Cooking under tarp/near hammock

[Kukri]

That kind of stuff is why I'm afraid to camp in bear country. Even though I know the scenery is beautiful and the bears don't cause a problem except for a VERY small percent of trips, I just don't feel like taking the risk right now. Maybe someday I'll be a bit braver about it, but not anytime soon. I'll stick with my bear-free midwest thank you.

[vitamaltz]

With a knife like that, you have nothing to fear!

[Mustardman]

I'm wondering how much I will have to change my behavior if/when I end up in Colorado... don't want to draw in any bears... or cougars

[babelfish5]

Most of my camping is in the Gulf Coast and bears are not a concern. I usually only do breakfast and my morning coffee out of my hammock. Coyotes and raccoons are my only worry.

If you freezer bag cook and store right even those aren't a big concern. However, I would NEVER do that in bear country.

[gargoyle]

Classic comedy. thanks mule, its always a funny joke.

[SmokeBait]

Too funny!!! But darn good advice.

stumo

Better take a look at this. Read it all.

[Shug]

I do....... breakfast, coffee and have cooked dinner under it in the rain. Bears ... I am aware of them and stay alert to where i pitch my camp ... not on animal trails. 50% of the time I am not in an established campsite and feel safer from critters.
Now, where I too camp in Grizzly country ... I would not even think of it.
I think bears are just curious for the most part and if I become a meal then better than perishing in front of the TV or in a hotel room. Dark thoughts....
Shug Who Breakfasts From The Edge

[TinaLouise]

smelly stuff (well except for my socks) all stay away from my hammock. I have made exceptions with things like my toothpaste if I'm in a place where there's no chance of bears (week long boy scout camp) I haven't had to yet, but if it was raining and time to eat, I would set up the tarp only and cook then move on to find a place to camp.
TinaLouise

[Cannibal]

I'm wondering how much I will have to change my behavior if/when I end up in Colorado... don't want to draw in any bears... or cougars

Based on my experiences, not much. I've had a few nightime visitors, but still haven't seen a bear around camp. But, I do take common sense precautions. I'll heat water for coffee or cocco in the mornings, but I don't cook or eat food (Snickers don't count) in my hammock.

I've cooked under my tarp a hundred times at least. I figure nothing else sticks to sil, why would smells.

[Stone]

But bears adore Snickers...

I don't see a real problem with boiling water under the tarp, or cooking in in-climate weather most especially in the morning, you will be gone soon.

In bear country, however, all smellables must be properly stored, either in supplied/approved containers (Bear Vaults, Food Lockers, etc.) or by bear bagging. Thats food, sanitation products, pots and pans, garbage, everything that smells. An argument could be made that everything smells and therefore should be hung, well we do. so its a start. Personally I think it is just good practice to bear bag your food & smellables at all times, and do your cooking away from your sleeping area. NOLS suggests a triangle with 300 ft sides...1. Sleeping area 2. Cooking area 3. Food Cache In most cases its not bears that you have to worry about, but the other denizens of the woods, mice, squirrels, and the ever hated raccoon Think of the movie the Great Outdoors...

but...
I have seen bears break into cars in Curry Village in Yosemite, walk across boardwalks in Tahquamenon Falls State Park in MI, look in the window of my sisters house in Neguanne MI, had one steal the voyageur pack off of the porch of our cabin at Charles Sommers Canoe Base in Ely MN. We found our pack strewn out thought the woods...they will do anything for human food. The only thing that saved the pack was that it was a heavy duty coated canvas, had it been an ultra light pack or something of the ilk it would have been destroyed.