“To protect all wildlife” is key. Mice are not dependent on human habitation. Sleeping with your food in your shelter is just wrong. It was the way I was brought up in the late 60’s, in the desert SW, and it took time and experience to learn. The outlaw pistolero with his 10mm isn’t much against a Woody packrat or giving away his stealth camp trying to pop a ring tailed cat.
Here's a warning for all the campers in or near Yosemite... the chipmunks have learned how to hang out underneath the bear food lockers, wait until they hear the squeak of the door opening and will dash in and get into your food. It took me a while to figure it out because there was some eaten parts in my bread... They are cute, but these mini bears are very smart too!! So Beware! I have actually had more problems from the mini bears than from bears. Chipmunks and racoons in California, Skunks in Colorado and New York, and squirrels in Alaska. The skunk in Colorado walked into a campfire party while we were eating, and started stomping his feet, so we backed off and let it have our food (no one wants to get sprayed), and the skunk in New York was in a State Park. The NY skunk actually sprayed someone's tent, I was just glad it wasn't mine.
LOKSAK OPSak Odor-Proof Barrier Bags also help since they contain the aroma or odor of your food. Especially for the mini Bears that you mentioned. Here in Florida the stealthy , masked , bandits are the worst campsite raiders. If they can't smell it they won't find it. Needless to say ....Make sure you do not get any peanut butter of anything else on the outside when you handle your food and the bag.
I use LOKSAK's, too, but I don't think they can be included as a recommended food *protection* strategy. They may help marginally, but the bags quickly become contaminated with food smells due to the handling of them. And given that bears have an absurd sense of smell (7x better than a blood hound and 2100 times better than a human), they know if you have food or not. I would consider LOKSAK's a way to further reduce your risks, but not an effective technique on its own. As a food *storage* bag, I think they're great, because they're tough and because they are see-through.
I would suggest you buy Mason hardened leader material in 50 pound test. Stuff is ultralight, strong as nails and easy to coil up for storage. Happy Trails! 🤠⛺👍
OPSaks by LokSak are terrible. They are overpriced, prone to failure, and only have a one month warranty. I had a manufacturing defect on one that I had barely used and they wouldn't warranty it. I don't understand what you're paying for when you buy a single ziplock bag for more than $5.00. It's obviously not the bag, and I was hoping it was a good warranty, but it isn't that either.
I stealth camp, sleep with my food. I always hike with my Labrador, he is my first alarm, and if needed my 10mm is always there. Spent most my life outdoors and doing it this way, no encounters yet. Bear canisters are just silly to me..
“To protect all wildlife” is key. Mice are not dependent on human habitation. Sleeping with your food in your shelter is just wrong. It was the way I was brought up in the late 60’s, in the desert SW, and it took time and experience to learn. The outlaw pistolero with his 10mm isn’t much against a Woody packrat or giving away his stealth camp trying to pop a ring tailed cat.
Here's a warning for all the campers in or near Yosemite... the chipmunks have learned how to hang out underneath the bear food lockers, wait until they hear the squeak of the door opening and will dash in and get into your food. It took me a while to figure it out because there was some eaten parts in my bread... They are cute, but these mini bears are very smart too!! So Beware! I have actually had more problems from the mini bears than from bears. Chipmunks and racoons in California, Skunks in Colorado and New York, and squirrels in Alaska. The skunk in Colorado walked into a campfire party while we were eating, and started stomping his feet, so we backed off and let it have our food (no one wants to get sprayed), and the skunk in New York was in a State Park. The NY skunk actually sprayed someone's tent, I was just glad it wasn't mine.
MINI BEARS?! Oh my goodness I can't even :D what a cute term.
Sleep with your food 😂😂😂 WHAT
I am a true beginner and trying to learn. Dumb question, if you us the ursack, do you hang it or store on the ground 75 ft away from tent?
Ursack reccomends that you tie the bag to a tree base or branch to keep an animal from carrying it off. Their webpage has some good tips.
LOKSAK OPSak Odor-Proof Barrier Bags also help since they contain the aroma or odor of your food. Especially for the mini Bears that you mentioned. Here in Florida the stealthy , masked , bandits are the worst campsite raiders. If they can't smell it they won't find it. Needless to say ....Make sure you do not get any peanut butter of anything else on the outside when you handle your food and the bag.
I use LOKSAK's, too, but I don't think they can be included as a recommended food *protection* strategy. They may help marginally, but the bags quickly become contaminated with food smells due to the handling of them. And given that bears have an absurd sense of smell (7x better than a blood hound and 2100 times better than a human), they know if you have food or not. I would consider LOKSAK's a way to further reduce your risks, but not an effective technique on its own. As a food *storage* bag, I think they're great, because they're tough and because they are see-through.
And use a portable electric bear fence.
If you use an Ursack, do you still hang it from a tree to discourage the critters?
You can hang it, or tie it to a tree trunk.
So many experts...
Could someone please demo or suggest where I can see the use of fishing line to help with proper rodent hangs. Thanks
I would suggest you buy Mason hardened leader material in 50 pound test. Stuff is ultralight, strong as nails and easy to coil up for storage. Happy Trails!
🤠⛺👍
fishing lines will damage the tree you hand you bag into. Not a good idea.
OPSaks by LokSak are terrible. They are overpriced, prone to failure, and only have a one month warranty. I had a manufacturing defect on one that I had barely used and they wouldn't warranty it. I don't understand what you're paying for when you buy a single ziplock bag for more than $5.00. It's obviously not the bag, and I was hoping it was a good warranty, but it isn't that either.
I stealth camp, sleep with my food. I always hike with my Labrador, he is my first alarm, and if needed my 10mm is always there. Spent most my life outdoors and doing it this way, no encounters yet. Bear canisters are just silly to me..
Yeh, most of us don't want to haul a gun around. Weighs more than the bear can lol...
@@ssipola but a bear canister cant take down a two legged mini bear? LOL
@@romererunamerika9437 Neither can a handgun in most cases.