Bear Container Question

I have a question. When talking about all of the things that should be in bear containers, are bullets included in that list?

By "bullets" I presume you are actually refering to cartridges (eg. unfired ammunition). If so, I would recommend putting the ammunition in a bear cannister should you feel the need to carry it. Smokeless powder gives off a faint scent that might conceivably be attractive to bears. Better to have them checking out the bear cannister than investigating you.

Well, I'm pretty new to the whole bear canister thing myself despite having backpacking for a time now. I've asked questions on the whole smell thing and from what I'm getting, you might as well put anything that smells good in a bear can for sure. Anything else that smells(pretty much everything), try to fit it in. So, if you've got room for your ammo after food or anything like that has been put into your bear can, might as well toss the cartridges in too my friend. It'll take expediency, despite what others might tell you, such as "make it fit" or some half-hearted advise like that.

I don't think I would worry about ammunition. I can't think of any instances where animals have shown an interest in cartridges.

You can get carried away with the smell thing. Pretty much everything has an odor, and pretty much everything in your pack smells of human odor. Just exercise a little common sense.

It's more about keeping food smells off you and your clothing and gear than it is about securing everything in a bear can IME. Like I said, YOU don't want to be the one with the fruit flavored chapstick in YOUR pocket when I yeall 'Bear!" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I never have put my ammo in my cannister, but I don't carry very many rounds. If I did, I'd want to switch to lead-free bullets first just because I'm Mr. Paranoid & wouldn't want any toxins to get into my food.

I wouldn't worry about it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I might be missing something here, but if there's a bear near your camp, do you really want your ammo to be in the can he's trying to get into, or in your gun? :P

Depends on how many rounds of what caliber you are carrying. If you have a few with you, no need to carry them all on person <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Wolfeye, they are coming out lately with more lead free loads, a friend I know reloads lead free now. Lots of states prohibit lead shot in waterfowl hunting areas in the lower 48; as well as lead free fishing sinkers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You are all missing the essential constitutional question (sorry about the typing-but I am dyslexic) of does the US Constitution give us the right to arm bears? IF so, why are you denying them the ammo?

Here's my thoughts on the whole bear contained thing because when I moved up here to Alaska and had to actually deal with a very high population of bears compared to what I'm used to, I learned a lot of stuff. The biggest thing was that everything smells, even in a bear container. Even in a ziploc bag with the air squeezed out inside of a bear container, there will be smell. A bear container is not to conceal scent but to protect whatever you have inside of the container from the bear and the bear from whatever is in the container. Bears have a heck of a sense of smell, so trying to hide the scent of everything is useless.

Now, in my very humble opinion, I don't think you need to keep any rounds you have with you inside of a bear container at all. Chances are, if a bear decides it wants to bother your and/or your stuff, it's probably going to go for things that smell like food rather than the rounds you'll have with you. Plus, your rounds will do you no good in a bear container if you need to access them at that moment and/or quickly. So, keep the food and nice smelling stuff in the container and the rounds out.

I agree, next time, I am leaving my ammo out next time, right next to the plate of cookies. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />