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CT Trampers

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Posts posted by CT Trampers

  1. Regarding what to do in a Black Bear attack, I have been taught the following:

     

    Fight it! Curling up as you would do during a Grizzly attack will only make you a submissive food item to the Black Bear. Once you show any resistance, the bear will usually back off.

     

    From the website www.nwtwildlife.rwed.gov.nt.ca:

     

    "If a Bear Charges

     

    A bear charges at high speed on all four legs. Many charges are bluffs. Bears often stop or veer to the side at the last minute. However, if contact appears unavoidable, you have three options: shoot to kill if you have a gun; play dead if you are attacked by a grizzly; or fight back if attacked by a black bear.

     

    Shooting a Bear

     

    The right moment to squeeze the trigger depends on your nerve, experience with a firearm, and how fast the bear is approaching. The decision can be made only by the person facing the bear, and must be made quickly.

     

    An accurate shot fired at close range has a greater chance of killing a bear than one fired from farther away. The first shot is the most important. If you must kill a bear, aim for the shoulder if the bear is broadside, or the back of the neck between the shoulders if the bear is facing you. Avoid head shots - they often do not kill a bear. Do not stop to check the results of your shot. Keep firing until the bear is still. Try to kill the bear cleanly and quickly - a wounded bear is very dangerous.

     

    Playing Dead

     

    Playing dead may prevent serious injury if you are attacked by a grizzly bear. Do not play dead during a black bear attack or if a grizzly bear is treating you as prey. Playing dead will help protect your vital areas, and the bear may leave if you appear harmless. There are two recommended positions:

     

    lie on your side, curled into a ball, legs drawn tightly to your chest, hands clasped behind your neck;

    lie flat on the ground, face down, fingers intertwined behind your neck.

     

    Stay in these positions even if moved. Do not resist or struggle - it may intensify the attack. Look around cautiously, and be sure the bear is gone before moving.

     

    Fighting Back

     

    If a black bear attacks you or a grizzly bear shows signs that it considers you prey, and you do not have a firearm, do not play dead. Act aggressively. Defend yourself with whatever means are available. You want to appear dominant and frighten the bear. Jump up and down, shout, and wave your arms. It may help to raise your jacket or pack to make you look bigger."

     

    Hope this helps,

     

    Al.

     

    PS- The only encounter I have ever had with a black bear is very similar to RJ's experience.

     

    My wife and I were hiking up Mt. Tecumseh in New Hampshire. We were approx. 1/2 mile from the trailhead, with the ski area still in view. I heard a noise to my right. Thinking it was a chipmunk due to the "little" sound it made moving, I was quite shocked to see a black bear that weighed around 250 lbs. The only thing I could think of doing was to yell, "BEAR!" As soon as it heard me, it took off into the woods as fast as it could. I had my camera in my front pocket, but the bear took off so quickly that I was unable to get a picture. Amazing sighting. It did, however, make us a bit paranoid during the rest of the hike. We talked much louder from then on, and whenever we'd approach a blind curve we'd shout, "Hey Bear, humans here!"

  2. We have been hiking with two cans of Counter Assault for years, one in the holster and one in the pack. We hike in the Northeast, where there are only black bears. We have gotten some strange looks/comments from people regarding the bear spray being "overkill". The way we look at is better safe than sorry. It does give us a measure of confidence when out hiking/camping. Plus, if worse came to worse, if it can stop a Grizzly, it sure as hell can stop a human.

     

    The stuff has a shelf life of around three years. When our first can of spray was nearing the expiration date, we took it into a wooded area for a test. Pretty impressive. It makes a spray approx. 4 ft wide and 20 feet long, covering a good sized area. We got around 5 seconds of spray from the can.

     

    Also, there is a pamphlet that comes with the spray waring not to spray around campsite, on clothing, etc. It clearly states that the sole purpose of the spray is to repel a charging bear.

     

    Hopefully we will never have to use the stuff, but as I said earlier, it does make us feel more comfortable having it.

  3. quote:
    Originally posted by CT Trampers:

    Hmm- Since we may fall into this category (we "double counted" two caches yesterday.)

     

    The two caches in CT we visited yesterday, (Naugatuck trail and Middlebury Landtrust) are considered new caches by the cache owner. Yes indeed we found the caches in their original hiding spot, but these have since been removed to a completely different location. We asked permission from the cache placer to post a find, even though we had found the caches in their original locations. He said to go ahead, as his feeling was that since the cache location moved, it would count as another find. I'm sure if the cache owner had a problem with our found logs, he would have deleted them.


  4. Hmm- Since we may be the ones this post is originally about (we "double listed" two caches yesterday.)

     

    The two caches in CT we visited yesterday, (Naugatuck trail and Middlebury Landtrust) are considered new caches by the cache owner. Yes indeed we found the caches in their original hiding spot, but these have since been removed to a completely different location. We asked permission from the cache placer to post a find, even though we had found the caches in their original locations. He said to go ahead, as his feeling was that since the cache location moved, it would count as another find. I'm sure if the cache owner had a problem with our found logs, he would have deleted them.

  5. I am thinking of buying a few "break your own Geodes" to use as cache prizes/trade items. Will include a note with the Geode rock indicating what it is and how to break open. Otherwise it will appear that some knucklehead just left a rock in the cache!

     

    ( In case someone doesn't know, a Geode appears to be a normal rock, but it is hollow on the inside and once broken open, reveals crystals in the center. Not particularly valuable, but kind of interesting, IMO )

     

    Do you think these are good trade items?

     

    Thanks for your input-

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