Well as for the thieves go, we have never had any problems with leaving stuff up at camp. We usually leave a camp set up all season ane only visit it on the weekends and never had a problem. Make it look like somones there using the camp and you'll be fine. Dont leave anything super important like guns and stuff but icechests and camp stoves is what we leave behind.

As for the bears haha you know where im sitting at. But do remember I was several miles into the wilderness where people usually dont go. If your at a designated campsite then you might be safer from bears. A man I told my story too suggested to burry my food next time but it seems like alot of work.

Here in colorado It seems like there is a huge number of bears around this year... The local DOW is asking help from the police department to shoot local bears in city limits. Over 6 bears have been killed this year with several others being relocated. I'm thinking the DOW needs to do somthing about the local bear population ... maybe we're in need of old fashined spring bear hunt...

Thanks, of course the high dollar stuff will be locked up, I imagine we'll be fine from 'bad guys.' But it's in the back of my mind. We'll be close to a road, not packing in. We'll do day trips on the four wheelers, so the trucks will be there. I'm sure there has been and will be enough 'traffic' to scare off most bears, but then I get to thinking, if they're used to humans and getting into trash at a campsite, we're back at square one.

I guess this is an unmentioned point to good scouting, not only to look for the game we're hunting, but to see if the hungry critters are in the area when we're not - or at night! Scouting scat at camp!!

personally the odds are super slim that you will have a bear problem. Most of the time you can just shoo them off. I know some people will say bs, but in reality you can scare them off.

Also just proper cleaniness is a big deal. don't throw food scraps in the open fire pit, etc, etc. If you feel you must hang your food, remeber bears can climb. you will have to have it hanging off of a branch that lets the bag hang down a ways but still be high enough off of the ground. over the years, i have had worse luck with squirrels and chipmunks.

Ps i have had bears in my garbage at home and learned a few little tricks and no issue any more. I am only saying this, to let you know i am around them quite abit, not just in the woods. We watch them off of our deck.

tim