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Protecting food from bears

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Date/Time: 05/24/2025 08:54PM

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Protecting food from bears

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
foxfireniner	05/19/2025 07:50AM timatkn: "foxfireniner: "I will use a blue barrel and pulleys. I have never had a problem with bears. If they start issuing $5000 fines, might as well go to Quetico and let Canada nickel and dime you to death. Looks like Minnesota is another blue state that overspent its tax dollars and needs to add a volunteer tax to its tourists. " I’m against the new food storage rules. I think the intent is good, just the previous history of bear issues doesn’t support the rule. Fully saying I could be wrong too. BUT your comment is RIDICULOUSLY IGNORANT! This is a Federal rule, has NOTHING to do with the state of Minnesota. Also I Hunt, fish, camp in The Dakotas, Iowa, and Missouri…those are alleged Red states and I can tell you they “nickel and dime tourists” at a much higher rate than Minnesota. 10x as much if you factor in how much those states put back into their resources vs. Minnesota. It’s has nothing to do with politics for those states either…it’s just plain ole economics. I don’t begrudge those states when I go use their resources and blame it on their alleged politics. Just keep the cheap political comments out of this please… Sorry…hit a nerve because I just got back from a trip to one of those states. T" Its CANADA that nickles and dimes you. Fair enough on the federal...
pastorjsackett	05/17/2025 09:04PM I like my blue barrel. Sure it's a bit weighty but- there are things I like to put in there and not get crushed. On the way in, I store my round fish finder in the bottom. That thing used to dig into my back something fierce. Last year I added the Ursack (borrowed two from a friend) but his are not available this year. Not sure, but probably will hang this year. We carry a soft-sided food back from CCS and that will have to hang too this year. Good luck to everyone making it work.
A1t2o	05/16/2025 10:07AM REI Traverse Bear Canister is on sale now at REI until the 26th. 30% off, $56.
timatkn	05/16/2025 07:23AM foxfireniner: "I will use a blue barrel and pulleys. I have never had a problem with bears. If they start issuing $5000 fines, might as well go to Quetico and let Canada nickel and dime you to death. Looks like Minnesota is another blue state that overspent its tax dollars and needs to add a volunteer tax to its tourists. " I’m against the new food storage rules. I think the intent is good, just the previous history of bear issues doesn’t support the rule. Fully saying I could be wrong too. BUT your comment is RIDICULOUSLY IGNORANT! This is a Federal rule, has NOTHING to do with the state of Minnesota. Also I Hunt, fish, camp in The Dakotas, Iowa, and Missouri…those are alleged Red states and I can tell you they “nickel and dime tourists” at a much higher rate than Minnesota. 10x as much if you factor in how much those states put back into their resources vs. Minnesota. It’s has nothing to do with politics for those states either…it’s just plain ole economics. I don’t begrudge those states when I go use their resources and blame it on their alleged politics. Just keep the cheap political comments out of this please… Sorry…hit a nerve because I just got back from a trip to one of those states. T
Bearpath9	05/16/2025 04:55AM I use 2 Bear Vaults, the 500 and the 450. I'm a solo tripper, so my meals are foil pouches of tuna and chicken, wrapped in tortillas. I use the 500 for food and condiments, and the 450 for the garbage. I find a good place in the woods in opposite directions, to store them. I also tie a bandana to something to mark the spots. Never had any problems so far.
wxce1260	05/01/2025 10:32AM MikeinMpls: "wxce1260: "Could change the title of the post to "Protecting bears from food". :) I subscribe to the Cliff Jacobson school of bears that can smell and see your food will get your food and they tend to look up. That said, I use clean Bear Vaults hidden at night off the beaten path away from camp. Seems to have worked just fine." I've used the CJ method since first tripping with him over 40 years ago. Though we occasionally hang a food bag, we've never used vaults or Ursacks or barrels. I don't intend to start now. I've had bears in camp twice in 50+ trips, and perhaps it's luck, but I've not lost anything to bears. Maybe I'm operating on borrowed time... Mike" Same with me. Never used the vaults or Ursacks, before. Never have had a problem with bears, but I broke down and bought one of each last year when the new rules came out. Still seemed like it was an unnecessary expense.
foxfireniner	05/01/2025 10:20AM I will use a blue barrel and pulleys. I have never had a problem with bears. If they start issuing $5000 fines, might as well go to Quetico and let Canada nickel and dime you to death. Looks like Minnesota is another blue state that overspent its tax dollars and needs to add a volunteer tax to its tourists.
