Camping question for ya.?

Question

I am going camping for a few nights next week at a campground that isn't the safest in the world, not like we have to worry about humans, but rather coyotes and the like. The park manager said no guns, so what can we have that is concealable to prtect purselvs against coyotes and the like.

BTW, the reason i am asking is because last time I was camping, a coyote took a step into our tent when we were about to go to sleep. The only thing we could do was on of my friends punched it in the jaw and it left. That woke me up pretty quick.

Answer 1

Is Mr. Park Ranger going to sleep with you to protect you? I always go packing to protect myself and my loved ones no need to flash it around just knowing it's close by and there to use is comfort. Only once have I had to use it and a warning shot got the bear out of camp. Always make sure you have a weapon big enough to do the job for the biggest foe in the neighborhood other wise might as well be a pee shooter.

Answer 2

Well, if you're afraid of vermin getting into your food, take a lockable cooler or container to keep edibles in. Old ammo cases can be bought at surplus stores and work well. You can keep foodstuff in your car, as long as there is not too big of a bear problem like some national parks, where the bears have learned to open car windows.

Are you afraid that the coyotes are going to attack you? If so, you shouldn't be. You could carry mace or pepper spray if you really feel like you need protection, but 99.9% of animals are going to be more afraid of you than you are of them. You can scare varmints away by banging on a pot if need be.

The key is keeping your campsite clean. Don't leave garbage, wrappers, or excess food lying around. Don't eat or bring food into your tent. Hang your garbage or food high off the ground and away from anything that can be climbed. Enjoy the wildlife, don't be afraid of it!

Answer 3

Coyotes won't give you any trouble. It sounds corny, but they're more afraid of you then you are of them. Just make sure you're following regular camping practices, like putting all food away in proper containers and disposing of garbage in sealed cans at the campground. If you're really worried, pepper spray isn't a horrible idea, but should probably be a last resort. Honestly though, coyotes won't make any trouble.

Answer 4

I completely agree with you. I actually hate coyotes and know that they are getting more aggressive around here, all while their numbers climb and the squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, cats, etc decline. No one wants to admit it... "oh, how beautiful that wild coyote is", and such nonsense. They have tried to eat my dog several times and I have had to pick him up and throw rocks at them to leave my own yard. I definitely would carry some pepper spray, a big stick, and maybe some good rocks for throwing at close range. If you can take a dog, it has better ears and a sense of smell to alert you to them, as long as you can control your own pet and not let it chase them or anyone else.

You have to protect yourself, you aren't some freak of nature either, you belong on this earth just as much as a coyote, mountain lion, bear, or anything.

Just last night we all woke up to the entire pack meeting up in the street in front of our house. With the windows open, the noise was unbearably loud.

Answer 5

Dude,
if you are working for a lands management agency (ie-parkies, forest service, blm, etc) then a gun would be a bad idea. I'm assuming you do (hence "forestry man") so you're gonna' have to figure something else out. I work for the USFS in eastern AZ and we are having a rabies epidemic right now. mostly foxes and skunks, but bears and wolves (and eastern AZ does have wolves) can get rabies too. one of our wilderness trail crews had rabid foxes terrorizing them last week, so now they have to have a AZ game and fish department law enforcement officer (read "GUN COP") accompany them this week in case of more rabid foxes. In nearly ten years of working for the forest service, as well as a wilderness therapy program, I have never had problems with coyotes, foxes, or wolves. I have had coyotes howling right next to my head before, but they were outside the tent. I've had bears circle my camp, but they never came very close. One time my bro and I were camped in the pusch ridge wilderness, and a raccoon or coatimundi or something stole a bunch of his stuff while we were sleeping, but they never tried to mess with us. If the coyotes are that big a hassle, try making lots of noise before bed, have a fire if you can, keep your tent zipped up and your camp clean. I carry pepper spray when I'm cycling (dogs), and I carry a firearm when camping on my own personal time. Having a big stick nearby doesn't hurt eiether. Good LUCK!

Answer 6

I don't know where you're going, but the last thing I'd worry about are coyotes. They are extremely timid, and avoid humans like the plague. However, if you're truly worried about other critters, (like skunks!) you could pick up some pepper spray. Try google- ing pepper spray to find the nearest store that sells it. Again, coyotes will not bother you. Bears will. Happy camping.

Answer 7

Don't worry too much about coyotes, because they're rather shy and generally don't attack unless cornered.
As for other critters, don't leave shoes outside your tent overnight or skunks will eat them.
Keep all food locked up in either your car or a cooler so the smell won't attract critters.

Answer 8

dont worry about coyotes. they are smaller than most dogs. the best thing to do is keep food locked in a car or up in a tree, NOT IN THE TENT. if you put food in the tent animals will find it. if you encounter a dangerous animal like a black bear, cougar, or coyote make a lot of noise to scare if away and if it attacks you fight back as hard and dirty as you can but if you encounter a grizzly bear try to speak to it calmly and back away. and if it attacks play dead.

Answer 9

I wouldn't worry to much. Any where you go really has animals that could potentionally be a threat. Like bears and all that. You just have to make sure you put all your food in a bin at night so they won't smell it and come to your lot. I love to camp but i'm always scared a huge animals going to kill me. But really you have nothing to worry about. A coyote isn't going to approach you. They won't harm you unless you approach them and scare them. But don't worry about it you'll be with other people and you'll have protection in either the tent or a camper whichever you guys use.

Answer 10

Pepper spray, club, ASP, air horn (like the kind you find at sport arenas). Any of these should frighten away wildlife in the area.