Safety in camping with BEARS?
612582
they saw to lock your food in a big metal box, ot hide it up in a tree. that seems like a bad idea, because now the only meal on the ground is YOU. and i think you'd need more than a 45 to take down a bear. they're huge.
1177195
Bears because they will attack you back
286359
if you are anywhere near Big Bear Lake CA, i suggest Holcomb Valley, or any of the other many small campsites dotted along the lake and highway. its nice and quiet up there and the air is clean. good for children too, many places to explore!
822716
It depends.  If the campsite has hunting or something, probably yes.  But if they don't they probably won't let you for safety reasons.  Also they might let you if there is hunting nearby.
904068
I have answered many "bear defense" questions over the years, but you are the first person who has asked about the 40 S&W for taking down a bear.\n\nA bear isn't a tank and it is not some mystical animal that can not be brought down.  If you do an internet search, you'll find a number of stories about people bringing down black and brown bear with a 22 rimfire.  This isn't something I'd try, but it has been done.\n\nWhat you need to look for in a bear defense handgun is something that is a compromise between power and recoil.  Two hits from a 357 Magnum is much better than one miss with a 454 Casull.\n\nTo be honest, a handgun isn't my weapon of choice when in bear county.  If it was, I'd personally opt for a 41 Magnum.  I would call the 40 S&W adequate at best.  However, if you are familiar with the weapon and can shoot it well, in the end, that is much more important than more muzzle energy.\n\nChances are, you won't have to worry about a bear attack.  I have walked more miles and fished more salmon streams in Alaska than I can remember.  I have yet to be attacked by a bear or have anything I'd even classify a close call.  \n\nYou are smart to carry a firearm, "just in case".  While I have never had an issue with a bear, I have always carried a rifle or handgun.  Better to have one and not need it and need one and not have it.
690872
To avoid attack by sharks, never swim with a bleeding wound, which sends them into a psychotic feeding-frenzy, keep nearer the beach and a constant vigil for them, with other swimmers, and preferably a very nearby boat, and as sharks nudge and nibble to determine if something is edible, you have to strike them hard -kick, punch, heel of hand, elbow- them on the nose, as they have a very sensitive area full of nerve-endings there, and can be fazed for a few minutes by a strong strike.\n  Bears are territorial, and 'own' a big area!  The worst thing to do is startle a bear, sneaking up on them.  You should sing while you hike, walk with jingle-bells on your boots, play a radio, makes a lot of noise, and they will hide, and watch you.  Never make eye-contact, never start running to escape, they can catch Olympic sprinters!  Keep  a big pistol to hand.  The noise will scare most off, but the gun helps gives you a confident psychic trace, that they pick up on, rather than you quaking in your boots, wishing you had a gun! \nBee-stings kill a lot more than both.
202367
Your best bet for attracting bears would be molassis.  The other answers are... ok, but based on shear experience molassis is the best think around.  It won't wash away and the smell carries better than anything else.
