How do you keep critters out of your food in the backcountry?

[Macintosh]

Growing up in the Northeast we ALWAYS hung food when backpacking because theres bears everywhere that would raid your food nearly 100% of the time if not hung. Backpacking in the west I have often hung food, plus worried more about wind in grizzly areas. In parts of AK and elsewhere where there was nothing to hang from, we’d cache food on the ground away from where we sleep. Other places mice and rodents are a hassle and chew into almost anything. Some places are overrun with raccoons. Etc.

So, in the mountain west for backpack hunting, (ca, az, nm, co, wy, mt, id, etc) what do you do to prevent critters from getting into your food? What gear do you carry and use for this?

 

[TaperPin]

Bear proof containers are popular in some high rocky spots without trees to hang from - I’ve never used them, so can’t add much.

Using the same knowledge of air currents we shoot with, placing well sealed food bags down wind of game trails and on rocks in places that won’t broadcast as much scent to areas full of critters. Plastic bags allow a lot of scent through, but are much better than nothing. Every meal is sealed in its own ziplock and each day gets a larger ziplock and the whole works is wrapped up in a larger trash bag lining a non breathable stuff sack. I’ll store trash in a different nearby location that will get hit first.

 

[Macintosh]

Thanks very much. yeah, the bearproof containers I've seen are super heavy and super bulky, and perfectly shaped to make efficient packing impossible. They suck with a capital S. I've read about some kevlarish type bags, but havent done more than look at them--iirc I was looking for a backpacking trip in yellowstone which required a "certified" container be used, and they werent certified. But seemed like a halfway-point option in theory, espeically if you were going to hang food in an area where critters are habituated to finding food around popular camping areas. I'm sort of curious to just see what the concensus is and what various people ar using specifically for hunting.

 

[COJoe]

We hunt Colorado with plenty of trees to hang our food. Each day I take a days worth of food with me while the rest of my food gets hung up in a scent proof bag. My trash gets hung up separately in a scent proof bag. I bought some small scent proof bags for beef jerky off of Amazon last year and they kept the smell down really well. Here's the smaller bags I used for jerky, there are many out there though.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LLHFPWD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I’ll hang my food (dry bag) in most grizzly country, otherwise it’s in the tent. I do keep it in the vestibule because if something is going to get it, don’t want them chewing through my tent.

I’ve honestly never had an issue with smaller critters getting into it when packed in. That seems to be a bigger issue at camp grounds/trail heads where there are regularly people.

 

[BBob]

So, in the mountain west for backpack hunting, (ca, az, nm, co, wy, mt, id, etc) what do you do to prevent critters from getting into your food? What gear do you carry and use for this?

Ursack

 

[Macintosh]

Ursack

Do you have the bear-only version, or the bear and critter version? How waterproof are these? I assume you hang food in it, or do you leave on the ground?

 

[Mike Islander]

Thanks very much. yeah, the bearproof containers I've seen are super heavy and super bulky, and perfectly shaped to make efficient packing impossible. They suck with a capital S. I've read about some kevlarish type bags, but havent done more than look at them--iirc I was looking for a backpacking trip in yellowstone which required a "certified" container be used, and they werent certified. But seemed like a halfway-point option in theory, espeically if you were going to hang food in an area where critters are habituated to finding food around popular camping areas. I'm sort of curious to just see what the concensus is and what various people ar using specifically for hunting.

Ursack bags, specifically the Major, Major XL, and AllMitey series, are certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) for bear-resistant food storage and are a lightweight alternative to traditional bear canisters.

I have 2. Folks just tie them to something strong. I hang mine.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Hanging has always worked for me, just a dry bag with a caribeiner and some P-cord. One time I didn’t hang I had mouse tear up about a days worth of food in just a few hours little jerk

 

[Maverick1]

Hanging has always worked for me, just a dry bag with a caribeiner and some P-cord. One time I didn’t hang I had mouse tear up about a days worth of food in just a few hours little jerk

Pretty much the same here. Just throw some reflective paracord over a tree branch and hoist the food up into the tree. Leave it all day and overnight. Never had a problem with it up in the air. On the ground = rodent problems.

Have not hunted in areas absent trees. Not sure what the answer would be threre.

-

 

[BBob]

Do you have the bear-only version, or the bear and critter version? How waterproof are these? I assume you hang food in it, or do you leave on the ground?

I have two. One smaller, the original bought decades ago which is kevlar and originally was all purpose. I can't remember exactly the reason but at some point they said no good or less good for bears and they changed the fabric. The mice and ringtails have tried to chew on it but not much happens. Never had a bear try it. I use it for shorter pack trips mostly in AZ. I have a larger AllMitey (dual use) I use for longer pack trips mostly up north. Neither are waterproof. I line both with an OPSAK for odor and waterproofness. In the early days using the kevar before OPSAK my stuff was in ziplocs. I always find some sort of tree to anchor them. In AZ I generally hang chest level in a mesquite. Up north depending on tree limbs I hang as high as I can reach as long as it is above a large branch so a bear can't drag it down lower for easier access. Not sure if that would help but it's what I do. I've had it in thick CO bear country and not a single bear has found or touched it. I assume the OPSAK is doing it's job? I'm the anomaly though up north as most everyone I've been with hangs food in a nylon sack.

Thinking about it both have been rained on and not much gets inside on the plastic bags.

 

[Blurry1]

I pretty much never use a bear can unless required anymore. Hanging is the way to go. That said, hanging food isn’t always as simple as throwing a rope. A number of years ago I thought I was smart to just hang a ziplock nice and high in a tree. I woke to all of my food nibbled by mice with a nice pile of turds as spice. I went hungry on that trip. Now I bring a much more durable hang bag.