Nocturnal Predator Questions

[benamucc]

Hey all! Long time until I can start growing outside, but I'm trying to plan, and a couple questions have come up...

I've heard people mention they only visit their outdoors at night time. I live way up in the sticks but still need to be stealthy due to a public trail that runs along one boarder of my property, and the 3 properties that have an easement to access theirs. My problem is that there are alot of nocturnal predators around where I live. AKA bear, mountain lion, wolf, coyote to name a few.

I'd feel alot better about taking a sidearm with me than a can of mace, but am a firm believer that guns and drugs are no-no's. The last thing I want is to be in the woods standing over a dead bear out of season in the middle of the night with plants nearby.

I have a ghillie suit from hunting that will be MORE than adequate to hide myself in low light, and works good in daylight, but I have to move slow to avoid looking like Sasquatch or a bear to hikers. Any ideas as to how I could deal with the predators??

 

[Hick]

Several years back, I was invited on a pack trip into the Montana Bitterroot range for a week of trout fishing with a reputable outfitter. My cost was pretty much, what it would cost me to showup on his doorstep with my fishing rod. How could I refuse.
I arrived late the evening before we were scheduled to set out. "Mack" filled me in on the next mornings agenda and I riddled him with questions on the tackle, gear, ect. that I should include/exclude from the panards. Next am on our way outta' town, we stopped at a li'l Sporting Goods, bait shop, gas station that caters to pple heading out into the wilderness, for a few last minute items and fuel.
I wandered through the store looking for anything that I might have neglected to throw in, or that might come in handy during the week. Right aloong side a display of "Bear Deterrant Pepper spray, I came across a rack of "Bear Bells"..? A small bell, about 2-3 inch square, attatched to a fiberglass rod about 2 feet long, in such a manner that it could be tied to a backpack frame, and would 'jingle' as the hiker walked along. I picked one up and 'jingled' it just about the time Mack came in the door. He looked at me with a wide grin, kinda; shook his head and went to the counter to pay.
I hustled on outside to the truck 'n horse trailer, giddy to get this trip underway. On our way on up the moutain to the trailhead, I asked Mack about bears. He said we would be going into an area with a lotta' black bears and even a few 'grizz's'. The thought of seeing, possibly even photographing a good grizz peaked my interest, shall we say. I immeadiatly started with questions. "How big are the grizz here?".."What's the easiest way to distinguish between them?".. "Think we'll see any?"..to which Macks replies were usually one or two words.(Mack don't say a whole lot)
Well, eventually, we got headed up the trail, packstring in towe. Mack leading off, the two pack horses next, and I bringing up the rear. Several times along the trail, I saw huge piles of bear scat and silently wondered to myself.."black or grizzly??"
About 2 o'clock we stopped along the trail for a lunch break of coldcut sandwiches and piece of fresh fruit. Just so happened right nearby was another of those huge piles of bear crap. Mack caught me 'eyeballin' it.."Black bear." he says, in no uncertain terms. Well, now being as Mack was offering some information freely, I felt it was the time to pursue the subject a bit further.
"Black bear?..How can you tell?..the size?..
"Nope" he says.."griz' crap smells of peppers and has bells in it." ...


That said, IMHO, you have little to fear from the wild game, a lot less dangerous than visiting the local 7-11 in many neighborhoods.
Pepper spray or mace should provide you with adequate protection.. IMO.

 

[godtea]

Old joke but a good one Hickster:
Here's another chestnut
Two guys are hiking in Grizzly country ;One has traditional boots the other has on a pair of track shoes .
The boot wearer asked the other with the "why do you wear track shoes instead of boots ?"
"In case we run into a bear of course" he replied
"You idiot you'll never outrun a bear"
"I don't have to outrun the bear I only have to outrun you"

 

[Timmyjg6]

OLd...

 

[benamucc]

Ok, after an extensive amount of research now, it seems BearSpray is reccomended against any predator, above firearms. Studies have shown that survivors of a predator attack using a firearm as defense are 50% more likely to sustain injury than those using BearSpray as a defense. Bells (as noted above) are found to be too quiet to sufficiently alert potential prey. Also, hiking with a dog is NOT reccomended, as this may ATRACT potential predators.

Thanks for the laughs tho...

 

[smokybear]

Go with the bear spray. It should be just fine for you. I have done many outdoor grows and I also live wayyyy out in the sticks. Black bear, coyotes, mountain lions, ect... here also. I've never had a problem. Never had to use my bear spray. Take care and be safe.

 

[LowRider]

if you do happen carry you don't want to carry a .357, or a .45 or a puny 9mm. You'll need to step up to a 454 casual or .500 S&W. anything less than those two your just going to piss him off. its like throwing BB's at someone.

 

[Hick]

if you do happen carry you don't want to carry a .357, or a .45 or a puny 9mm. You'll need to step up to a 454 casual or .500 S&W. anything less than those two your just going to piss him off. its like throwing BB's at someone.

I personally have dispatched a few bears and Mt lion with a 357. They are plenty of "firepower".
But, as benamucc said.. "Gun's 'n drugs", don't go well together. Especially in the eyes of the law.

 

[Dewayne]

yup. I live in a very rural area where there's lots of coyotes, bears, wolves, deer, wild boars, and LOTS of gators. I go out to visit my plants at night as well. I've never had any problems, in fact my biggest problems were with snakes, but you can take care of those easy. I found out, at night you can hear everything so well lol. Ive heard things in the bushes and if it gives you a fright, just turn around and go back the way you came and come back later.

And if you're really interested to see what it was, go look for some tracks. Honestly i don't think you will have to worry about them

 

[Puffin Afatty]

griz thinks of you as a meal, bells may not be such a good idea, kinda like sounding the dinner gong :rofl: . pepper spray is the way to go, if you cant carry a 500SW or a 12 ga slug gun.