Do I really have to hang my food from bears??/

[lovetohunt]

One question that I have always wondered is that will bears really rip into your tent for food. And do I really need to change my clothes after I cook or not. Could I keep like candy bars in a bag or will they want that too. I plan on keeping a gun with me just incase but I just need to know those questions.

[lovestohunt]

Why would you even want to take the chance by not taking the precautions?

[Kellyelk]

Yes it if you are going to be in the woods with the bears. If you have not seen the tv reports there have been to bear attacks this year do to the question you pose. They can be very burdensome when there is food around.

[mtswampfox]

of course not silly just an old wives tale but remember how to tell if you are in bear territory check the scat if it has little silver bells in it and it tastes like capsicum peppers when you lick it you may be in the bear woods

[earlyretirement]

Lovetohunt,
Yes bears will tear and enter a tent {or cabin} but so will mice.To answer Q. please say if you are going to be camping in polar, griz or black bear country.I only can really comment on blacks.I often camp in quite isolated areas@ clean and cook fish and game in camp over the fire and sleep next to the fire under my tarp in my blood and juice stained pants- just like the thousands and thousands of explorers, voyajuers, trappers, prospectors ect who travelled thes waters before me. However in areas of higher bear human contact concentration I would not do this as current liberal camping methods invite negative bear behavior.

[chuck]

Not if you keep a clear shooting lane. Just kiddin' I live in an area with both blacks and brownies I would take some precautions . They are both unpredictable if they've a mind to do something they'll do it just don't make it easy for them. We live on a salmon steam and see both off and on. This spring a brown bear got in a shed that had a black bear hide that was ready for the tannery I followed a salt trail 100 yards in the trees that was the last I saw of either.Any way have a good one.

[Coyote Freak]

That's funny CHUCK

[d2huffman]

Yes - Once had a bear climb the tree that we had the pack with the food in, climbed out the limb and with the a bite on the pack fell or dropped out of the tree leaving the pack frame still attached to the limb. We use sticks to beat the bear and get our food back (black). We probably looked pretty silly fighting off this bear with stick while in our underwear but it was our food for the week. (college days) Learned to use a wire and hang between trees.

[huntinny]

I only have experience with blacks. When they decide to take your food, they are difficult to purswade otherwise. I have had hung food pulled out of trees and raided. Once while camping the adirondacks we were staying in a leanto cooking a bowl of popcorn. A black came up and decidided he wanted it. I yelled and carried on for a couple minutes and he just watched until I finished. Then came in a little closer now about 15ft and started shaking his back and forth. We had closed off all of the front of the leanto except the door area and he was standing right in front. With nowere to go but straight at him I took a couple steps closer holding me trusty hatchet and yelled again. He grunted and slowly walked away. I had to throw my shorts away and by that time the popcorn was burnt.

needless to say- I try to do things a little smarter these days.

These tactics may not always work on hungry brown bears!

[H2O Dog]

Lovetohunt;

Having lived in Alaska for several years, I have to agree with Chuck on this. All bears are inpredictible no matter their color or area they live. If a bear is hungry all bets are off. We used to hang all of our food in trees 20 or 30 yards away from where we camped. Additionally, be careful on how and where you dispose of cooking leftovers, dish water, and even where you crap. Truthfully, 95% of the time all bears (even the hungry ones) will keep clear of your camp and don't want anything to do with you.

What causes many attacks are hikers/hunters walking up on bears when they are sleeping or just not paying attention. Bears aren't alway the brightest animals. We used to tie a bell to our shoe laces when hiking and even tied one to the dogs colar when we'd take her. I realize that a bell makes stalking or sneaking into your stand difficult if not impossible, but just bring one along if bears live in the area and use it when you can. We never let the bears keep us from going out, but be cauious and slow down when moving through the woods.

H2O Dog

[HounDawger]

One question that I have always wondered is that will bears really rip into your tent for food. And do I really need to change my clothes after I cook or not. Could I keep like candy bars in a bag or will they want that too. I plan on keeping a gun with me just incase but I just need to know those questions.
I personlly don 't have too much troulbe but I alwayes have a bunch of hounds with me. if for some reason I went without hounds like solmon fishing then yes I wood hang inything like that away from camp. my daughter in alaska has alot of bear encouters. they leave nothing outside. good luck