40026
A nice pair of silk long johns is a good place to start. Other little treats for yourself include down clothing, they even make pants. I have a pair of down booties for use in the sleeping bag. Other little clothing tidbits. Wear a hat at all times, even sleeping. You can also sleep with a warm water bottle. Some cautions with this: make sure you know whether the bottle leaks and Nalgene's are notoriously leaky, if you or your bag gets wet, you may be having a harder time keeping warm. If so you can contain it in a ziplock bag or a roll down velcro closure bag. If the water is too hot, you should put it in a sock or something to keep from burning your skin. My hiking buddy/co worker went to bed with a hot water nalgene between his thighs one night. He thought that was clever because a LOT of blood passes through there and warm blood travels to other parts of the body, warming them. But he woke up with blisters on his thighs...dangerously close to the family jewels. Last word about hot water bottle, if you use a collapsible canteen or bottle, make sure you fill it allllll the way up, because even then your bottle will cave in as the water cools down. At the very least you want to minimize this so you don't ruin your bottle. If the bottle cools this way, it will never hold as much as it used to.\n\nA good camping mat. The closed cell foam ones that roll up are cheap and effective and very lightweight, the next step up is the self inflating ones but they are heavier. And you can buy covers for those inflating mats that convert them into a chair.\n\nYou need to dress warm. The most effective thing in my opinion, and also more versatile, is to dress in multiple light layers. In the winter, I wear about 8 layers in the coldest weather...long john shirt, tee shirt, maybe a button down shirt, a fleece vest, as many fleece crewneck tops (the fuzzy polartec type, not sweathshirt fleece) as I can pile on, and my rain jacket. The good news is that if I can add or remove pieces at will until I am perfectly comfortable. IF you go the other route of a couple indoor layers and then one big poofy piece you need to understand the principles of loft, which includes your sleeping bag.\n\nLoft is the way insulation in a comforter, parka, or sleeping bag works. They create tiny little air pockets around you and hold YOUR OWN body heat in them. IF you have a lot of clothing between you and the insulating item, you will actually defeat the purpose of the item because you insulate the item FROM your body heat. This is why many things are true: it is better to sleep with fewer clothing items when you want to be warmer in the bag. It is also important not to compromise loft by choosing an item that doesn't fit your body and causes you to squash it from the inside out, or with a bunch of heavy layers on top of it to squash it from the outside in. If you compress your item too much, even in storage, or in your pack or its stuff sack, there are fewer air pockets formed and the item doesn't work as well.\n\nSO choose ONE dressing strategy and know how to apply it.\n\nOther important facts:\n\nAll the things discussed so far are only ways to insulate yourself. They are not generating any heat on their own. To do that, you need to DRINK plenty of water, and you need to EAT, warm foods that are high in sugars and fats are excellent, and you need to MOVE. A bedtime snack can be anything from a candy bar to a stick of butter, NO kidding! A bedtime activity could be a couple minutes jumping up and down, then one last go at the fire. AND YOU MUST DRINK WATER. \n\nEven if you can't stand cold liquids. EVEN IF you don't want to be up all night peeing. Your body needs the water to circulate the blood, and to metabolize food, both of which assist you in staying warm. Another thing you need to know about water is that both dehydration and hypothermia have the early warning sign of disorientation and confusion. The trouble is, if YOU are the one
293876
Well I jumped the fence once and the cops came lol. Well most parks post the hours they are open. If not posted I'd say it was perfectly legal. Safe? Thats another story!.Well in another case I camped (legally) in a city park(Alaska)
633425
I was once chased by a bear in Alaska.  I got a way because the bear was about 100 yards away and I saw him first.  He started to run towards me but I retreated to the boat.
419862
Try searching the American Camping Association website at http://www.acacamps.com you can search there by location and age groups. After you find a camp get permission from your social worker which shouldn't be a problem.Good luck!
326916
heres a list that will cover everything you need for every type of camping\n\na sturdy tent\na tarp\na backpacking stove\ncooking and eating utensils\ncooking pans or small pot\ndried food,\nwater\nclothing for the season\nrain gear\nswimsuit\nhiking boots\ncamp shoes\ntoiletries\nfishing pole and tackle ( if going near water so you can catch food if you run out)\niodine and water filter for water purification\nsleeping bag\nno pillow ( you can make one out of you clothes its pretty comfy Ive done it)\nfirst aid kit\nemergency whistle\nmatches\nfire starters\nGlobal Positioning System ((GPS) preferably one that is also a two way communicator)\na map and compass (the batteries in a GPS will run out if you're not careful)\na flashlight and extra batteries\nand the most important A BUDDY!!!!!!!!! NEVER GO INTO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITHOUT A BUDDY BECAUSE IF YOU GET SERIOUSLY INJURED YOU ARE EXTREMELY LIKELY TO DIE THERE.\nALSO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHEN YOU WILL BE BACK. THAT WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN TO START A SEARCH PARTY IF YOU DO NOT SHOW AT YOUR DESIGNATED ARRIVAL TIME \n\nhope that helps you out
59318
Many bears of northern regions are assumed to hibernate in the winter. In fact, they don't hibernate. Their body temperature sinks a moderate amount and they can be easily awakened.
