Campsite Security While Sleeping / Backpacking.

[T-Rock]

Inspired by the “Sarah Brady and Company” thread, just curious to know what you pros suggest for campsite security while in the back country with your family? The “MURS” looks interesting for backpacking in the Linville Gorge/Pisgah National Forest/AT, etc. It can also be used for communication as well. Anybody have any suggestions on what works & what doesn’t? Recommendations would be greatly appreciated.


http://www.gadgetshack.com/powidral4mir.html

[NightLandNav]

Anything IR does what it does.

Pisgah NF, camped there a few times. Never "felt" threatened in the least, but as always had something handy...as always...fuck the rules...I'm not the problem...so says I.

[Tracy]

The more remote you are in your site, the less chance of running into bad people. Violent criminals are lazy. You're not worth the effort to try and hunt down in the wilderness. The trailhead, however is a different story.

Just like with EP operations, the arrival point and exit are the most dangerous. The closer you are to civilization, the greater the security risk. As NLN stated I still have something handy.

[Viking]

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3015/sleeptightgx3.jpg

[Looon]

hahahahhaahahahahhahahaha:)

[NightLandNav]

LOL, beats IR all to hell. :D

[yojinbukai]

If you have a family pet, why not bring them along.

[okami1]

Not sure about all local laws, but I have read that a campsite is considered a temporary residence and firearms are permitted within your campsite. I don't think you can carry it on your person though. As with all exercise programs, consult your doctor before beginning any new routine. :D

As yojinbukai pointed out, a dog is one of the best security measures there is, if only to make a shitload of noise.

[rt nail]

Short bbl lever gun in 45/70 caliber.....

Jim

[MailBuoy]

I believe they make motion sensors for camping. I have absolutely no knowledge of them except that they exist.

[timmah5]

Viking, it is quite hard to beat a good night's sleep! :D Awsome

[Domino]

On a slightly different but related issue, in the coming week, the U.S. Senate may consider bill S-2483. This would allow the state law to govern National Park and Wildlife Refuge firearm carry and transportation. As we can't carry there now, it would be great if everyone would contact their U.S. Senators. Just be polite and short and tell them that you would like them to support this bill, and that you support it. For more info from the NRA see: www.nraila.org/Media/PDFs/kempthorne_ltr.pdf and www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal?Read.aspx?id=3319 These will also give links to your Senators websites where you can email direct! Please help get this bill to pass this year, just in case our newly elected officials don't agree.

Of course, the CA Senators won't vote for this bill come hell or high water, but there are some Senators bound to be more flexible". Please contact them to express support.

[Sharky]

Just get a simple PIR setup like this with an audible alarm. Should be fairly cheap.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Camping-Tent-Alarm-Motion-Detector-Emergency-Gear-NEW_W0QQitemZ320216437509QQihZ011QQcategoryZ106996 QQcmdZViewItem

[T-Rock]

Viking....that's the ticket.....:D I bet it works well for scrapes too...:D

Just get a simple PIR setup like this with an audible alarm. Should be fairly cheap.

That makes more sense than dropping 200 bucks....thanks!

[Sharky]

I would buy from Home Depot or Lowes or something like that. PIR's and such, especially cheap ones probably wont do well in shipping. Try to find a system with multiple sensors that work with the same audible alarm. They make small IR "trip-wire" beams but those are a lot more expensive. The stuff at HD or Lowes is probably sufficient for what you want it for. Take new batteries and test before you go to bed.

[Trip_Wire]

I'll take a large hungry, male Rottweiler that weighs in at 150 Lbs. or so. Oh BTW, I'll always have a pistol & a knife too.

[Xdeth]

I had not really thought about this before, and I often solo due to short notice of days off or when no one else has one. I usually try to camp on campsites in the areas you mention, even on dogshit days there are people out year round in that AO, not sure how these would help there.

With the lack of weather this winter (and past two years) it looks to be an even worse year in NC/TN/VA Appalachia for outdoor activity. Without a miracle blast of rain/snow this place is in bad shape.

[Fofo]

In the past, my friends and I would take shifts, one or two would stay-up and watch for four hours, the others sleep. Well, it didn't work-out well so we soon abandoned that idea.

I've thought about getting an alarm similar to the one Sharky pointed-out on eBay but have yet to get one, could be useful.

Now, I just sleep with my knife beside me and hope for the best.

[Derka Derka]

Okami1,
im almost positive it is legal in CA to have an unconcealed firearm on your person to secure your campsite. I always have carry when camping as well as concealed carry when hiking ... just in case... in my area there are numerous mountain lion sightings... and a couple of fatalities over the years...
as far as criminals? not sure, but im ready

[yojinbukai]

I'll take a large hungry, male Rottweiler that weighs in at 150 Lbs. or so. Oh BTW, I'll always have a pistol & a knife too.


