Should I worry about grizzlies?

[Huntinmechanic]

I'll be hunting elk east of YNP in October. I have many years of experience with black bears while hunting/camping. They've never been an issue. Chipmunks, mice and squirrels have been the biggest nuisances. I've hunted units in ID that have low densities of grizzly's and never really gave it much thought. I'm curious about the level of preparedness I should be striving for going into my first NW WY elk hunt. From what the biologist says and many people familiar with the unit, the grizz population is pretty high in our unit. Other than keeping a clean camp and locking food away, any other camp site precautions for grizzly's that I should consider? I've considered hanging our food, but it's a pain and I'll likely screw it up. I am dragging along a medium sized Knaack box to store our food in. Pretty sure a bear will give up before gaining entry into it.

 

[mike.adams.467]

You definitely want to be wary, particularly when hunting. I live and hunt west of YNP and run into them. Carry spray and a handgun - trust me on this one. Just be vigilant, especially if you kill something.

 

[Diamondback]

The Griz up in YNP know what hunting season is all about, a gunshot to them is ringing a dinner bell. I suggest wearing a Glock 20 or a 44 mag revolver at a minimum if you are field dressing an elk or sleeping in a spike camp.

 

[ThreeOhSeven]

Front country or back country camping?
If front country, leave everything in your truck you'll 99% be fine. If back country, definitely hang your food, sleep with your pistol and bear spray.
Short answer, yes, be worried about those brown fuckers.

 

[stalkingwolf]

Those bears in Wyoming are no joke most don't have any fear of humans whatsoever. Be vigilant and extra cautious of your dealing with a dead elk. I'll also add to hang your quarters away from the carcass and in an area you can see from quite a distance if you can't get it all out in one trip

 

[snipe10]

Yes you do! I always take my S&W Mountain Gun in 44mag with Garrett Cartridges 310 grain Hammerhead loads, and I'm still nervous!

 

[Huntinmechanic]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've got the spray and pistol covered. I will absolutely be wary in the backcountry and around kills. That's a no brainer for me. I'm particularly curious about tips and tricks for keeping a safe camp. I've spent years hunting with high densities of black bears in California and have never had an issue in my camps, back or front country. I spent 13 days in and around Glacier and Yellowstone this past June, hiking and fishing. I carried spray and my G20 everywhere. Fortunately, never had to pull either. We will be front country camping in Wyoming, likely near a developed campground unless we find a good spot away from everything. I have solar fence chargers I use for temporary fencing. I thought about bringing one and running a single ribbon around camp. However, it seems like overkill in the front country.

 

[wyosteve]

One thing that isn't thought about much is what you have in your tent that has scent. Everyone knows about food storage, but things like toothpaste, deodorant, clothes that have spilled food on them need to be secured as well. A bear's sense of smell is incredible. A few years back in elk camp, one of the other guides left a sandwich, in a zip-lock baggie, in his coat pocket. The coat was hung on a tree, but not very high. A bear (assume grizzly since we bumped one the next morning) was able to apparently smell the sandwich, dig it out of the pocket and have a snack!

 

[TaperPin]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've got the spray and pistol covered. I will absolutely be wary in the backcountry and around kills. That's a no brainer for me. I'm particularly curious about tips and tricks for keeping a safe camp. I've spent years hunting with high densities of black bears in California and have never had an issue in my camps, back or front country. I spent 13 days in and around Glacier and Yellowstone this past June, hiking and fishing. I carried spray and my G20 everywhere. Fortunately, never had to pull either. We will be front country camping in Wyoming, likely near a developed campground unless we find a good spot away from everything. I have solar fence chargers I use for temporary fencing. I thought about bringing one and running a single ribbon around camp. However, it seems like overkill in the front country.

Like wyosteve said, if it smells like food or looks like food, a bear will be interested. It’s hard to stress enough to guys that like to snack, to not allow anything edible in your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes, or even boots. I’ve been with guys that always seem to be spilling freeze dried food all over themselves, leave stuff in their pockets, or pack at night. “Clean camps” are pretty devoid of food smells at night and are the best at not being interesting to bears, but go against what many feel is good camping food, grilling, frying, snacks by the fire, etc. I keep my camping gear away from food and food smells all year, don’t squirrel away food in pockets, keep a big ziplock with every meal bag for garbage, and at night taking the garbage bag out of the pack is easy to remember and simple.

If you want a bear in your tent leave food in the tent. It’s a story that repeats itself year after year with boring regularity. Bears know campers mean food so even if you do everything right bears will still check you out. A truck full of food still gives off a good amount of scent even if they can’t get to it. Have your buddy sleep closer to the food storage than yourself, maybe hand him a bag of Cheetos at night as he turns in for bed.

 

[TradLife406]

Grizzlies ain't too bad. They're super friendly and like to come and visit in the middle of the night.

Context for the picture. Cooler was cleaned with bleach and empty.

A few nights before though bro decided to leave his black stone outside of the truck and on the cooler. 4 am that morning I hear it fall off the cooler. Buddy slept through it. Hahah Bear was like 10' from me.
We had all our food locked in the trucks and yetis.

