Base camping in bear country

[WhiteOak]

For the guys that like to hunt out of a base camp where you like to eat good and bring a cooler full of groceries and campchef, do you do anything special with your food cooler and cooking gear while your out for the day?

Have a soft tonneau cover I could throw that stuff in but I don't think it would do much to deter a bear and I like the cover? Is it best to avoid putting it in your vehicle all together?

Used to camp along the Delaware river back home and never even gave it a thought. would throw my cooler and tuffbiox with all the cooking gear in the tent for the day and break it out when I got back. That area was pretty recreated however and the bears did pretty good at avoiding people.

 

[WhiteOak]

I know a lot of guys will hang their drybags of food up in trees 100 yards from camp but What about if you need it in a cooler?

 

[AK Troutbum]

Put an electric bear fence around your camp. I've had good luck with them.

 

[Runningwater]

Depends on the circumstances. We've used electric fence, we've locked it in horse trailers, we've hung it from trees. Pay attention to the rules at your specific location. There is at least one wilderness area in CO where approved bear proof storage is required. In those areas we use the rotomolded coolers (most are bear certified) if with our vehicles and/or bear proof rotomolded horse panniers.

 

[WhiteOak]

Appreciate the advice, I will look into the bear fence. For the bear certified rotomolded coolers do you do anything with them or just keep a tidy camp hang trash and such away from camp and just count on the cooler to make it if a bear does come across it?

Would you ever lock the cooler in your cab for the day if camping by your truck?

 

[Gunnersdad49]

A lot of the rotomolded coolers are bear resistant certified with a warranty.

 

[WhiteOak]

I was really never planning on spending that kind of money on a cooler but I am now reconsidering. The dual purpose of bear proofing your food stash is more appealing than just holding ice for a really long time.

 

[5MilesBack]

I keep my cooler in the back of the truck under my topper. But mostly just because it's a 200qt so a pain to move around and load/unload solo. I've never had any bear issues, and I leave my cook stove and everything else in the tent.

 

[DenverCountryBoy]

Retooled cooler, clean camp, no food in tent, no toothpaste when brushing teeth at night.

 

[CX5Ranch]

Never even picked anything up when base camping along a graveled road. Until the warden comes by and told us we needed to tidy up lol. Ya you can really get a ticket for an "untidy" camp. But if you offer them a nibble of fried elk loin they keep the ticket book in the pickup.

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[Mosby]

When I go to Montana in Grizzly country, we normally set up base camp in a local campground. We have bear certified coolers with locks, which I believe is a requirement in NF campgrounds, if you are going to leave them out. I think they are worth the investment. Some campgrounds have bear cans for storage and we use those, when available. We are careful to limit what we cook. No bacon, sausage etc., No food in tent or in our backpacks at night. We don't sleep in the clothes we eat in and leave those in the truck. Campgrounds are cheap and I think limit our bear risk, somewhat. Who knows. Probably increases our risk of getting stuff stolen, so its a trade off. I have already decided that when I turn 65 I am buying a 17 foot camper to hunt out of and giving my all my tents to my son. I have several more years to go though.

If we are backpacking in an area with bears, we eat about 100 yds from our base camp tents. Hang our food. No food in tent, etc., I also keep my hiking poles, bow, etc., off the ground. I hang them. Rodents like to eat anything with sweat, and can do a lot of damage to equipment, so I worry about them as much as bears. I don't have a bear fence but if I was packing in an area thick with grizzly consistently, I would make that investment.

 

[matthewmt]

Lifetime makes a cooler find it thru Walmart for 90-100$ 50qt I believe may end up getting one myself.

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[gumbl3]

Cook on the tailgate in base camp. Food either goes in the truck cab or in the bed under the cover. Trash is also in a bag under the cover and I'll get rid of it whenever I go to town. If I'm base camping then there's going to be an empty bud light or four in the tent with me next to whatver bear medicine I opt to take in the tent (Can vary between several automatics or a revolver but always starts with a .4). More of a bear spray fan myself but I'm not turning that nasty shit loose in a tent with me, really it's the 2 legged creatures that worry me more than the 4 legged but that being said I've never been in grizzly land either.

 

[530Chukar]

The bears are going to come in and mess with your camp if they want to. It’s up to you if you want to cook your meals 1/2 mile from camp and change your clothes every time you cook... we’ve had bears in our cabins and trucks the last few year but haven’t had one in a camp yet. I consider most of the precautions a waste of time.


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