119494
What kind of "safety"?
1110612
most camp beds are plastic i suggest keeping your arms and legs inside...cuz it might runn off the edge.
499237
For survival as far as finding food?  Or killing your enemies out in the wild?  Generally for outdoor survival you don't need to worry about food-you can go many weeks without any food at all, and months with a seriously reduced diet.\nAs far as killing enemies-the most effective means are simple traps based on snares for small animals.  Just set the trip-snare to cause injury.  The most effect sort of injury-inducing trap like this would be something that strikes the head/neck area.  Even if there isnt a great deal of force (for example, a bent branch), as long as you can penetrate the skin, you may be able to poison the person or cause a severe infection (by smearing feces on the spikes, for example) or, if you are lucky, partially or fully blinding the person.  If you have the equipment, even fairly shallow deadfalls with sharpened sticks in the bottom can be debilitating-but you have to lure the person over the deadfall.  The only effective weapons that can be made without a great deal of practice are things such as spears and other throwing weapons.  One fairly effective weapon like this (also used to disable small mammals) is to take two sticks, anywhere from 1-2 inches in diameter, and about 1 foot each-sharpen both ends, and tie them together in an "X" shape- With a surprising short amount of practice, this can be quite effective as a hunting tool or weapon.
538631
I'm going to answer this in point form for you.\n\nFood:\n1)Trail Mix - peanuts, raisins/cranberries, smarties, almonds, caramel popcorn...and anything else you think is good. Make up a couple bags of it. It's great for snacks and energy.\n2)I like to bring hard-boiled eggs, and pre-cooked bacon for breakfast.\n3)Pepperettes and Cheese, lunch\n4)Fruit-to-Go's. They taste great and are good for you.\n5)Crystal Light - Turns water into yummy juice\n6)Sidekicks - Easy to cook in pot on fire (get ones that only need water and butter - milk isn't for camping)\n7)Beef Jerky\n8)Meal replacement bars\n8)Catch a Fish and fillet it.\n9)Frozen meat, ie. steak, pork chops, sausages, will only stay good for one or two nights max. Keep them in a soft cooler and out of the sun. You can cook these up on a grill over the fire. Bring Mrs Dash - Good if you catch a fish too.\nIf you are on a campsite, and won't need to carry everything, it'll be easier. If you're planning on a hike, you might want to follow some of my listed foods above.\n\nGear:\n1)Tent with Fly. Tarp if rain is forcasted, for inside of tent, line it with tarp, corners up toward ceiling.\n2)Thermarests and sleeping bags. Try to get the lightest stuff possible. Keep them DRY.\n3)Small cookstove - a saviour in the rain, or for quick cook-ups. I prefer the ones that use naptha/camp fuel, to propane. Lasts longer and uses less room in my pack.\n4)Water Purifier - So much better to pump your own water than to carry around gallons of it.  Nalgene containers are the best for all your liquid stuff. Some people break their eggs in advance, put them in a nalgene, and then pour them out into the frying pan.\n5)Headlamp - a hands free headlamp is a must for camping! I can't live without mine.\n6)First Aid Kit. Be prepared. Bad things do happen. A huge tree fell a few feet from my tent last year. I was lucky!\n7)A whitle. A loud one. Scares away animals and attracts people if you need help.\n8)A Knife. I couldn't go camping without my lockblade. Also bring thin rope or string. Always handy.\n9)Bug Spray!\n10)Light materialed, baggy clothing is best for summer camping. Bugs have a hard time biting through it cause they're baggy, they dry out fast if they get wet, and they're cool. The zip on/off short/pant deals work best. Light coloured clothing attracts less bugs. Comfy socks and shoes are important too.\n11)Fishing pole and lures. What's camping without fishing?\n\nI could probably go on, but you're probably wondering when I'm going to shut up, lol. Hope this helps!\n\nHappy Trails!