MikeinMpls	04/28/2025 11:43AM wxce1260: "Could change the title of the post to "Protecting bears from food". :) I subscribe to the Cliff Jacobson school of bears that can smell and see your food will get your food and they tend to look up. That said, I use clean Bear Vaults hidden at night off the beaten path away from camp. Seems to have worked just fine." I've used the CJ method since first tripping with him over 40 years ago. Though we occasionally hang a food bag, we've never used vaults or Ursacks or barrels. I don't intend to start now. I've had bears in camp twice in 50+ trips, and perhaps it's luck, but I've not lost anything to bears. Maybe I'm operating on borrowed time... Mike
wxce1260	04/28/2025 10:43AM Could change the title of the post to "Protecting bears from food". :) I subscribe to the Cliff Jacobson school of bears that can smell and see your food will get your food and they tend to look up. That said, I use clean Bear Vaults hidden at night off the beaten path away from camp. Seems to have worked just fine.
salukiguy	04/23/2025 10:45AM On my last trip I used two bear vaults. However I also had a soft sided cooler that I had some fresh foods in and I hung that. It was lighter and much easier to hang than a large pack.
Frenchy19	04/23/2025 10:27AM Have used Ursacks for ten plus years with no problem. No need to hang anything other than your feet over the side of your canoe!
LindenTree	04/17/2025 04:27PM New food storage order for the Chippewa National Forest. Chippewa NF food storage order.
LindenTree	04/17/2025 04:16PM MarshallPrime: "Also, I just dont get the Ursacks...you fasten them to a tree, the bears come in and smash all of your stuff...right ? Everything is in their own separate ziplock bags..so they dont get wet. Still get smashed...what am I missing?" Use the Ursacks for your garbage storage as your food stocks are reduced It keeps the crap out of your bear vaults. Works great.
MarshallPrime	04/17/2025 03:35PM Also, I just dont get the Ursacks...you fasten them to a tree, the bears come in and smash all of your stuff...right ? Everything is in their own separate ziplock bags..so they dont get wet. Still get smashed...what am I missing?
MarshallPrime	04/17/2025 03:34PM Yeah, huh, those are some brave wolves...most keep to themselves and stay far away from people, rarely to be seen. Maybe it is different on the island.
portagerunner	04/17/2025 02:13PM MarshallPrime: "LindenTree: "Isle Royale NP just implemented a new food storage order similar to the BWCA. New Food Storage order for Isle Royale " LOL, they dont even have bears on the Island....LOL" The wolves have gotten wise, free snacks in every tent.
MarshallPrime	04/17/2025 01:57PM LindenTree: "Isle Royale NP just implemented a new food storage order similar to the BWCA. New Food Storage order for Isle Royale " LOL, they dont even have bears on the Island....LOL
naturboy12	04/17/2025 11:04AM scottiebaldwin: "Try the new REI bear vault. You can choose to have it large or small. It’s easier to open than a Bear Vault as well. REI Traverse Bear Container " I'm not saying don't buy these, but with less capacity than a BV500 and more weight, it doesn't seem like an option most will opt for.
scottiebaldwin	04/16/2025 10:08PM Try the new REI bear vault. You can choose to have it large or small. It’s easier to open than a Bear Vault as well. REI Traverse Bear Container
timatkn	04/16/2025 09:11PM Back on topic… If you have bear resistent approved containers I personally wouldn’t hang. Hanging is the most often breached method of bears getting food? Why do it then? The Knife Lake bears know where people hang. They use the same trees over and over…they are like a beacon to bears. There is a good YouTube video of a perfectly hung Blue Barrel (not approved now) that was pulled down by a bear and her cubs. Once she got it down, she couldn’t smell any food so she left it. She only pulled it down because it was hung and that’s the dinner bell for the bears. If that barrel had been stashed it would probably never even been looked at. You already have a legal method to combat bears, don’t do the extra effort…also if the barrels fall a long distance onto a rock they could break open? You’re probably making yourself more susceptible to bears by hanging them. Knife Lake Bear
LindenTree	04/16/2025 06:00PM timatkn: " Interesting...for over 50 years no issues with campers and food (no Bears on the island) then they reintroduce wolves and decide to feed them (?)...now they target human food...I mean how could this of been avoided :)" LOL. Just don't feed the bears. I have nothing to add except that I use Bear Vaults or Ursacks and all of us BW Rangers used the same. We never hung food.
timatkn	04/16/2025 05:24PM LindenTree: "Isle Royale NP just implemented a new food storage order similar to the BWCA. New Food Storage order for Isle Royale " Interesting...for over 50 years no issues with campers and food (no bears on the island) then they reintroduce wolves and decide to feed them? Now they target human food...I mean how could this of been avoided? :)
LindenTree	04/16/2025 03:55PM Isle Royale NP just implemented a new food storage order similar to the BWCA. New Food Storage order for Isle Royale
NEIowapaddler	04/16/2025 03:03PM The only thing I'm going to say about this strategy is that "odorless" means something very different for humans than it does for bears. I have a very hard time believing that any practical method of food storage will result in bears not being able to smell it if they walk close by downwind.
