Camping in WY/MT grizzly country

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Taking a trip up to WY/MT area and dispersed camping in our off-road camper w/ rtt outside of Grand Teton & Yellowstone areas. Live in CO and only think about black bears, so first time in grizzly country. Need to prep and grab a few things before heading up there.

1. I know there are areas that prohibit soft-sided campers, but if dispersed camping is there signage?
2. Our propane grill & stove I guess I could remove from the camper and cook away from the campsite so we don’t smell up the campsite or rtt.
3. After washing dishes, I could move the sink drain bucket away from camp.
4. We have an ARB 12v 63qt fridge (thats completely full on trips) on a slide out from the camper that I could lock. Should I but a bear-resistant cooler and chain it to a tree away from camp? Hate to spend $400 on a cooler that Id use a few times a year.
5. Currently our setup has the food pantry in the kitchen-side door that could be locked. Should I get bear-proof storage and tie in a tree away from camp?
6. Currently store the dog food in frontrunner cub packs and store in camper door that can be locked. Should I get something bear-proof and store away from camp?
7. We use a separate ensuite tent for toilet and shower. Am I supposed to move that away from camp as well? Not too fond of this for using the bathroom.
8. I have (2) canisters of bear spray for the wife & I.
9. I have a 12ga semi-auto bullpup shotgun loaded w/ slugs for around camp.
10. I have a glock20 loaded w/ Buffalo Bore 220gr hard cast ammo in a chest holster & on a magnet mount for when Im in bed.
11. Have (2) large dogs who sleep in the annex & attached “kids tent” (we don’t have kids) who hear everything and 1 who looks and thinks he’s a big bear.
12. Should I pick up bear bells as well?

Any thoughts or other suggestions? Maybe Im overthinking this but Im a planner and like to have everything I need.

 

[old_man]

I have camped in what you call grizzly country for 50 years. All I ever carried was a special forces flare gun and an compressed airhorn. Other than in heavily touristed parks, I have never seen a grizzly. They like to stay away from humans until the tourists start feeding them. The dogs can be a plus or a minus. They can warn you but also agitate the bear and you end up trying to contain your dogs and that will put you in direct line between the dogs and the bear...not a good place to be. A bear will make short work of a dog that is not trained to hunt bear. It takes a pack of trained dogs to take down a bear.

My first reaction to this thread was to remember the joke about how to tell black bear scatt from grizzly scatt. The grizzly scat has a faint aroma of peppers and contains brass dinner bells.

 

[PCO6]

... My first reaction to this thread was to remember the joke about how to tell black bear scatt from grizzly scatt. The grizzly scat has a faint aroma of peppers and contains brass dinner bells.

They make signs to explain that.

 

[maddscot]

Interesting topic, I have hiked in all bear country areas for extended back country hikes and thru-hike/section hikes. However that experience is a total different "animal" as we don't have a full vehicle of stuff with us. Minimalist packing and concerns only. Always have stored food, hygiene, and other smell goods (to a bear) away from camp site, cooked in camp but clean up of a hiking pan/cup and mini stove is not the same as a full blown overland set up. I'm with old_man on this one with the dogs, unless trained can be an issue (I had an experience with a dog and mountain lion). Ideally I would check with locals that give real information (not the ones that like to scare off visitors with tall tails) and rangers who err on the side of caution. Being a naturalist previously who led hikes and interpretive learning as well as back country training real information from knowledgeable local sources is often best.

 

[rgallant]

A couple of big things :

As noted above check the local information and if possible the fish & game websites, they will generally indicate if an area has a problem bear or bears.
Before camping check for bear sign, large animal trails or bear food sources if any are obvious you may want to move on, but particularly 1 and 3

• Store all food in air tight containers - I use zip locks as well inside those
• Store all garbage up a tree away from your camp site at least 100yds/meters away
• Keep you camp clean no opened food around ,when you are done with it pack it up
• Dish water needs to gotten rid of away from camp or boiled off in can in the fire and the can added to the garbage
• If you want to have fish I suggest having an early meal then travel to your campsite after cleaning up

