The science of scent, bears, and ways to severely restrict odor diffusion

JG H – after packing in them in odor proof bags, where do you store the food? hang them or hide them?

In the Smokies, they have hanging cables at every campsite so we hang our food bags on those.

If we’re somewhere else on the east cost that doesn’t have established hanging systems we hang our food bags using the PCT method.

If we’re backpacking where bear canisters are required, we use those.

“Never open your can and all will be good.”

Can’t wait for. the new rules in Yosemite backcountry:

–you must carry a hard sided bear canister for all your food

–you’re not allowed to open the canister, unless you stumble upon an obviously malnourished bear. Then you ARE required to cook a heathy meal for the bear, while wearing disposable surgeons gloves. The gloves must then be stored in the canister for the remainder of your hike.

–you are allowed to eat another backpacker, in order to reduce traffic in the Yosemite backcountry. But you must pack out the remains, in a bear canister. So you must carry two bear canister, one empty, one full.

–have a safe trip!

4mil bags+odour proof storage (Opsak), that’s what I do as well, no issues yet but don’t want to jinx it

AI Overview

Yes, you can use Pine-Sol to repel bears:
Spray bins: Spraying garbage and compost bins with the original scent of Pine-Sol can help keep bears away.
Mask food smells: Use Pine-Sol to mask food smells around kitchen windows and doors.
Put in your car: Put an open bowl of Pine-Sol on the front seat of your car, but cover it while driving.
Repel other animals: The pine smell in Pine-Sol repels most animals and insects.

I have quite a few pics and videos of my cameras being molested by both bear and elk. I think there is more to wildlife attraction to game cams than just food odors. I have several game cams out in the woods where I live that may be out there for 3 months or more before being checked. Even after 3 months bears will zero in on the cameras and investigate, or even rip them from the tree and carry them a short distance. It’s the same with elk, they are terrified of game cams at night, but deer don’t react at all. Elk will frequently chew on or scrape the camera off the tree rather aggressively sometimes, and it may go on for 15+ minutes each time.

Cats and coyotes aren’t that concerned about the cams.