Moonpath	04/16/2025 08:23AM So much depends on the specific circumstances. I used to hang my food all the time using pulleys. Only way to do it easily. The big problem is finding the right trees to hang from. This is not always easy and doing it haphazard will not keep a bear from it. So, I have followed Cliff Jacobsen's advice and hide the food away from camp. I have never had a problem with bears finding or getting into my food on many trips. You need to use common sense. You probably need to put the food off trail. Make it not very visible and make sure it is very tight and odorless. The only problem I have had is remembering where I put the food because I hid it so well.
straighthairedcurly	04/15/2025 02:49PM Jerlane: "I'm curious if anyone has used a Ursack with a blue barrel? The barrel would offer protection and ease of carrying while the ursack would make it BWCA compliant." I've heard of people doing this. However, I am not a fan of blue barrels since they add a lot of weight I don't think is worthwhile. I prefer to divide the Ursacks acros a couple packs and mix with other gear. But if you like blue barrels go for it.
NEIowapaddler	04/15/2025 01:34PM I've thought about doing that, and the only potential downside I can think of is a bear breaking into the barrel and running off with the ursack. That's less likely to happen if the ursack is tied properly to a tree. The convenience of using the barrel in combination with the ursack might be worth that small risk though. I don't think it's a bad idea.
Jerlane	04/15/2025 09:01AM I'm curious if anyone has used a Ursack with a blue barrel? The barrel would offer protection and ease of carrying while the ursack would make it BWCA compliant.
dustytrail	03/21/2025 06:32AM I used to paddle the far north where there are no trees. Bear barrels were required and Garcia bear barrels were the recommended brand. I once had a grizzly bear look at them and keep going.
straighthairedcurly	03/20/2025 08:53PM If you decide to hang food, pulleys can make it easier, especially if your food weighs a lot. There are some good posts in the archives here that can help you. I don't hang food anymore so maybe someone else can post a link for you. I prefer Ursacks, but also bring a small bear canister when I travel with a group that will have liquids (creamer, oil, syrup, etc). The liquids go in the bear canister and the canister gets placed in the woods away from the cooking area and in any depression area (to avoid a playful bear from batting it off a great distance). Ursack tips: You can rent them from many outfitters now if you don't want to invest in them. I have watched for sales over the last few years and grown my collection up to 4. With how I pack, I generally plan on 1 Ursack per person per week. Always use "odor proof" bags inside the Ursack. Choices include Opsak brand (I don't like them as the "zipper" closure is prone to ripping out), Smelly Proof brand (much better zipper closure), and mylar vacuum pack zipper closure bags (seem to work for multiple trips and are cheaper). Smelly Proof bags Mylar food storage bags This is the method I use to secure my Ursacks away from camp at night. It is also important to make sure you know how to properly tie your Ursack shut so the little critters can't squeeze inside. Ursack Quick Release video If carrying multiple Ursacks, I color code using different color carabiners (red for breakfast, green for lunch, etc).
Z4K	03/20/2025 05:45PM Yes, there are plenty of bears around Knife Lake. Relatively new regulations state that your food MUST be properly hung or stored in approved grizzly bear proof containers. Traditional food barrels do not meet the IGBC guideline. Some rotomolded coolers meet the standard if you padlock/bolt them closed, otherwise the BearVaults and Ursacks seem to be the most popular.
boonie	03/20/2025 04:36PM Short answer: It depends, and opinions vary. How many person days of food, type and quantity, packaging, etc. There are a lot of variables. I prefer to use bear canisters (BearVault, etc.) and Ursacks. Much easier than hanging, which has pretty restrictive guidelines. Bear canisters are not large (about 10-11 liters), some Ursacks are larger (up to 30 liters, I believe). Each has pros and cons. You can find a lot of information with a quick site search. I only take dry dehydrated foods - cereal and dinners that only require boiling water, meal bars, and nuts. I don't take a lot. I can usually get 8 [person] days (+/-) in a bear vault.
mnsportsmanjr	03/20/2025 04:30PM I guess depending on how much food you will have and your budget will determine what is best for you. If you are looking to purchase a system I have always heard great things about these two; Zpacks Bear Bags Bear Vault We are planning to use a 25L waterproof bag that we already have. It's not "Bear Proof" but if we hang it right, it shouldn't need to be. There are tons of YouTube videos on how to properly hand a bear bag.
PikeMan56	03/20/2025 01:09PM Hello all! My dad and I are going up to Knife Lake in June, and I’ve heard there are a lot of bears in the area. I was wondering if bear-proof containers are enough for food or if we should hang it up instead? I was also wondering if anyone had tips to make hanging it up any easier.