Beyond that out side of campsites bears are rarely a problem unless you give them a reason to be, food is the most common reason people run into problems. Or cubs, cubs are just curious little kids with inadequate fear, and very very over-protective moms

 

[CR-Venturer]

A couple of big things :

As noted above check the local information and if possible the fish & game websites, they will generally indicate if an area has a problem bear or bears.
Before camping check for bear sign, large animal trails or bear food sources if any are obvious you may want to move on, but particularly 1 and 3

• Store all food in air tight containers - I use zip locks as well inside those
• Store all garbage up a tree away from your camp site at least 100yds/meters away
• Keep you camp clean no opened food around ,when you are done with it pack it up
• Dish water needs to gotten rid of away from camp or boiled off in can in the fire and the can added to the garbage
• If you want to have fish I suggest having an early meal then travel to your campsite after cleaning up

Beyond that out side of campsites bears are rarely a problem unless you give them a reason to be, food is the most common reason people run into problems. Or cubs, cubs are just curious little kids with inadequate fear, and very very over-protective moms

I like that idea of boiling off the dish water and putting it in the trash.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

The question is going to be, can I instill all of these do's and don'ts into my wife's head. Regarding the dogs, the one (4yr 75lb chocolate labradoodle) who goes nuts around anything brown and bigger than him (ex. when he got the herd of elk all worked up with his excitement) will be the problem one. I keep his training collar, gps tracker and leashes on both dogs at night in case I have to grab them real quick and head out. His growl comes across as vicious but I know for a fact a bear would tear him up and he'll either get hit with the bear spray or something worse.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Here is my setup. Trying to figure out how the food thing is going to work out. Probably look at getting a bear-resistant cooler for the fridge stuff and chaining to a tree, dry storage containers for the others including dog food hung from a tree.

 

[rgallant]

nice setup

 

[PNW EXPLR]

I have camped in what you call grizzly country for 50 years. All I ever carried was a special forces flare gun and an compressed airhorn....

I would caution against the flare gun. You don’t want to be responsible for the cost of the USFS response to fight a wild land fire. There are bang sticks that are effective as well as hand held flares.

@2Jeeps&PatriotX1 I think the biggest concern will be all of the food and safe storage of it. That is always a concern when primitive camping. We have property southEast of Cody a ways (becoming grizzly country because of Bear population increasing) and we hunt in the Bridger wilderness south of Jackson. I am usually willing to pay the fee for the big heavy duty bear box in camp.
As you already mentioned, it is a good idea to do all of your cooking And food prep at least 100 yds from camp.
Really there is no substitute for just being smart and careful, and not taking a pop tart to bed just incase you get snacky.

 

[Billiebob]

Taking a trip up to WY/MT area and dispersed camping in our off-road camper w/ rtt outside of Grand Teton & Yellowstone areas. Live in CO and only think about black bears, so first time in grizzly country. Need to prep and grab a few things before heading up there.

1. I know there are areas that prohibit soft-sided campers, but if dispersed camping is there signage?

No

1. Our propane grill & stove I guess I could remove from the camper and cook away from the campsite so we don’t smell up the campsite or rtt.

Good idea

1. After washing dishes, I could move the sink drain bucket away from camp.

YES

1. We have an ARB 12v 63qt fridge (thats completely full on trips) on a slide out from the camper that I could lock. Should I but a bear-resistant cooler and chain it to a tree away from camp? Hate to spend $400 on a cooler that Id use a few times a year.

You might need to change your priorities. You might need to adjust your diet. Grand Teton and Yellowstone are not a weekend at Red Rocks.

1. Currently our setup has the food pantry in the kitchen-side door that could be locked. Should I get bear-proof storage and tie in a tree away from camp?

YES

1. Currently store the dog food in frontrunner cub packs and store in camper door that can be locked. Should I get something bear-proof and store away from camp?

YES

1. We use a separate ensuite tent for toilet and shower. Am I supposed to move that away from camp as well? Not too fond of this for using the bathroom.

YES

1. I have (2) canisters of bear spray for the wife & I.

???? Good idea

1. I have a 12ga semi-auto bullpup shotgun loaded w/ slugs for around camp.

lol, hope the bear waits for you to get it.

