suntan lotion
Question:
My son is going to Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico this weekend . Every other word is bear precautions. I read an old thread from a guy up east and he said "to get non odorifous" ? I think it means no scent- Does anybody know of a no smell suntan lotion? I kinda like the kid and I don’t want to turn him into bait! How about any suggestions besides frogs or shade? thanks- They will hike 71 miles in 10 days- go from 3500′ to 11,800′ altitude. He has been training now, really hard for a 3-4 weeks carrying a pack that goes about 45 lb. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> My son is going to Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico this weekend . > Every other word is bear precautions. I read an old thread from a guy up > east and he said "to get non odorifous" ? I think it means no scent- Does > anybody know of a no smell suntan lotion? I kinda like the kid and I don’t > want to turn him into > bait! How about any suggestions besides frogs or shade? > thanks- They will hike 71 miles in 10 days- go from 3500′ to 11,800′ > altitude. He has been training now, really hard for a 3-4 weeks carrying a > pack that goes about 45 lb.
Zinc Oxide always worked in the old days (the white grease the life guards put on their noses). I do not know if it has an SPF or not. I think it simply works like an umbrella i.e., sun just doesn’t get through at all. Some of those oils do smell like food. My daughter used one which smelled like coconuts (Hawaiian Tropic?) and it would be a bad idea around bear as it really smelled like a cake or something.. Look for something lifeguards buy ("professional sun tan oil"?) as I suspect they would tire of food smells or perfumes quickly. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Chris, The kids are going to be packing food, snacks, soap, toothpaste,and all other sorts of bear attracting stuff, to say nothing of occasionally wiping their hands on their clothing while eating. Scent-free suntan lotion is probably the least of the problems. I’m constantly amazed by bears’ sense of smell. If he’s going into an area where the bears are hunted, the danger is minimal, odds are he won’t even see one. If he is in a group, he becomes even safer. Most aggressive black bears won’t take on as few as two people, at least that’s what my hunting partner and I have experienced. There have been very rare cases where one has meandered into a crowd of tourists to pick out his "Meals on wheels" or rather "meat on feet". To give yourself some peace of mind, and your son some protection, get him a good, LARGE container of bear spray (it usually comes with a belt holster). This is about the only thing, other than a decent firearm, that will successfully work on a determined bear. Oh, yeah, you NEVER play dead with a black bear, and only sometimes with a grizzly. Don’t leave the bear spray in its shrink wrap package, pack it on your hip, and definitely don’t test it indoors! A short shot will clear the house ;o) If you want some real bear attack facts and stories to keep you up at night, check out Gary Shelton’s web site and get his books. The guy knows of what he speaks. He’s given courses to hundreds of people who work daily in bear country, usually without guns. http://www.bearattacksurvival.com/cabc/index.html That looks like a great trip he’s headed on. He’ll come back with lots of great memories and a tale or two. Wish I still had the steel in my legs for such an outing. KB "Grizzly bear, good bear, Mike. You shoot him, he come toward you! Not like black bear, go run in the bushes, where you gotta go after him! Grizzly bear he always come toward you!" Vincent Johnny – BC guide Kyle Berry Dawson Creek, BC Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> My son is going to Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico this weekend . > Every other word is bear precautions. I read an old thread from a guy up > east and he said "to get non odorifous" ? I think it means no scent- Does > anybody know of a no smell suntan lotion? I kinda like the kid and I don’t > want to turn him into > bait! How about any suggestions besides frogs or shade? > thanks- They will hike 71 miles in 10 days- go from 3500′ to 11,800′ > altitude. He has been training now, really hard for a 3-4 weeks carrying a > pack that goes about 45 lb.
On that kind of hike in hot weather, they’ll be plenty "gamey" with or without suntan lotion. By the third day, he’ll be able to stun a bear from 100 yards. I wouldn’t worry about the lotion. Dick Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>My son is going to Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico this weekend . >Every other word is bear precautions. I read an old thread from a guy up >east and he said "to get non odorifous" ? I think it means no scent- Does >anybody know of a no smell suntan lotion? I kinda like the kid and I don’t >want to turn him into >bait! How about any suggestions besides frogs or shade? >thanks- They will hike 71 miles in 10 days- go from 3500′ to 11,800′
unless he plans on bathing every day, the suntan lotion might be the least of his problems, odor wise. Anyway, I’d consider a very light long sleeve shirt, hat with a brim, long pants and skip the lotion. Roy D. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
