Camping and Bears

[audi2539]

Am I allowed to carry a shotgun w/ BB shots or slugs for self defense while camping in El Dorado County? Last year I had a bear destroy my cooler and my kid was screaming frantically I couldn't calm her down I would have felt a lot safer if I had my shotgun with me at the time.... how legal is it? and how much trouble I would be if I shot the bear coming to the tent for exploration not in a full out attack mode?
Thanks for the info.
Alex

[Big Jake]

A camping spot is defined as a temporary residence so yes you can carry, unless it is a private campground. In this case it is up to the owner to decide if firearms are allowed on their property. As far as shooting a bear that attacks you or your family it all depends on circumstances of the incident.

The burdon of proof would be on you to show that you had a reasonable fear that you or your family had fear of injury or death had you not shot the bear.

Good luck!

[zinfull]

Most bears in camp sites are not dangerous to the people. They are after fast easy food. Keep your spot picked up and chase the bears out. I would say it will cost you more trying to defend shooting a bear than replacing a cooler. As for keeping your kids safe, keep the gun close but use something to kill the bear not wound it because then the wardens will have to finish off your work.

jerry

[zinfull]

This is a rant.....

I keep hearing about the dangerous bears in CA. How awful they are and what is best gun to shoot them. This is beginning to sound like a man with a gun scare. A lot of hand waving and yelling over nothing. The black bears are after food not you so keep your campsite clean and keep your food store properly. They can be chased away with rocks and if they get your food let them have it because it is to late to get it back. While back packing there are ways bear proof your stuff, please learn how. No food in the tents for night time snacks. If your campsite is proper the bears will bother your neighbors because there is always someone who does not keep a proper campsite. I would take a fire arm for the people or dog problem and not worry about bears.

jerry

[gotime]

^ +1. Typical case of human's causing useless animal deaths. Similar to someone getting bit by a dog who they were abusing.. why should the dog be put down?

[stillnotbob]

Last time I went camping and bears showed up (more than one ... different bears at different times) all I needed to do was yell "hey, get out of here" and the bear simply left.

[p7m8jg]

I'd rather carry bear pepper spray in a campground. Good on bears and ruffians...

[XYZ]

Loud noises should do the trick to scare away bears. Unless you cross the path of a mother and her cubs which can happen after waking up from hibernation, they won't bother you. Bear spray can help, keep your food in bear canisters and don't leave anything with a scent in your campground at night.

[Fate]

Loud noises should do the trick to scare away bears.

Ha! Spent a summer in the mid 80s up in the Boundary Waters of MN/Canada. Had probably 25 bear encounters. The bears up there are VERY aggressive and very good at getting your food. But the loud noises? One time we had firecrackers we tossed near bear to get him to leave in addition to throwing rocks, etc and banging pots (all you get is dented pots), etc. Bear ignored everything, even the fireworks going off under his nose and kept eating. He crashed our camp while we were making dinner, so it's kinda hard to give me any "food storage" chastisement. He had learned that it's easiest to take food from humans when they are cooking it. We had a couple more hungry days left on that trip.

[Fireguy]

Fate, this is an apples and oranges comparasion. You were in Canada and the OP is in California our bears are a lot mellower (from eating pot smoking hippies) lol. My encounters with bears in the Yosemite area, noise and rocks would scare them away from food and coolers if they hadn't started snacking. If they were eating when discovered they would finish their meal I mean my supplies then more on to the next camp.
Back in the 60's you were taught to hang your food from rope in trees. there is nothing like waking to the sound snapping a tree as the bear pulls on the rope to get your gear.

[echo1]

Alex, for the most part, Kalibears encountered in the "wild" aren't agressive toward humans and can usually be shooed away. Keep a clean camp and don't freak out. Many developed National Forest campgrounds have bear proof food lockers on site. These days backpackers use bear canisters (mandetory in Yosemite) in lieu of bear hangs. It's crazy talk to kill a bear because he came into your camp. It shouldn't have been a surprise or a tramatic event for your daughter to encounter a bear. Instead it should be a learning or photo opportunity. Was this your/her first trip in the Sierras? On the other hand if it's bear season, and you have tags, follow it out of camp and blast the fool. One shot, one kill.