Dealing with bears and people

Just out of curiosity, what jurisdiction is Moab in? National Park? BLM?

 

Apparently it's a free for all war zone; anarchists paradise.

Edit: anyone seen the movie "The Road"? I'm picturing marauders like in that movie

 

https://youtu.be/rlJ-B-TyQbw?si=5utABILvvTjKOA3q

 

WOW, you're way too stressed out man. If anyone is going to come into your camp with bad intent, it will be a thief, and they will come when you're away fishing, or hiking, etc.

 

Arches and Canyonlands are National Parks, but I think Moab, for the most part, is BLM.

 

Agreed. A window-smash auto burglary at a trailhead parking lot is by far the most realistic "threat" for a camping/ road trip in the Southwest. Every other threat is 99% mental. Making the decision to not live in fear can have a great effect on a person's enjoyment.

 

You guys are being a little rough on our pal @morfdq
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2008/04/sad-sign-times-nps-promotes-body-armor-options-rangers

https://www.zionpark.org/blogs/field-guide-2025/law-enforcement-level-iv-armor-replacement

https://www.journal-news.com/news/b...update-new-body-armor/by26UMEDW6H0WRiPvUeJ7I/

When I was a kid, park rangers didn’t need armor.

I have a 12ga bear banger trip wire setup. See post #12: Level 2.

 

Agreed. I often tell people "You know, I have lived through over 1 million tragic events in my life.... and two of them ACTUALLY happened!" That's when people laugh and admit that 99% of the stuff they worry about never comes to fruition.

Don't get me wrong, I still worry, but I do not let the fear over come me.

 

I often tell people “It’s not a question of whether or not you’re paranoid. It’s whether or not you’re paranoid ENOUGH”.

 

I often tell people "Don't listen to what @Captain Spalding says, because that guy is nuttier than squirrel shit. Have you seen his lunatic rantings about AI?!?!?!"

 

See now, I think you’re joking, because I don’t specifically recall writing any lunatic rant about AI. But I do write enough lunatic rantings in general that I might have written one about AI and it just slipped my mind.


Edited to add: Wait a minute. Aren’t you the AI fanboy who is always looking for any excuse to bleat out an AI response at least once in every thread?

 

LOL!
I have a lunatic mistrust of anything AI.

 

Who are you calling an AI lunatic bub? I don’t pounce and rage against any and all AI-based posts, only to see the Cap getting credit instead! It’s me!!! I’m the lunatic! What does a guy have to do to get any recognition around here!!!

 

I have to admit, I love poking the bear, stirring up shit, starting shit, swatting the wasps nest, etc... I find it highly entertaining. Luckily for you, my insults are meant in jest.

 

Moab sucks, tell your friends.

 

If the OP wants to feel safe while camping with his family so what ? I’d rather be extra safe than not safe enough.
Lots of 2 legged kooks out and around.

 

SW Florida has more than it's fair share, for sure. Much harder to spot out west.

 

Nothing 4 to 6 M18A1's wouldn't fix.

 

Protect yourself at all times.

 

I always keep a firearm in my prison wallet just in case.

 

Let's hope it's not a P320.

 

its the new Russian roulette

 

I bet OP is from California

 

As a Californian you seem like you're the kinda guy who *chooses* not to be gay.

 

On a hunt in Montana I came across a cougar on a ridge, when I noticed it, it had watched me for a moment at least already, and then it decided to run away real fast. Afterthought: I'm really glad it decided it wasn't hungry... even though I had a rifle.

 

I live in Michigan, it’s black bears. Be bear aware, keep a clean camp. Black bears “usually “ take off if you yell at them. I’m more worried about fuc&@$ people than bears. I always carry people spray, works on black bears as well, they don’t like the loud noise.

 

A few years ago I was driving in Yosemite on my way to a hike; it was around 4 AM so still pitch black outside. I was coming around a windy curve when in my headlights I saw a Mountain Lion with a pack of little cubs walking behind her on the left side of the road. Nothing happened, but I remember thinking to myself "wow I was just a whopping 7 feet away from something that would have 100% tore me to shreds if it wasn't for me being in a car".

 

Angeles National Forest. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. It’s not just yokels shooting from their car windows at road signs. It’s gang bangers in the front country exercising their Mac 10’s and Uzi’s on the trails.

Northern California is its own thing and doesn’t deserve to get lumped in with Southern California.

 

Had a nice drive through some service roads out there some years back.

My number one question though was "where's the forest?"

 

Nothing wrong with being prepared, just don't let the 'what-ifs' ruin what could be a great trip. My wife is paranoid and it took the fun out of our last camping trip in the Sierras. We tent camped with my brother (who i would consider an avid 'outdoorsman') and his family. He brought a few guns, mostly for target practice type fun. We had a 4 person tent (me, wife and dog (bigger dog)), my brother had a huge tent for his family of 5 like right next to us. Once night fell, way off in the distance you could hear gunshots from what i assume was a group of campers partying. She couldn't sleep, got so scared she had to go sleep in my brothers tent after waking everyone up in the middle of the night after her freakout.

Nothing happened. Night went on without issue. All in her head but no one got sleep because of it. I was so annoyed at the time.

Moral of the story, just enjoy the trip.