1. I have a glock20 loaded w/ Buffalo Bore 220gr hard cast ammo in a chest holster & on a magnet mount for when Im in bed.

brilliant

1. Have (2) large dogs who sleep in the annex & attached “kids tent” (we don’t have kids) who hear everything and 1 who looks and thinks he’s a big bear.

Dogs are a wild card but yes they will likely wake you up. Bears like easy food, dogs might be a deterrent.

1. Should I pick up bear bells as well?

Sure
Any thoughts or other suggestions? Maybe Im overthinking this but Im a planner and like to have everything I need.

You can never overthink bears, but understand what motivates them..... FOOD

Need to prep and grab a few things before heading up there.

1. I know there are areas that prohibit soft-sided campers, but if dispersed camping is there signage?

No

1. Our propane grill & stove I guess I could remove from the camper and cook away from the campsite so we don’t smell up the campsite or rtt.

Good idea

1. After washing dishes, I could move the sink drain bucket away from camp.

YES

1. We have an ARB 12v 63qt fridge (thats completely full on trips) on a slide out from the camper that I could lock. Should I but a bear-resistant cooler and chain it to a tree away from camp? Hate to spend $400 on a cooler that Id use a few times a year.

Overkill, adjust your diet, lifestyle for where you are going. Part of the challenge is blending in, not bringing Denver to the wilds.

1. Currently our setup has the food pantry in the kitchen-side door that could be locked. Should I get bear-proof storage and tie in a tree away from camp?

YES

1. Currently store the dog food in frontrunner cub packs and store in camper door that can be locked. Should I get something bear-proof and store away from camp?

YES

1. We use a separate ensuite tent for toilet and shower. Am I supposed to move that away from camp as well? Not too fond of this for using the bathroom.

YES

1. I have (2) canisters of bear spray for the wife & I.

???? Good idea

1. I have a 12ga semi-auto bullpup shotgun loaded w/ slugs for around camp.

lol, hope the bear waits for you to get it.

1. I have a glock20 loaded w/ Buffalo Bore 220gr hard cast ammo in a chest holster & on a magnet mount for when Im in bed.

brilliant

1. Have (2) large dogs who sleep in the annex & attached “kids tent” (we don’t have kids) who hear everything and 1 who looks and thinks he’s a big bear.

Dogs are a wild card but yes they will likely wake you up. Bears like easy food, dogs might be a deterrent.

1. Should I pick up bear bells as well?

Sure....... not sure how well they work with Grizzlys tho.


You can never overthink bears, but understand what motivates them..... FOOD
Add territorial with Grizzlies. If you bring a gun to knife fight, you better know how to use it. I've had a Park Ranger friend killed by a grizzly. He had all the guns and training. Think about that trip.

ps Bear Proof is a marketing clause.

I went to an Avalanche Seminar 40 years ago. a thousand people to hear the keynote speaker, his advice, stay on flat land.

 

[VI Overlander]

There is no reason not to take extra precautions in griz country. With that said don’t live a life fearing this incredible animal. Every griz encounter doesn’t end in a blood bath with the griz winning, yes a it more unpredictable that a black bear But the same rules apply. If you fear bears, turn off your TV, The only fear you should have is not living life and having these incredible experiences that gives us a deeper appreciation of top tier predators

 

[old_man]

I actually have a bunch of trip wire shotgun shell initiators. I use 12 gauge blanks. It makes a non-lethal brilliant flash and a horrendous bang. It startles most animals and makes them instantly flee. They are legal in all 50 states. I just string up a perimeter when I leave or at night.
Tripwire Alarm
Personally I have had way more trouble with skunks and racoons tearing things up than bears. Down south now, I would use it for feral hogs.

 

[PNW EXPLR]

I actually have a bunch of trip wire shotgun shell initiators. I use 12 gauge blanks. It makes a non-lethal brilliant flash and a horrendous bang. It startles most animals and makes them instantly flee. They are legal in all 50 states. I just string up a perimeter when I leave or at night.
Tripwire Alarm
Personally I have had way more trouble with skunks and racoons tearing things up than bears. Down south now, I would use it for feral hogs.

Yeah those are great. Just set them high enough so the smaller critters go under.