Bivy out tempts me but fears keep me at bay

[StupidLightweight]

OP, you are being ridiculous. Camp out. You'll be fine. There's a million ways to die on a hunt, but I assure you, getting eaten by a black bear isn't even in the top 900,000. The biggest danger on virtually every excursion away from home is driving.

 

[mpb21]

There's scarier stuff in TX in the form of creepy crawlers than black bears in CO.

Bring an old AM/FM radio and play that at night if you're concerned but you will absolutely be just fine.

 

[cbeard64]

I’m a fellow Texan. The others are right don’t let black bears stop you. You’re in way more danger driving to the trailhead than from a black bear bothering you.

 

[Marble]

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

It isn't ridiculous for you to have those feelings of what is really unknown to you. But it is ridiculous for you to limit your experience because of it. I'm 48 and have backpacked in CA (often the highest bear density in the US) and have never had an issue with a bear in the back country. I often see 6-12 bears in a single valley in one day here.

I usually put on ear plugs at night so I don't hear anything. If during archery I carry a pistol. If rifle season, I don't.

Hang your food in a tree. Go kill something

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