if you are out camping what scares you most? people or animals?

Question

for me its people.. because you wont see a bear or anything else try to steel rape or stab or shoot you.. there not after you if you stay your distance

Answer 1

For sure--people.

Answer 2

Neither scares me, but I am more wary of people.
If you follow certain "best practices", bear bags, religiously keeping an immaculate camp siteetc., you can lessen the chance that critters will come bug you and destroy your stuff, and then it is 99% annoyance and not a dangerous situation, even with bears! I have had more than my fair share of run ins with bears. In the backcountry the bears are not habituated to humans much and will stay away for the most part. So don't give them a reason to come bug you. Keep a clean site and stay alert. I am more alert for moose in many areas I go, as they are huge and can be very agressive.
The places where I have seen the most bear activity is public state and national parks where there are lots of people, therefore lots of trash and lots of unattended food. Some parks you have to keep your food locked in bear boxes unless you are eating it. Even then people don't listen. I have seen bears come through campsites in the middle of the day while people are eating and preparing lunch. They have had the food they were eating taken, as well as the food in the UNLOCKED bear cage. Sucks for them, but also for the bears and the next campers. Sometimes bears that have become too habituated to humans and have become brazen in their behavior have to be shot.
Most other animal encounters are harmless, although a mouse in your pack can do some serious damage. Watch and pay attention and know when to back off (do not approach a bull moose!)

People on the otherhand can be unpredictable. That said, (and I do not have official statistics or anything) I'll bet the number of people that are seriously hurt, raped, murdered by other people while camping is less than 1/2 of 1%. There are widley publicied exceptions, but for the most part it's safe.
Choose your camping area wisely. If you go to a state park notorious for partiers, or you too go there to party (and camp) your upping your chance of troubles. Any time you throw the abuse of drugs and alcohol into the mix people become more unpredictable and potentialy dangerous! So stay away from those situations when you are in the woods with strangers away from 911.
I have been camping avidly for over 20 years, all over the country and have never had any problems maybe for the same reasons I have never had many problems living in a big city.....I stay away from places, situations and people that up my chances for danger.
If you camp alone (as I do often) pay attention. Trust your gut. If you need to move on to another spot, do it.
I usually feel safer in the backcountry than state parks. Less people and not many casual campers out there. Not as likely to lug a case of beer 15 miles into the mountains.
If you are in a busy state park, talk to the park rangers and ask if there are any areas in the park that have been problem areas or party spots. stay away from those.
If you think you might feel safer with something to protect you, maybe mace or pepper spray would be a good idea.

Answer 3

People. Animals will leave you alone most pf the time it is your fellows humans you need to worry about for the reasons you mentioned. I Plan on being a backpacker so I really don't fret about it but it is always a good Idea to have some sort of defense whether it be a collapsible police baton or a Large knife. I gun is almost never necessary and it would just piss off a bear.

Answer 4

I camp in the wilderness, so I've never seen other humans in the area. I've had bears come into camp. They've only been a real problem a couple times. But, I once had our camp wrecked by a moose that trampled right over our tent. Wild animals don't "scare" me, but I am aware and careful around them. Sadly, humans are more dangerous than animals, and more unpredictable too.

Answer 5

I try to avoid trails and times of year when there are lots of people and it really isn't too hard to get off the trail and be alone and I certainly don't have to camp near anyone else. I don't worry much about animals either, especially since I purchased a bear proof canister. So I'm sleeping just fine under my tarp.

Answer 6

People.

Answer 7

If I had to choose, I would say people. But I am not scared of either one. I pay attention to my surroundings when camping, treat all the people I meet with courtesy and respect, and carry a .44 Mag. It will stop a person or a bear.

Answer 8

Being afaid of either tends to make one a victim because preditors can smell that fear Be friendly toward the people who are camping near you and remove their suspicion of you, just don't treat them with indifference because they like to camp too, unlike those stuck in the city.

Answer 9

People! 100%. I love camping, and have always wanted to hike on the Appalation trail, but heard that there are dangerous people on it.

Answer 10

People the worst animal.