Originally Posted by
RotGrub
All of you have been very helpful. What I've taken from this is 1. the problem is more serious than I thought. 2. we will get a few cans of bear spray. 3. I don't expect much help from the USFS as they would love to find another reason to keep us out of "their" forest. 4. Get another dog(s) ASAP. 5. Reach out to local hunters and take them mining...
I understand some of your concerns and take note. But I cannot allow these creatures to detour me from the wilderness and exploring. There are plenty two legged beasts hell bent on achieving that but they have failed so far. There is no place I rather be. You want danger; I live about 40 miles east of San Francisco CA and have worked as a builder throughout what we call the Bay Area for the past 35 years... I'm deep in lib country and that my friends is real danger...
My little brother (6'6" around 230
) did what you are doing most of his adult life. Worked construction in the winter and mined for Gold in the warmer months. And did it in the same area you are in.
You might want to consider a Weimaraner which are good gun dogs and are good personal protection dogs. Or maybe a German Short Hair or a German Drahthaar Pointer.
I've had pretty good luck spooking unwanted attention away from myself with a powerful LED flashlight set on strobe. I haven't tried it on Bears or big Cats, but it works on Boar, Elk and unfriendly dogs. Maybe a high DB air horn might also prove useful. The only trouble with gimmicks is they often get forgotten in a panic.
I had an unfriendly Bear try to come in the front door of our tent at 0 dark thirty, after my brother had bounced a rock off it's head (which was really dumb). I did remember my folding knife and cut open the back of the tent to escape. Bear spray is always a good idea and actually works well on Rattlers also.