So we put the camera up. A few nights later we had a helluva day and got back to camp late. We just missed these fuzz balls.

All jokes aside to a point I don't think you can remove all attractions. Watch some nature documentaries with the kids on bears. They can smell something that died over a year ago. So they'll smell the Cheetos residue on your clothes. But definitely do what you can to reduce it.

 

[elkocd]

These were both what is being to referred to above as "front country" grizz. Scouting last weekend for my sons elk tag. One came off the top down towards our route and then while watching him the other popped out a few hundred yards from us. I was with my GF so we backed out and did not ever get out of the low land north of town.

Not sure where your tag is, but if you mean between Cody and YNP the bears are thick.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Are you partnered up or solo on this hunt OP?

 

[Maverick1]

I'll be hunting elk east of YNP in October. I have many years of experience with black bears while hunting/camping. They've never been an issue. Chipmunks, mice and squirrels have been the biggest nuisances. I've hunted units in ID that have low densities of grizzly's and never really gave it much thought. I'm curious about the level of preparedness I should be striving for going into my first NW WY elk hunt. From what the biologist says and many people familiar with the unit, the grizz population is pretty high in our unit. Other than keeping a clean camp and locking food away, any other camp site precautions for grizzly's that I should consider? I've considered hanging our food, but it's a pain and I'll likely screw it up. I am dragging along a medium sized Knaack box to store our food in. Pretty sure a bear will give up before gaining entry into it.

Read up on Mark Uptain.

 

[mntnguide]

Grizzlies are 2 different animals between June/July then Sept/Oct. Especially once the first cold stretch and snow hits, they change drastically in how they react around camps and people. I have had zero issues with bears in summer, have them walk through my camp and never touch a thing. Come fall, they are thinking hibernation, and become far more dangerous and unpredictable. Outside the East side of YNP, those bears are notorious for bad behavior and very thick densities, which only creates more danger. Id say that area has one of the highest person/bear encounter rates of anywhere in the lower 48.

 

[WCB]

I would hang your food and store your tooth paste, deodorant (I go all natural when hunting), scented wipes etc away from camp. If the weather cooperated I just eat there and do that stuff away from camp. I'll eat dinner at my final glassing spot or on the way back. Same with breakfast. This is of course back packing. If I can get a wall tent in or hunting from the vehicle or can get a 4wheeler to camp. I'd bring a bear fence and eat ribeyes in my cot.

 

[Huntinmechanic]

Read up on Mark Uptain.

I know his story. I'm sure the hunter thinks about that day, every day of his life. Being vigilant and having a lookout that is proficient in handling a pistol/revolver is a must. I'll be hunting with a few buddies. We aren't professional shooters, but we know our way around a Glock.

Are you partnered up or solo on this hunt OP?

Four hunters and a couple others along for the ride. This actually makes me a little nervous. There's going to be a lot of scent wafting around camp.

Grizzlies are 2 different animals between June/July then Sept/Oct. Especially once the first cold stretch and snow hits, they change drastically in how they react around camps and people. I have had zero issues with bears in summer, have them walk through my camp and never touch a thing. Come fall, they are thinking hibernation, and become far more dangerous and unpredictable. Outside the East side of YNP, those bears are notorious for bad behavior and very thick densities, which only creates more danger. Id say that area has one of the highest person/bear encounter rates of anywhere in the lower 48.

Good info. Thank you. When I was in YNP in mid June, I hiked solo into the park a few times, from the western boundary to fish some of the creeks. I saw one set of tracks, but never saw a grizzly. I was a little surprised to not see a grizzly in the 6 days I was there. I did a few late evening and early mornings into the park to hoping to catch a glimpse of a grizzly. I saw every other species of game in the park including sheep and goats.

These were both what is being to referred to above as "front country" grizz. Scouting last weekend for my sons elk tag. One came off the top down towards our route and then while watching him the other popped out a few hundred yards from us. I was with my GF so we backed out and did not ever get out of the low land north of town.

Not sure where your tag is, but if you mean between Cody and YNP the bears are thick.

They look so cuddly! All kidding aside, I appreciate the insight. We'll be NW of Cody, east of YNP and north of the Clarks Fork.

 

[Scrappy]

They just released a nuisance grizz five mile east of the east entrance to Yellowstone. What's one more problem bear right???

Grizzly bear captured, relocated in Cody region - Casper, WY Oil City News https://share.google/yw7lY7J5ixNCpR30b

 

[Huntinmechanic]

I went back and re-read the Uptain/Chubon investigation. I am absolutely not judging either man, but it looks like complacency was the root cause. Gun and spray not on their persons and quite far from the elk they were quartering. I imagine the guide was complacent because of the amount of experience he had sharing the mountains with grizzlies. The client probably had his guard down because the guide was so comfortable and seemingly competent. I make many mistakes on my hunts. Not having my pistol ready on my hip or chest, won't be one of them.

 

[BCDJR]

A guy I know out that way always has a 10mm on his hip