What Tools do you bring when collecting?

[Timbo]

I would be satisfied with not shaking a black bears hand while it's getting dark, or pet a kitty cat. I do have my saw and loppers though.

 

[sorce]

I would be satisfied with not shaking a black bears hand while it's getting dark, or pet a kitty cat. I do have my saw and loppers though.

What the hell is a Kalkaska?
Lol...
You got bears there?

I got a 20 that says, a black bears fur will stop you're blade(dead battery) before you hurt it, let alone a momma bear is like a meth head anyway!

You better just shake her hand!

Sorce

 

[M. Frary]

You better just shake her hand!

Or show her my picture.

 

[Timbo]

I'd be screwed, you can't run they just chase you. Best bet is to act dead from what i've heard, but if i was still alive and i could get my saw with any juice left a 12 inch blade should do something in the right spot....at least make it really mad!

I'm guessing Kalkaska is an indian name, never heard of the Michigan trout festival??? It's all the rage! We are the hub to all the casino's and Traverse city bay hotels. Yes we have bears, so you need to be careful with leaving any kind of meat outside...U.P. has black bear hunting. We have red fox dens up here that sound like a woman screaming for help. It's a little distrubing at 2am tbh.
Someone told me they saw a moutain cougar up here, i dunno if it's true. Story here....kinda stupid. Lol
It's pretty country though, huge stands of pines everywhere. They claim Michigan is 50% forest area. Summers are great! Winters not so much.
Ever collected in the UP M. Frary?

 

[M. Frary]

Ever collected in the UP M. Frary

No need. There is bear hunting in the lower peninsula.
Curran is the black bear capitol of Michigan. It's just down the road. Don't play dead with black bears. They will just start eating you. You wave your arms,make noise and stand your ground.

 

[Timbo]

I'm kinda a skinny pole, can i just hide behind a tree? Seriously though i will keep that in mind while i'm freaking out as a 1 ton bear is running towards me!
I just thought maybe they had more larches up there. I can't seem to find many here, they're either a few 2" or less tall sticks, or the big beasts growing near swamy area.

 

[Vance Wood]

I have lived in Michigan for more than forty years and I have never heard of anyone attacked by a bear or any-other critter bigger than a hornet. That does not mean it has not happened. It is however valuable information to understand what can attract dangerous wild life and how likely that wild life is going to be successful in taking it away from you and making you pay for trying to stop it.

 

[M. Frary]

I have lived in Michigan for more than forty years and I have never heard of anyone attacked by a bear or any-other critter bigger than a hornet. That does not mean it has not happened. It is however valuable information to understand what can attract dangerous wild life and how likely that wild life is going to be successful in taking it away from you and making you pay for trying to stop it.

If memory serves there have only been like 11 deaths in Michigan from bears since they have been recording such things.

 

[Timbo]

I suppose they can't help it if they squeeze too tight bear hugging! I often find myself bear hugging a tree.

 

[eferguson1974]

I take loppers, big and small, plus a folding saw and a big sack to stuff all the trees in. And bug repelant, wear boots and camo style pants that tie up at the bottoms of the legs. Since I usually collect strangler figs, a shovel doesnt help. Another important item is a big bottle of tea or other drink, the tropics dry gringos out quickly from sweating like a ho in church.