Bivy out tempts me but fears keep me at bay

[guitarpreston]

Debating picking up a shelter and bag instead of truck camping this season in CO (second time out west). Have a few spots a couple miles in and cutting that hike out could be beneficial for obvious reasons….now here’s the rub, I’m from Texas and had never seen a bear until last year…I know, to people who live there black bears are almost overgrown raccoons but to this fella, they make me nervous. Now I know they’re not going to see me and come running to eat me but they could come poking around my tent etc and make for a long sleepless night…I feel like I am being ridiculous

 

[Stickmark]

Build a brush fence like they do in Africa. Dead stuff, kinda stout. Any bear crawling through, over it, gets a face of your sidearm, or bear spray.
Black bears are predators, but I think the odds favor you.

 

[Hnthrdr]

You hunting with a rifle? Or a bow? I mean bears especially in Co are pretty docile, and scaredie cats never had one not turn and hightail it. You could always pack a small pistol, or also try to get a bear tag too. I think you will be fine.

 

[bigbassin]

Well my post won’t help you, but from what I’ve seen in North Georgia, the guys that really get on the deer in low density mountain areas seem to somewhat commonly have bears come through camp.

Which makes sense, they’re hitting the same food sources. So if your in the right spot for one, your probably where you need to be for the other as well.

 

[houghton_hunter]

Spent so many nights in Grizzly and black bear country, the truth is I have never had one come into camp. I don't worry about it, even when I am in a simple bivy sack. Sometimes I will pile sticks around me, and otherwise choose to sleep in a place thats only approachable from one or two angles, so I know where the threat is gonna come from. Never say never, but when I have been asleep, thus far I have not had an issue.

This concerns black bears, have I had run in on trails near dark alone, you bet, have I had encounters where I have been bluff charged, you better believe it, drawn my pistol on an encroaching bear, yes. The trick to me is just being confident, stand your ground, nothing makes a predator interested in you more than showing weakness. Its kind of like life, predators pick up on prey, don't be prey, and let the bear know it, and you should be fine.

Grizzly bears, thats another post.

 

[UncleBone]

Ive had way more deer 3 feet from my tent than any bears, which I have had none. Those things will keep you awake at night.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Ive had way more deer 3 feet from my tent than any bears, which I have had none. Those things will keep you awake at night.

Had moose wandering around a meadow one night and those boogers were loud haha

 

[Legend]

Debating picking up a shelter and bag instead of truck camping this season in CO (second time out west). Have a few spots a couple miles in and cutting that hike out could be beneficial for obvious reasons….now here’s the rub, I’m from Texas and had never seen a bear until last year…I know, to people who live there black bears are almost overgrown raccoons but to this fella, they make me nervous. Now I know they’re not going to see me and come running to eat me but they could come poking around my tent etc and make for a long sleepless night…I feel like I am being ridiculous

I have spent hundreds of nights in Montana's highest gbear density country sleeping in a bivy. You get used to it. And if the little noises bother you just throw some earplugs in!

 

[UncleBone]

Had moose wandering around a meadow one night and those boogers were loud haha

Had a moose 30 feet from my tent last ml elk. I was locked n loaded.

 

[Ucsdryder]

You know what’ll scare the shit out of you in the middle of the night? An effing beef cow.

 

[Legend]

The one that scared me most was a bunny. I was convinced it was a bear circling me!!

 

[rayporter]

get a bear fence if you cant shake it off.

pine marten in camp after meat -DAMN!!!!

 

[UncleBone]

Had moose wandering around a meadow one night and those boogers were loud haha

Had one doe in my camp every single day. I named her Susan and she would not leave. Was pretty cool actually. Until she started pawing the ground every single time I drifted off to sleep. I would rustle around trying to scare her off. Shed leave for 20 minutes then come back. Shit, even if I had a doe tag, I would have spared her. I think.

 

[guitarpreston]

The logical part of my brain agrees with every one of you, but my lizard brain that actually makes some of those calls…I can feel it saying just walk in the dark with your headlamp on and don’t be quiet, don’t be obnoxiously loud, just don’t sneak up on anything.

 

[wapitibob]

Wolves will find you way before a Bear will, and those CO super wolves will pull you right outta the tent.

 

[bigbassin]

Ive had way more deer 3 feet from my tent than any bears, which I have had none. Those things will keep you awake at night.

I pitched a tent in what I thought was a deer bed one night and had a doe walking circles around me the entire night. My two buddies went tent less and slept on the ground about 30’ from me, she wasn’t spooked at all by them in the dark.

They did get covered in ticks, so I wouldn’t recommend camping in or near a deer bed.

 

[guitarpreston]

Planning on picking up a bear tag too so that basically guarantees I won’t see one…so there’s that

 

[GunsAreFun]

I get being weirded out.

Only things I can suggest that haven’t already been stated are: take a sleep aid to knock yourself out and make a warning system with some branded fishing line and small bells to wake you up if anything gets to your perimeter.

Having a firearm can make a big difference in fear too. I always feel uneasy walking with my bow only in the woods a night. When I have my 6.5 Grendel AR in my hands with 10 in the mag and one in the chamber, being worried doesn’t cross my mind.

 

[GunsAreFun]

Planning on picking up a bear tag too so that basically guarantees I won’t see one…so there’s that

I have spent about 35 days hiking or hunting Colorado and another 9 in NM in the last four years. I have not seen a single bear. Only bear sign was a tree claw scrape.

 

[guitarpreston]

I have spent about 35 days hiking or hunting Colorado and another 9 in NM in the last four years. I have not seen a single bear. Only bear sign was a tree claw scrape.

I saw a bear on 2 diff occasions (maybe same one, maybe not) in 6 days, last time was at 200 yards. Was wishing I had a tag then but foolishly didn’t pick one up