How Do You Tie a Bear Bag?

Wild animal's quickly become habituated to human food sources -- and a bear will only have to ransack your campsite once to impress upon you the importance of storing your food out of reach. Smaller animals, like squirrels and raccoons, will also be more than happy to help themselves to your chow. To keep food safely away from raiders, experienced campers use the technique of tying a "bear bag" high in a tree.

Things You'll Need

  • Small flat rock
  • 50 feet of nylon 550 paracord
  • Waterproof stuff-sack with drawcord
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a small flat rock onsite. Tie one end of the paracord around the rock. Select a tree that is a minimum of 50 yards from your tent. Toss the rock, with the paracord tied to it, over a sturdy looking branch at least 15 feet off the ground.

    • 2

      Position the paracord so the rope is at least 10 feet out, away from the trunk of the tree.

    • 3

      Place all food and scented items, such as toothpaste and soap, in the stuff-sack. Close the sack tightly with the drawcord.

    • 4

      Tie the loose end of the paracord to the sack's drawcord. Pull on the opposite end of the paracord, tied to the rock, until the sack is raised to approximately 2 feet below the branch. Do not pull the sack even with the branch or smaller animals will be able to reach the food by climbing up the tree and out on the limb

    • 5

      Tie the end of the paracord, with the rock, to a low hanging branch or the trunk of the tree. Remove the rock if needed.