Reading through Beymer's book on the Western Region of the BWCA, I noticed some of the routes mentioned certain lakes being very active bear areas. I was wondering if those areas stay "hot" for years or if patterns change regularly. in particular, one part of the Sioux-Hustler loop was listed as being a "prime" bear activity area. Can anyone confirm?

I've gone to cabling a barrel to a tree, rather than hoisting one up. This trip, I'm thinking of locking it up near my hammock, so I'll hear if anything tries to mess with it. Thoughts?

And as it is near so you can hear....what are your plans then?

Last July I was portaging out at EP26 Wood Lake I walked right into a black bear on the portage as I came around a bend. Soon as we both saw each other, the bear turned and dashed into the woods. The rest of the walk back to the truck I made sure to be as noisy as I could.

I have a feeling it has more to do with changes in human behavior rather than bear behavior. There would be no reason for a bear to frequent one particular area if there were no rewards for doing so. But I would not be comfortable storing my food near where I sleep no matter what it was stored in.

With your plan I would cable the barrel to a tree away from camp and away from any obvious game trails. Trust the barrel to do the job it was designed for and keep it out of camp.

Well it looks like 2 of you caught on to what I was "asking" about...;-)

I believe the bears that frequent heavily used areas (aka, dinner almost guaranteed) do return year after year until either campers learn and keep them from chowing down, or they become a nuisance and are shot. Sometimes plentiful natural food can keep campsite activity down (or vice versa if there are no berries, etc.)

Check with the nearest ranger station to the area you are interested in. They often get stories and will know whether habituated bears are active in the area.

Good luck!

quote Doughboy12: "And as it is near so you can hear....what are your plans then?"

I'd get up and make noise--just like in the video. You did watch the video, right? ;-P

Make the barrel smell of human. Put your stinky shoes on top, pee on the tree next to it, leave a dirty shirt on it, etc.

But don't keep it near your bear burrito of a hammock!!

We had our first bear encounter ever last year on Knife Lake, in an area known for bears.

Most people who know more than I do say where there are more people and more food, there will be more bears (see above comment to the same) but all I know is, if they come for our food at night, I' sending my no good brother in law out there to fend them off. As they said in the movie "Stripes", "If we do into combat, I'll be behind you all the way."

I have made multiple trips to Philmont Scout Ranch which i'm told has the largest black bear population in the continental U.S. During these trips they (the guides and staff) strongly enforce their bear policy which includes what can and can't be taken into the back country.The list of "smellables" is most impressive and also surprising as to what is on it. That being said if you are careful with your food and garbage by picking up after yourselves, hanging your food bags and garbage not trying to burn it! Bears generally will walk on by. Most but not all bears are lazy and will eat what is easy to get at.
Now after all of that rant I have had bear run-ins. I have had bears climb trees and reach food bags that were placed to close to the tree.
I have had bears rummage through the fire pit eating chard food scraps that were ether fell through the grate or dumped in the fire.
Now none of these instances happened in the BWCA but I take the same precautions weather I'm in bear country or not. Raccoon's opossums and mice can raise hell with food bags as well.

We never saw bear until we started going to Gunflint. They are in every parking lot of every restaurant and outitter.

I always tell my guys. . .we don't need bear spray. . .just someone slower then the rest of us!

No comment on the barrel or its location, but if in Ely, stop in at Canoe Country Outfitters. They have kept maps of bear reports from each year going way, way back. Used a black dot to mark the spot and some of the maps from early years had areas that were more black than map. Lately, not so much. Some good history there on the evolution of camp cleanliness behavior.

Cool I'd like to see the maps