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Tenting in Grizzly territory
Im going to be heading out for upwards of a week into an area with little foot traffic due to motor restrictions. There are lots of grizz in the area. For those who tent in areas like this, I would like to hear what precautionary measures you take to try to minimize grizz, or other predators, from being attracted to your camp.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I'm no expert, I sleep in my truck when solo hunting in Grizz areas, but here's a few rules to always follow regardless of area/predator.
Don't cook in camp, hang your food (including bars/dehydrated meals) 200 yards or more away, and try to camp in areas with few game trails nearby. Also, I would sleep near your rifle and have bear spray handy.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I am, after several years of considering it, going to buy one of the very light electric bear fences and use that around my sleeping camp. I also will buy some of the light bear alarms-think you can get these from HBC?
I really NEED to watch pack weight, due to age and injuries, but, I also want the best safety setup I can get and these will give me that when weight is considered.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Some take a spool of fishing line and some cans or bells and string the line around camp with the rattling device hanging on it. Lets call it an early warning device. Old stories talk of marking the four corners of camp with urine. Don't unload your gun at night!! I hope your not a heavy sleeper.
1 minute late.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I like to just drink a lot. Then bam you wake up in the morning and yer all good to go...for a while anyway.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
In addition to sleeping with you rifle always sleep with your knife handy so you can cut your way out of the tent if longclaw pounces on the tent!
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I bought a Pack Alarm last year, but haven't used it yet
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Talk to Srupp that man is wise on grizzly and living with them. He had some good precaution info to pass. Example if your going with a partner good idea to both wear a white shirt to bed. In case of emergency with a grizz in camp and you wake up all groggy you will see a white shirt better than a dark on and you know who the good guy is. Everyone knows this but don't camp near food and stash high. If you can't afford a camp fence, bring 3-4 pop cans and put bunch of rocks in it. Tie it with string around camp. If anything comes in you can hear the cans. Just a piece of mind
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Used my pack alarm over 50 nights now in pretty heavy griz country. Had three false triggers "2 from falling branches, 1 from wet snow". Had it set off 4 times from something walking into it.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
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Originally Posted by
Ron.C
Used my pack alarm over 50 nights now in pretty heavy griz country. Had three false triggers "2 from falling branches, 1 from wet snow". Had it set off 4 times from something walking into it.
Did the alarm scare off whatever walked into it?
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Also hide any petroleum fuel tanks, propane, fuel type cylinders or anything oil product related... They love that's stuff.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Take bear spray and spray it it all around yer camp. Thatll do it. jk. :wink:
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
After losing one of deer to a griz last year we decided to run string with cans around.....we also put rope around the meat pole with a propane tree light burning on low....we put our step ladder with a 5gal pail full of cans on top and tied the ladder to the rope perimeter....the night we lost one it was raining hard and the dog had snuck into the tent to escape the rain...the cans were enough to alert the dog and every night the griz came back we got up and let off a few shotgun blasts..we also had a trail cam set up away from camp on the trail into camp...the video almost every night started with the bear causing the camera to turn on, followed by dog barking followed by shotgun blasts...the griz came back every night but 1 so it was an ongoing battle
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Yes. And in two cases the alarm line was pulled several feet and pulled the trigger stick out of the alarm
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Quote:
Originally Posted by
325
Did the alarm scare off whatever walked into it?
Yes.And in 2 cases the alarm was pulled several feet and pulled the trigger stick out of the alarm.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Camp with buddy who is limping badly..so ya can outrun him:cool:
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I have been hunting/fishing in Grizzly country for a few years now. No problems ever. The only precaution I take is hanging the meat away from camp after the harvest.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I would have 1 of the following -Rossi Ranch Hand 44 mag, a defender loaded with hard slugs, 45/70 GG or similar. One needs a weapon that's quick & easy to handle.
A powerful flashlight is a must. A large knife. If you believe in bear spray then leave it outside the tent.
How about a rope circling a tent, 2 feet high with some bells.:mrgreen:
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
As everyone has mentioned, keep your food away from where you're sleeping. If you are rifle hunting, I'd have that near by. If bowhunting, make sure to have bear spray handy. I can't even count how many nights I've camped in grizz country and have only had an issue once - and it was when I was too lazy to hike my food away from my camp...
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Food stays 20 ft from tent knife stays under the pillow rifle sleeps with me. Definetly woken up to sniffing noises on the other side of the tent before it is what it is we go in their backyard not the other way around.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Well whilst campn in any cunree I always gots the 12g sxs at my side, action open of course. (Buck shot)
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I wonder if a strobe flashlight would bung up a bear's vision like it does with people?
I sleep rifle right next to me, with the bolt open slightly, just gotta lock and pop. Haven't ever had major issues with bears other than being robbed.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Take some hamburger and make a dozen meatballs. Place them around the perimeter of your camp, so when a bear hits them, he goes around your camp and not through it.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I sleep without a tent, a dog on either side and something under my pillow.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
You should consider seeing a psychologist to get over your fears. Statistically, all you have is a phobia of something that will probably never happen. Take precautions, bring a dog if possible, and a big gun.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Personally, I would be very reluctant to store my food 200 yards away....particularly in the alpine where there are no trees around. If a bear gets your food your trip could come to an abrupt end and if it's two or three days back to the drop point you'll regret not protecting your food better.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Eat lots of beans. BEANSH!!!! Splaaaarphhhhhh Keeeps em away. Smells too much like trouble. Works every time. Beensche. C'mon you can even get the wife into faaaarting outloud. Oooh baby.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
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Originally Posted by
Stone Sheep Steve
Personally, I would be very reluctant to store my food 200 yards away....particularly in the alpine where there are no trees around. If a bear gets your food your trip could come to an abrupt end and if it's two or three days back to the drop point you'll regret not protecting your food better.
