypical on May 07, 2015, 07:15:31 AM
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I have been watching some you tube videos on backcountry. I noticed a few were packing I. These big bulky bear canisters for there food. Has anyone else done this or is this one of those fads. If not what does everyone do for bears and there food. For exampe hang from a tree away from Camp. Just curious.
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Long rope and a tall tree.
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Pretty sure a bear can is required in the Olympics.
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-food-storage.htm
550 cord and a silnylon bag to hang in a tree away from camp a ways....
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I've never had a problem with food. I vacuum seal all my food and keep empty freeze dried pouches in a sealed freezer bag though. Not much smell. And I suppose if a bear wants to cause damage to my gear by ransacking my bags, then I'd be happy to feed him a 10mm and hang my tag on his ear.
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I have a mesh bag and a chunk of 550 cord. I always hang in a tree away from camp. I like Lojack's idea, but I hate getting woken up in the middle of a good snooze.
There are places where bear cans are required, but around here, it's only in Olympic national park as far as I know, and we're not hunting there.
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Most of ONP does not require bear canisters.
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I'm more concerned with mosquitos than I am with bears. I keep my extra food in my tent all the time. I would never consider hanging it unless I was in thick grizz country.
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I'm more concerned with mosquitos than I am with bears. I keep my extra food in my tent all the time. I would never consider hanging it unless I was in thick grizz country.
Exactly the same for me.
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I figured most people just hung there food in a tree. I just had never heard or seen one before. I looks like a lot of waisted space in your pack.
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Was required to carry one on a back packing trip along the coast of Washington on ONP land. very wasteful on room in the backpack. Additionally the design of them is not pack friendly. I will say that it was difficult enough for us to get into our food, so I'm sure it would have given a bear a run for his money. Most everyone on the trip carried the canister strapped to the very top of the pack sticking out like a second head. unless you had a big pack (lots of cubic space) the can wouldn't even fit in through the lid. ONP provided cans for us, but they had no attaching points so we had to keep trying new ways to tie them off.
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I had the same experience as Expedition Scout describes. Everyone struggled to get the stupid canister to stay attached to their pack because it sure wasn't going to fit inside. Then every night when we stopped we'd have this stash of cans a ways off from out campsite. Always seemed like it'd have been much easier to be hanging things from a tree but ONP said that bear cans were required.
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The Bear vault Solo works well and fits in a pack (REI carries it). I've used it many times in areas with substantial bear activity. Unless you're going for greater than a week, you really don't need one of the huge bear canisters. Or just tie a food bag in a tree like the others above suggested. I would not recommend one of the full size bear canisters as they take up too much pack space, and are awkward when strapped to outside of a pack.
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I've never hung my food in WA. And I've been out a lot. Most of the time I just keep it in its own bag or container outside my tent ( just in case). I've fought off a few mice and a skunk once, but other than that, I've never had a bear issue..maybe I've just been lucky over the years?
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Bear cans on the coats of ONP are more due to raccoons than bears. Those buggers are all over and will do anything to get at your food!
As far as packing one goes, if I'm ever required to use one, ONP has a few spots, and the Sierras I think it's mandatory, my wife and I usually split the weight. Once carries all the food plus the bin, the other carries the tent, stove, etc. Chances are, if you can't fit one of the bins in your bag you have to much stuff anyway. You can pack more than just food in them you know. :tung: ;) :chuckle:
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I have not been back packing for hunting, but will be doing this fall. Stumbled across this and am considering it for my food stuff.
http://www.ursack.com/ (http://www.ursack.com/)
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You know what's lighter than all these bear boxes? A bear tag. Sucker weighs less than ounce!
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The bag is cool :tup: I like having the extra room for meat on the way out.
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I had the same thoughts about the meat. Even, possibly using it as the game bag, but I have not been able to find out if it is breathable enough to allow the meat to cool.
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I don't think it would breath just to keep the smell in it.
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Bear vaults (cans) are required on most trails in the Olympic national Park. Outside the park all you need to do find a set of good trees.