Yeah. My puppy isn't as big as that but a 95 pound male akita gets people's (and other animals) attention. I figure if he barks, I can handle the rest, given a little time.

Electronic stuff is prone to breaking, dying, or just being finicky.

[iraqgunz]

I believe that is correct, but depends on where the campsite is located. Maybe someone can find more definite poop?

Okami1,
im almost positive it is legal in CA to have an unconcealed firearm on your person to secure your campsite. I always have carry when camping as well as concealed carry when hiking ... just in case... in my area there are numerous mountain lion sightings... and a couple of fatalities over the years...
as far as criminals? not sure, but im ready

[Typhoon]

About 25 years ago my sister and her husband were camping in Yellowstone and had their tent collapsed by a grisly bear looking for food. My sister and her husband had done everything correctly with their food except they forgot that their clothing had been permeated by the cooking odors. For some reason the bear lost interest and ran off, and my sister and bil spent the remainder of the night in their car.

Judging from the size of the paw prints that the bear left on the hatchback window of my brother in law's vehicle, I'm not sure that either a 150 pound dog or a sidearm of less than .50 caliber would have been a serious impediment to a pissed off bear.... :eek:

A couple years after that my cousins spent a miserable evening being stalked by a Grizzly in Denali NP. The park ranger told them going in that if a bear approached that they should keep their distance from the bear, but that they should bring their food with them so that the bears wouldn't learn to intimidate people out of their food by chasing them off of their camping sites. When the bear approached my cousins did what they were told, thinking that eventually the bear would lose interest and give up. But the bear kept on my cousins for three hours across treeless glacial moraine, and it was a nerve racking experience for the two of them...

Anyone have any experience with bear mace?

[Viking]

Anyone have any experience with bear mace?

Yeah, don't spray it upwind while thinking "Ahhh, this can's 10 years old. Probably no good"

[T-Rock]

I'll take a large hungry, male Rottweiler that weighs in at 150 Lbs. or so.


Trip, this used to be our campsite security while we were sleeping on the trail, however, he’s not with us anymore (RIP Zack)
5661

Now all we have is an ankle biter who’ll chew up everything in sight (camping gear included) along with a Boxer who snores so loud he’d wake up the dead a mile away and it takes an act of congress to wake him....:D

[bobofthedesert]

Those VN era seismic intrusion detection modules with the geophone spike work real well, but you have to be in a fairly remote area away from roads, they are real sensitive, even on the lowest setting. Just one of the transmitters will do for the area around your tent, or more of the four in the set if you want to monitor likely avenues of approach as well. The units that got surplused off were sold with out the dedicated freq receiver, but any aircraft band receiver will do.....and that's the problem, they are not legal to use in the US.......the transmitter range is not far, so I can't see them realistically interfering with traffic, but still.....

I paid $500 for my set about 10 years back....new condition.....

[sawbones]

T-Rock-Zack is beautiful, RIP. What did he weigh ?

[T-Rock]

T-Rock-Zack is beautiful, RIP. What did he weigh ?

~205lbs in the summer, and ~215lbs in the winter.

[Trip_Wire]

T-Rock:

My condolences, on Zack! I had two Rott's males both lived to 13 & 14 years old. (Not at the same time.) One loved everybody, the other after I retired and was home all the time he became VERY protective of me. He was a great protector and buddy!

I have Mya a miniature (White) female Bull Terrier now, whom I love and she never met anybody she didn't like. I guess she would fall in the 'ankle biter' class to. She lives to eat!

[WCG175]

...Anyone have any experience with bear mace?

Yeah, what do you want to know?

[RGR.Montcalm]

Anyone have any experience with bear mace?

Yup, it called 'pepper spray' at least in Alaska- I prefer a 18.5 bbl shotgun with bird shot first up the pipe to blind them and to prevent them from smelling anything but their own blood...

Then a 3' or 3.5' slug as the next 3 to make sure he's dead...oh and to get the hide and skull.

That's why I love Alaska!

[NightLandNav]

Bear Mace: Don't have the first time you use it on a bear be the first time you live fired the stuff.

Test fire/practice spray...really farthefuckaway from any other people...and spray down wind.

If sprayed for just one second at the lonely end of a Super Walmart parking lot...even a slight breeze will choke everyone within a hundred yards, and really, really upset LLE.

...no, but I posted the dummy's bail.

[EarthPig]

If you're really highspeed, they'll never know you're out there anyway.:D

RLTW
EP

[Ranger275]

If you're really highspeed, they'll never know you're out there anyway.:D


Exactly! :D

I prefer to make camp away from designated campsites and a good ways off the trail. As an added measure, the Glock 27 travels with me.