I wouldn't do that either. Alpine hunts my food usually stays in the vestibule or outside under the siltarp. Will have to deal with a bear if it happens I guess, but haven't had a problem yet. Never hurts having the dog with me.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
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Originally Posted by
finngun
Camp with buddy who is limping badly..so ya can outrun him:cool:
Or hit him in the knee with the camp ax.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Speaking from experience having a Gbear coming into your tent is one scary time. I now put food 30 yards or so from camp 20' up a tree if possible. Sleep with the rifle loaded in the tent and with a headlamp strapped to my head. I too have a pack alarm and haven't had anything trigger it yet other than tree branches.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
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Originally Posted by
BiG Boar
You should consider seeing a psychologist to get over your fears. Statistically, all you have is a phobia of something that will probably never happen. Take precautions, bring a dog if possible, and a big gun.
I have never been attacked by a grizzly, although I have been charged a couple times. I have, however, had grizzlies come into camp at night on a few occasions. That's why I bought the Pack Alarm. It's true that the probability of a nocturnal grizzly attack is low, but statistics don't matter when your being attacked. At that point, the probability is 100%.
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Also depends where you are...we were on bull river when the griz kept coming back....there is a problem bear there....it needs to be dead....
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Some great suggestions. I've ordered a perimeter alarm off ebay that's similar to the pack alarm. If taking an extra measure like this means a better night sleep I'm all for it.
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
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Originally Posted by
325
I have never been attacked by a grizzly, although I have been charged a couple times. I have, however, had grizzlies come into camp at night on a few occasions. That's why I bought the Pack Alarm. It's true that the probability of a nocturnal grizzly attack is low, but statistics don't matter when your being attacked. At that point, the probability is 100%.
Fully agree. Better be safe than sorry.
In over 50 years of hunting was only charged once by a large grizz.
Lived in the Yukon in a tent a full year in the remote wilderness & we never had a bear charge. We cooked 2x a day. I'm sure the odour could be picked up from many miles but the bears as always left us alone & stayed away.
We got visited by an aggressive wolverine one day. A FN helper shot it & gave the fur to me. It's now somewhere in Kit-Waterloo.
Lover 308 ( LT )& I came across a large grizzly feeding on a recently killed moose by the shore of Germansen Lake. The small cabin we stayed at was less than a km. away. That night we placed small rocks in empty cans but the bear knew we were waiting.:-P
Here's a video from 2 HBC members getting attacked by a grizz while in a tent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Z0C14icHA
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Hmmm nothing in tent with odours..no food..no toothpaste..no chocolate bars..nothing.ever.
Flashlite, knife, rifle to bed..the knife is for an exit..in case the door is occupied..you can never rip a tent fast enough.
All bear encounters at tents at night should be treated as preditory in nature..dont be a tent taco..fight back..
The white..NEVER WORN NEW tee shirt in case shyte hits the fan..easier to identify where the good guys are at 3 am tired adrenaline things happening fast..not all bear attacks are fatal..most short distance shootings usually are...
Food stored high if possible..if not..100 yards in sight..
Never used a electric perimeter fence..however according to several that have used them..they work..all helps
Dont set up on trails..bears do use them..also super dense foliage.
Cheers
Steven
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Just sold all my guns and never going in the woods again!!YA RIGHT!!Come and get some Mr Bear!!
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
I have had enough sleepless nights in grizz country while backpacking . 75% of my hunting is solo and 95% of it in a tent. I remember one night in the Mcgregors. I had my little tent set up on a knife edge ridge trail. The only flat spot I had. While glassing for goats I spotted the sow and cubs about 400 yards off just below the trail. When camping like this I am a firm believer of the pee-rimiter. I try to get all around my tent but mostly downwind. A good crap don't hurt either. I have always cooked in camp but leave my food downwind a bit. Pee around it too. This peeing thing is tough because I am usually de-hydrated from the hike! Whenever possible I camp by running water as the noise muffles other sounds and I sleep better. When I tent camp by my truck I don't give bears a second thought. I figure no bear is brave enough to come near all the action I have going on. I do always use my rifle as a pillow and have a round chambered. Honestly though, in real life I figure I will win the lottery I don't buy tickets for before I have a bear encounter. Every single grizz I have ever ran into has run away as fast as he could when he realized who/what I was. Its us that carry the guns!
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tigrr
Some take a spool of fishing line and some cans or bells and string the line around camp with the rattling device hanging on it. Lets call it an early warning device. Old stories talk of marking the four corners of camp with urine. Don't unload your gun at night!! I hope your not a heavy sleeper.
1 minute late.
I haven't tented in super heavy griz country at all, but this is what I do, throw rocks in my metal drinkin can and tie it to the fishin line..
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Re: Tenting in Grizzly territory
Tie it with string around camp. If anything comes in you can hear the cans. Just a piece of mind[/QUOTE]
ya.....until it rattles:-D