Yeah, I agree with phat here. Being that the original poster is in OH, I doubt the poster has to deal with black bears like the ones in parks in CA. Over here on the other coast the black bears just don't behave the same as the ones on the left coast (except for maybe in the Adirondacks from what I have read). So hanging is a perfectly good method to use. I also urge a little practice although it's not rocket science. You find a suitable tree, you throw your cord over a limb using a rock or rock bag or whatever, you attach your food bag, you pull it up, and then you spend 20 minutes trying to remember the clove hitch...oh wait...maybe that's just me that spends 20 minutes on the knot...I was never that good at knots.