Defeating Bears....

“This is kind of two prong thread. My wife is not a fan of the Dig, Squat and Bury system of outback hygiene, but a lot of the primitive car accessible sites around here are not stocked with privies. I would have no problem taking a toilet seat and sticking it on a recycled five gallon paint can except that I don't need the critters attacked to the fudge.

I know some outfitters in sensitive areas have used recycled ammo cans. The lock, don't leak and in general are not too bad to cart aroud, particularly if you have vehicle to transport them in. Has anybody used this system? Any comments as to how successful, ornery they are?

On the second note... using a different ammo can... of course, has anyone tried using an ammo can for a bear cannister? Same general concept... they are airtight/leak proof. They lock. How would they relate weight wise to a comparable sized commercial bear can?”

“Make sure you line the bucket with a garbage bag to be pulled out and thrown away - use it only for solid wastes.

Part of the function of the bear can comes from it's shape and size, bear cans must be of a certain size, that a bear cannot get its jaws around, an ammo can would not serve this function, though it might protect your food from bears in most situations, it would not be a legal bear can in parks that require them.”

“that's just gross...we'd get chit all over your bullets”

“I've watched a racoon undo the latch on a coleman cooler before. Wouldn't surprise me if they could do an ammo can...”

“not with a padlock in the hasp... unless it was a REALLY clever raccoon.”

“Whaaaaa, you've never encoutered the Locksmith species?”

“just carry your gun and shoot anything that messes with your food - especially other campers lookin' for freebies!”

“MacGyver Raccoon
walked into the room....
only to fine the box padlocked...

Said MacGyver "This stinks"
But he started to think
In moment or two had his swiss knife.

McGyver Raccoon
walked out of the room
Toting the boxes full contents.

He said with a grin
"If I want to get in
No lock in the world's gonna stop me."”

“Ramblin, I would guess it is considerably heavier and not as secure as a official bear cannister.

As far as pooping in a box or a bucket, I have done it in a bucket lined with a bag, alright not much fun. Bring a tarp to give you some privacy.”

“Considering it's the first preseason game... I'd say the Texans have a chance at it tomorrow”

“When camping as a kid I remember my aunt used to use a big potato chip tin. It was about the size of a 5 gallon bucket.

I would think a bear could run off with your stash if it was in an ammo box. They might not get in, but neither would you if it was gone in the morning. For some reason I'm thinking of a movie I saw where someone stole an ATM and couldn't get into it. When he finally did, it was empty.”

“I thought this was going to be a TT version of The Threatdown”

“I would think a bear could run off with your stash if it was in an ammo box. They might not get in, but neither would you if it was gone in the morning

I keep half expecting the folks with bear cans finding them rolled away in the morning. I am not so much concerned with "legality'" of the bear can as I am being able to just set it somewhere instead of trying to set up a bear bag after dark. It seems like it would be very handy to be able to that. I just don't have the money to ivest commercially atm.”

“That's why I went with the BearVault... a little heavier.... definitely cheaper... and it's fine for what we have to deal with in the Southeast.  Larger critters may be problematic.”

“all you need is a half-decent secondary to defeat the bears. if theyre still behind in the fourth quarter, grossman will just panic and start putting up hail marys. also, its important to have a good coverage team for kickoffs, or else their new return man could burn you”

“Sounds like a trip report...”

“why the hell would you want to carry a bear can if it wasn't required by the park... I hate the damn things”

“because its much simpler than hanging food”

“I don't know that I do want to carry a bear can if it is not required. I do know that recently I have not humg my bear bag because I needed the food after dark, arrived at the site somewhat beat and took the chance that it would be ok. Fortunately it was. But I got to thinking, maybe I should at least investigate the options.

My question is more like is it worth spending >$60 to buy something, or can I tweak something myself.”

““I've watched a racoon undo the latch on a coleman cooler before. Wouldn't surprise me if they could do an ammo can...”
roseymonster
4:44:12 PM
8/10/07

I also have witnessed that!!!!!!”

“I've really never heard of any DIY solution that was as effective as either hanging or an actual bear can.

I know what you mean, though.... Too many pitch-black nights (after a long day), standing in the pouring rain, looking up in the trees!”

“As far as the wife taking a dump in the woods, she will figure that out herself, just like you will, or do. Just follow the rules and when required bag it, tag it, carry it out. Now as you encounter bear country, don't play around, don't take anything for granted about wild bears, if a cannister is required use a approved type. If you want to defend yourself from a attacking bear, well thats a straight forward tool, already proven to work. Just use it. Might be something you want to avoid using but when it comes down to life or death, guess what the bear is going to chose, they have a mind of there own. Just remember that bears know where the campsites are, and they smell cooking food, and will find it if they want too.”

“sounds like we're combining topics here. so if i take a dump on my food, will that keep the bears out of it?”

“i plan on getting an ursack for when i get back to the states same storage capacity and convenience of bearikade, much less weight and more packability
last edited: 8/11/07 6:07:19 AM”

“They make small car camping potties with the chemicals...

Heh, forgot what the topic was..

The hardest part of useing a bear can is getting the bear in it....

Is it rude to complment a bear on its can?”

“a bear in a can is doubtful. might be able to get a cub into a keg, tho”

“Ok, lets think of them bears like this, if you was to, lets say go to LA and into a area where them black ones live, you know the mean ones, would you take bear spray or a gun, point well proved don't you agree,”

“you overvalue your point proving abilities”

“thats really kind of you to bring that to attention, too. lol”

“i do what i can to help”

“how much over the value limits are the abilities, that I have?”

“unable to register”

“As far as the wife taking a dump in the woods, she will figure that out herself, just like you will, or do.

I got no problems with that. In fact I prefer the woods to a privie . Although I will use the privie if provided just to cut down on environmental impact. Topping off a backwoods privie si not my diea of fun any more.

The car camping units are kind of pricey for our budget. Unless some one has one they want to contribute to the cause. I suspect after one or two excursions and having to cart crap all over the place she'll figure it is easier to bury it than to cap it, tote it, and dump it. A quick scoop with the shovel and your done with it for ever. Sounds better to me anyway.

I got to thinking about the ammo bear can again and they have places all over them where a bear could stick hi claws. If they can rip car doors apart I suspect an ammo box would not present much of a problem. Judging from the information I found for on the web... they's wicked heavy as well.”

“yaz, that's what I was thinking about the ammo boxes.

You could combine methods, though... Use one of the folding 'potty chairs' for convenience but dig a hole under it first instead of using the bags.  ”

“I like my bear meat slow cooked, it makes even the toughest old bears scrumptious!

I used to carry heavy guns and bear spray into the woods, but those are heavy and more or less just a one use tool. But, Lately I got wise and now I carry a blowtourch. It`s just the right tool for the job, it`ll light a grizzer bear up like a Christmas tree and it`s handy for trecks in the dark. Wet wood, no problem, just a few bursts of my blow tourch and my wood is burning nicely and it beats those sissy lil` pocket rockets hands down for heating up food. It`s also a handy pocket warmer, night light, or whatever, it has a thousand and one uses.

Maybe I should market `em for backpackers every where?LOL

Nutters,...”

“2.5 gallon buckets, similar to 5 gallon buckets but smaller, make great bear cannisters where an actual bear cannister is not required. I've got a few laying around from pool chemicals - they fit in most backpacks.

I suspect your wife will warm up to the idea of burying after carrying bags of poo around for a few days.”

“OH defeating those Bears....I am sorry I was going to say go to the short pass and stay away from the prevent defense.”

“the colts showed xl is correct. with the exception of the bomb to wayne (td), manning picked apart the bears with short passes. of course, the rain had a lot to do with the play selection. with the exception of one drive, the colts cover 2 kept the bears offense out of the end zone pretty well.”

“Grossman kept the offense out of the end zone.”

“LOL..the best part is I haven't really watched a game in years....(LOL)”