Field Skills

Cache food safely in bear country

Cache food safely by securing food, trash, toiletries, and other scented items in approved bear-resistant storage away from where you sleep. Use this skill whenever you camp or leave supplies unattended in bear country, following local rules about containers, hangs, and storage locations. The core principle is to keep bears from reaching anything that could provide a food reward, not simply to hide its smell. A food-conditioned bear may return and can ultimately be killed by wildlife officers, so careful storage protects bears as well as you.

Field Skills 20 min practice Intermediate This applies in forest, alpine, desert, and tundra bear habitat, including established campgrounds. Hangs require suitable trees and permission; where trees are inadequate or hanging is prohibited, use an approved canister or provided bear-resistant storage.

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Topic summary

Key takeaways

All food, trash, toiletries, and other required attractants are accounted for in approved storage, with none left in your sleeping area.
Your canister is fully locked, your sack is correctly closed and anchored, or your permitted hang meets every required clearance.
Your storage location follows local distance and placement rules and avoids hazards such as cliffs and flowing water.
You can secure and retrieve the cache without unsafe climbing or leaving supplies unattended and accessible.
Avoid: Assuming any bear-resistant sack meets a canister requirement is a mistake; check the land manager’s current approved storage methods before your trip.
Avoid: Judging a hang by branch height rather than loaded-bag clearances can leave food reachable; check above, below, and beside the bag after hoisting it.

Intended uses

Field Skills skill (Intermediate, ~20 min practice)
Requires: Locally approved bear-resistant canister or bear-resistant fabric food sack, Strong cord and durable food bag, if hanging is permitted, Small throw bag for placing a hanging line, Carabiner for a PCT hang, Measuring cord or another reliable way to check clearances

Climate suitability

This applies in forest, alpine, desert, and tundra bear habitat, including established campgrounds. Hangs require suitable trees and permission; where trees are inadequate or hanging is prohibited, use an approved canister or provided bear-resistant storage.

Safety: Never approach a bear or try to retrieve a cache while a bear is investigating it; back away and follow local bear-encounter guidance. When placing a hanging line, keep people clear of the throwing area and avoid dead limbs or damaged trees.

Required tools

Locally approved bear-resistant canister or bear-resistant fabric food sack
Strong cord and durable food bag, if hanging is permitted
Small throw bag for placing a hanging line
Carabiner for a PCT hang
Measuring cord or another reliable way to check clearances

Required materials

Food, toiletries, and other scented supplies to be secured
Sealable bags for food scraps and trash
Small fallen stick for a PCT hang toggle

Step-by-step

Use a certified bear canister where required, or an Ursack tied to a tree trunk.
Why: Use a certified canister accepted by the local land manager where required; use a bear-resistant fabric sack only where that specific type is permitted, fastening it to a sound tree trunk exactly as its instructions require. Proper closure and attachment matter because a bear must not be able to open the container or carry the sack away.
For hangs, find a branch at least 15 feet up and 4 feet out from the trunk, with the food bag suspended 5 feet below the branch.
Why: Branch height alone does not establish a safe hang: a branch 15 feet high with a bag suspended 5 feet below it leaves only 10 feet of ground clearance. Follow local requirements, commonly at least 10–15 feet above the ground, 4–6 feet from the trunk and other climbing access, and 5 feet below the supporting branch, measuring to the nearest part of the loaded bag.
Use the counterbalance or PCT hang method so a bear cannot swat the bag down by yanking a rope.
Why: Where hangs are allowed, a correctly executed counterbalance or PCT hang avoids a load-bearing rope tied off near ground level that a bear could pull or break to drop the food. Neither method compensates for poor clearances, and both require enough practice to set up and retrieve reliably.
Store food, cooking gear, and any scented items at least 100 yards downwind from your tent.
Why: Separating your sleeping area from food, cooking gear, and scented supplies reduces the chance that a bear investigating them will come through your tent site. Use 100 yards downwind where practical and consistent with local guidance, but follow site-specific distances and designated storage locations rather than treating wind direction or distance as a substitute for secure storage.
Never keep food, snack wrappers, or scented items in your tent, even in a pack.
Why: Keeping food, wrappers, and scented items out of your tent removes avoidable attractants from the place where you are most vulnerable. A backpack does not provide bear-resistant storage, so check every pocket before bed.

Common mistakes

Assuming any bear-resistant sack meets a canister requirement is a mistake; check the land manager’s current approved storage methods before your trip.
Judging a hang by branch height rather than loaded-bag clearances can leave food reachable; check above, below, and beside the bag after hoisting it.
Treating sealed packaging as odor-proof protection leaves supplies vulnerable; put packaged food and scented toiletries in approved storage too.
Leaving a canister open while you organize camp defeats its protection; close and lock it whenever you are not actively accessing it.
Placing a canister beside a cliff, steep slope, or water risks losing it if a bear rolls it; choose a stable site and do not add a carrying tether unless its instructions require one.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot find a legal hang site with adequate clearances, then use an approved canister or provided storage, or move to a location where you can store everything safely.
If all scented items will not fit, then reduce or reorganize your supplies before camping; do not leave overflow in your pack or tent.
If your sack cannot be closed or attached as instructed, then use another approved storage option rather than improvising a weaker attachment.
If a hanging line jams or you cannot retrieve the bag safely, then do not climb a hazardous tree or stand under a loaded bag; seek help or use a safe alternative.

Field practice drill

Spend about 20 minutes in a safe practice area sorting a mock camp’s food, trash, toiletries, and cooking gear into the required storage. Close and place your canister, or attach your approved sack according to its instructions; if practicing a permitted hang, use a light dummy load and check every clearance. Retrieve the supplies, repeat the setup, and finish by checking your tent and pack pockets for overlooked scented items.

Indicators of success

All food, trash, toiletries, and other required attractants are accounted for in approved storage, with none left in your sleeping area.
Your canister is fully locked, your sack is correctly closed and anchored, or your permitted hang meets every required clearance.
Your storage location follows local distance and placement rules and avoids hazards such as cliffs and flowing water.
You can secure and retrieve the cache without unsafe climbing or leaving supplies unattended and accessible.

Related outdoor skills

Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.