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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7 |
Hiking into the bob in July to fly fish. Can hardly wait. Last summer there was a lot of bear sign and I saw 3 grizzlies and 2 black bear. Bringing an electric fence for camp this year. Don't mind black bears but the grizzly density up in NW Montana is pretty high. Bears much of a concern for you? Thanks! Not my normal backpacking trip, but we both really enjoyed that laidback trip! My next one will be next week, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Open ~100 miles in three days (God willing) and it will be the total opposite of laid back
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Campfire Regular
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should be fun! they are, always carry spray hiking in grizzly country and always try to stay very aware while hiking- going through thicker stuff always try to make enough noise to not catch a bear off guard when hunting in grizzly country, will often carry my .44 in addition to spray- processing a kill is always a little nerve wracking always hang food high and away from camp on these long hikes I’ve taken to eating supper on the trail (usually am hiking well into the dark)- keeps smells out of camp and the calorie boost is most welcome
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7 |
I carry spray and a Glock 20, bear bells, try and avoid bush whacking etc. Im more concerned sleeping at night. Have the dog with me so should be an alarm to wake up. And of course food up in a tree at least 50 yards from camp. and cook and eat far away from camp.
I spoke to a wildlife bio in sweet grass county a few years ago and he runs the radio tracking for grizzlies and he joked he would never go hiking in Montana again because of the grizzly density. Montana and Wyoming need to open a grizzly season
I saw a grizzly ( I think) far away with binos hiking mushroom picking in the Cabinets last weekend
Last edited by ribka; 05/12/20.
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Joined: Oct 2016
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we tried opening a season (very limited, with a sow subqotua) as did Wyoming and Idaho, was quickly challenged in court and currently on hold. the biology is very sound, so we’ll have one soon the Cabinets hold a very strong population of grizzlies
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,079 Likes: 5 |
Thanks! Not my normal backpacking trip, but we both really enjoyed that laidback trip! My next one will be next week, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Open ~100 miles in three days (God willing) and it will be the total opposite of laid back Who's gonna cook your filets for ya??
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7 |
we tried opening a season (very limited, with a sow subqotua) as did Wyoming and Idaho, was quickly challenged in court and currently on hold. the biology is very sound, so we’ll have one soon the Cabinets hold a very strong population of grizzlies I know. I love the Cabinets. They don't seem to get much back country traffic like the other ranges. Hopefully explore and fly fish more of the back country lakes this year. Some decent bucks up high. Going to hunt the Idaho side of the Cabinets as I have a Montana landowner tag this year again.
Last edited by ribka; 05/12/20.
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Who's gonna cook your filets for ya??
I need to get Tiny Elvis some cooking lessons 5 miles on the trails w/ Tiny E this evening ^ Cabinets are a hidden gem to be sure; we're working on a plan for this summer to make a full traverse of them- most of it off trail; will be grand adventure if we can pull it off
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,079 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,079 Likes: 5 |
Damn, a dog you can trust with filets is unlike any dog I've ever.known, elvis rocks!
Does he do your navigation too?
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Oct 2016
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yup he navigates; typically the opposite direction we need to go
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,261 Likes: 7 |
that is one cool pooch. keep him away from golden eagles and coyotes yup he navigates; typically the opposite direction we need to go
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that is one cool pooch. keep him away from golden eagles and coyotes
definitely! 5 mile out & back with Tiny E- ~ 1900' of gain in 2.5 miles
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,354 |
Blew out my knee sparring! Right in the middle of Bear season. Oh well I'll be taking it easy now for a while. I rowed today and it felt ok. Will continue working out as best I can minus the legs.
Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Oct 2016
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sorry to hear that; here's to a quick recovery!
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,354 |
sorry to hear that; here's to a quick recovery! Thanks I appreciate that. I am hobbling around for now anyways. Ice and compression sleeve.
Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,656
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5 mile rainy loop on the trails w/ Tiny E; trails were pretty much empty- except this guy
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,079 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,079 Likes: 5 |
Good to see he was staying off the trail, maintaining his distance......
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Oct 2016
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we have smart deer in Montana 7 miles with my wife and Tiny E; beautiful day + weekend + Covid boredom = more folks on the trail
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Campfire Regular
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6 mile loop with Tiny E, 32 miles for the week
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Tiny Elvis got our hill workout in, 1300' in the first 2 miles- much of it tiptoe steep
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