Pop-ups and bears

[brholt]

I was surprised to see this notice posted at Glacier National Park last week:



I guess there occasionally is a concern.

[Jfet]

I love the story about the lady who fought off a grizzly bear with just a 22 pistol. She said it only took one shot to the kneecap of her partner to outrun him.

[rfryer]

I camped for many years in bear country with a PU and only twice have I not been able to get into a CG because of canvas. But it seems to be getting more common for some reason. We’ve even had some recent incidents in the national forest cg’s here.

There’s no doubt a bear could get into an RV easily, I once saw one pop a car door like we’d pop a Bud to get to an ice chest. But for whatever reason they don’t seem to do that. Probably less easy to smell food. As far as firearms go, I’ve had them since I was 15 and I always carry camping. But I once saw a black bear take 5 rounds from a 30/06 before he went down. I don’t carry my hunting rifle and none of my handguns are as potent as a 30/06, so I’d have to be out of all other options before I started shooting.

Along that line, I hear that the bear spray usually works pretty well. It’s the “usually” that bothers me. I once heard a joke that really struck me as funny. The way to identify grizzly scat is that it has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.:) I talked to a ranger in the Tetons and he carried bear spray but in the conversation it came out he also carried a S&W 44 Mag. Backup for the spray I guess, and that’s also my philosophy.

[starcraft69]

Rbertalotto wrote:
Firearms are zero defense against a charging bear. Even if you could hit it in the brain or neck or other very vital zone. And shooting one in a tent or camper is simply going to hurt someone worse than the bear would.

Folks up in Alaska say if you are going to buy a gun for bear defense, buy a very small one and file off the front sight so when the bear shoves it up your a** it won't hurt too much...... 🙂

Bear Spray is what you want.

SEVEN BEAR ATTACKS DURING 5 DAYS IN 5 STATES

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2013/08/wildlife-officials-concerned-over-recent-bea...

I think this bear has a different opinion that firearms are zero defence. As for hurting someone else I would think most of us that own firearms dont just go shooting wildly and not know whats beyond our target. all the stories ok but we were talking about defending ourselfs in our camper not walikg,hikeing,riding bikes, ect. Last time I checked my family in alaska still have the front sights on all there guns. And none of them think a gun is useless to defend yourself in the woods, but all of them carry one. This bear is in alaska and is 835lb. As for me I will keep my firearm along side me at night in the woods. Im just saying

[Rbertalotto]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnGe9HDGBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxlVmqatF8I

And then they can just open the door:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglkMUm2d8E

I'm gonna sleep in a Yakima Cargo box:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8yNetICcY

And its always easier to just take the whole darn thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zenBPyqbOOc

[Jfet]

schlep1967 wrote:
I agree that bears can open the tin cans (campers)easily. I'm guessing the reason for not exposing the canvas sides is that smells/scents of food will pass through the canvas easier than through the aluminum or fiberglass sides. Thereby attracting the bears to check out what's inside.

Speak for yourself. Bear is not getting in MY camper. 😄

[Rbertalotto]

Firearms are zero defense against a charging bear. Even if you could hit it in the brain or neck or other very vital zone. And shooting one in a tent or camper is simply going to hurt someone worse than the bear would.

Folks up in Alaska say if you are going to buy a gun for bear defense, buy a very small one and file off the front sight so when the bear shoves it up your a** it won't hurt too much...... 🙂

Bear Spray is what you want.

SEVEN BEAR ATTACKS DURING 5 DAYS IN 5 STATES

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2013/08/wildlife-officials-concerned-over-recent-bea...

[bigB42]

they were trying to trap a bear in that campground,did't want soft sides around baited trap.black bear had taken a pillow from under persons head and layed down on side of tent not afraid of humans at all ken

[rottidawg]

starcraft69 wrote:
Firearms people!!!!!!! If you camp in bear country. Firearms!!!!!!!!!!

I'm all for firearms but my first choice would be bear spray.

[starcraft69]

Firearms people!!!!!!! If you camp in bear country. Firearms!!!!!!!!!!

[Dog_Folks]

fla-gypsy wrote:
An apex predator like bears can easily rip open any camper.

The hard side doe not need to be "bear proof.: Just slow him/her down enough so that they see the tent a few sites down. LOL

Sorta like,"I don't have to out run the bear. I just have to out run you."

[rottidawg]

Guess things have changed from two years ago: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43511151/ns/travel-active_travel/#.UhUQGRaYnzI
Pop up slide in truck campers were okay then in that same area after the attacks.

"The forest is allowing hard-sided vehicles made of metal or strong composite plastic to be used at the three campgrounds. Truck-box campers that have a 4-foot high hard side, in addition to a raised upper section, are permissible, but tents and pop-up campers are excluded, as is camping without a shelter."

[Rbertalotto]

Yup, been there...done that! As long as you don't "pop-Up" your pop-up you can sleep in it.

[s1214]

So, I guess I'll stealth camp with mine not popped up.

[Bumpyroad]

I thought that Madison campground in Yellowstone had a no soft sided campers policy
bumpy