Low-Impact Food Hoists

Alternatives

Many users have found temporary hoisting systems such as those described in this report inadequate: suitable trees are not available, the systems take too long to set up, and lifting heavy objects into the air is inherently dangerous. Instead, they have selected alternative means to separate food from grizzly bears. What is permissible differs by jurisdiction, and whether wilderness is involved. Some agencies have installed permanent cross poles or other structures with and without winching systems; provided permanent bear-resistant food storage boxes at campsites; or encouraged the use of portable bear-resistant panniers and backpack containers. For information on these alternative techniques, see sources listed below.

Another good alternative for hunters is to arrange ahead for prompt transport of game carcasses from the site of kill directly to a food locker in town, which eliminates the need to have the carcasses in camp at all.

Sources of Information

Bigon, Mario and Guido Regazzoni, 1982. The Morrow Guide to Knots. William Morrow and Company, Inc. 255 pp.

Richardson, R; J. Claar; and G. Heinz (editors), 1991. Living with Grizzly Bears, Structures That Work. USDA Forest Service, Region 1, Missoula, MT

USDA Forest Service, Region 4, Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, 1989. Bear-Resistant Containers. Ogden, UT

For further information on this project, contact:

Brian Vachowski
USDA-FS, Missoula Technology & Development Center
5785 Hwy. 10 West, Missoula, MT 59808-9361
Phone: (406) 329-3935; Fax: (406) 329-3719
E-mail: bvachowski@fs.fed.us

Additional single copies of this document may be ordered from MTDC (address above). Phone: (406) 329-3900.