Wildlife on The Road

Looking for wildlife on the road can be fun and exciting. Different areas of the United States have an array of wildlife that can be seen from the open road. Unfortunately, wildlife will occasionally get onto the road. Knowing when to swerve your car can not only help you to save the life of an animal, it can help you prevent damage to your vehicle.

Look for Crossing Signs
Crossing signs are not always for ducks and deer. Because wildlife is different throughout the United States, you may come across crossing signs with different symbols. Even if you cannot identify the animals on the sign, you should still pay attention to your surroundings. Other animals may cross frequently at that point, even if they aren’t on the sign. Look for small animals like turtles, armadillos and cats that could get in the way.

Pay Attention to the Shoulders of the Road
Animals don’t always travel across the road. Many walk alongside it, but are rarely seen. Turtles are a great example and they can cause a lot of damage to your vehicle if you run one over. When driving, stay in your lane and be alert, especially in wooded areas.

Spot the Herd
Whether you are looking for wildlife for fun or to be safe, it is important to remember that deer and elk wander in groups. If one is spotted, more are probably in the immediate area. Slow the vehicle down and make sure none are crossing the road. Don’t rely on deer whistles or salt to keep the animals away from your car.

Should You Swerve Out of the Way?
In most cases, drivers should make an effort to swerve out of the way. If this is impossible due to oncoming traffic or other road hazards, lock the brakes and use the horn. If the animal is large, such as a moose, it may be more practical to swerve away from the animal. A moose can weigh up to 1,600 pounds and collisions often cause serious damage to the vehicle and passengers.

Whether you are looking for wildlife as you travel or are looking to be a safer driver, understanding how roads affect wildlife is important. Study tips for specific species that live in your area to gain a better understanding of what to do. This will not only help to make your journey a safer one, but a more enjoyable one. And carry UDAP Bear Spray in your vehicle at all times!

Bear Smart Communities

Building a bear-smart community refers to the act of effectively overseeing and limiting the things that attract bears into the community, managing human activities, and establishing policies and practices for non-lethal bear control techniques. While building a bear-smart community is a multifaceted task that requires strategy and hard work, here are some tips that can help you along the way to making your community bear-smart:

Conduct a Bear Hazard Assessment
Your first step in building a bear-smart community should be conducting a bear hazard assessment that will provide you with the information you need regarding where the bear problem is and what (species of bear) you’re dealing with. During your bear hazard assessment, you should identify potential human-bear conflicts and conflict zones, and start to think about bear control recommendations.

Put in Place a Plan
After a hazard assessment has been completed, you should use the information gathered from the assessment to formulate and implement a bear management plan. Putting together a plan can be hard work, and will require the cooperation of multiple agencies. The plan should highlight the roles of different organizations and agencies, and how bears will be managed if they do wander into town.

Education – Be Smart, Be Safe
One of the biggest aspects of building a bear-smart community is to educate community members about the hazards of bears and how to avoid attracting bears. Part of being bear-smart includes:
•    Properly throwing away garbage (especially food).
•    Avoiding using bird feeder during bear season.
•    Keeping lawns and yards in tip-top shape (bears love to eat dandelions and clover).
•    Keeping your car clean and free from food or anything else that might smell tempting to a bear.
•    Securing your home by keeping windows and doors closed to prevent the smell of food from wafting outdoors.
•    Using a bear-proof composter.
•    Not using citronella (the scent attracts bears).
•    Washing your barbeque grill after use.
•    Feeding pets, and keeping pet food, indoors.
•    Harvesting veggies as they ripen, as vegetables like carrots in a garden will attract bears.
•    Thinking about using electric fencing to keep bears off of property if you have a garden, chicken coops, or fruit-bearing trees or bushes.

In addition to managing properties, part of community education should include what to do while on trails and in campsites. Community members should watch out for bears while hiking, keep dogs on leaches, hike in groups rather than solo, never leave food in campgrounds, and pay attention to posted signs about bear activity.
By following the tips listed above, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a bear-safe community.

Visit our website for a UDAP Bear Fence or UDAP Bear Spray!

Surviving in the Wilderness Without Food

As much as you may love the outdoors, being lost in the wilderness with no food is a scary thought. Contrary to what some people believe, it is still possible even for a seasoned hunter to be lost for days in the wilderness. It is also very possible to survive such a scenario, but only if you keep a cool head and remember that there are always ways of surviving until you can make it back to civilization or be rescued. Here are some tips that will help if you ever find yourself lost on a hunting trip.

Plan Ahead
The biggest mistake people can make when going on a hunting or camping trip is not planning ahead. They overestimate their own survival skills or underestimate the potential dangers of the wilderness, and they pay for their mistake with their lives. Before you head out into the wilderness for any reason, make sure you know what to expect. Read up on the area, and make sure you include a map and compass with your survival gear. Even if you run out of food, a good map can at least help you get someplace safe before you die of starvation. Just be careful about traveling at night; you could get disoriented if you attempt to find your way out in total darkness, even if you have a flashlight.

As for the rest of your survival gear, it should include a simple water purification kit, a first aid kit, matches in a waterproof container, a knife, a signaling mirror and a space blanket made from reflective Mylar. Finally, make sure you tell at least one person where you are going. If you don't come back by a specific time, they can alert the authorities and send someone to find you.

Make Sure You Have Plenty of Water
People have been known to survive for days without food as long as they have enough fresh water to drink. Find a source of water as soon as possible, preferably before you are lost. This will not only keep you hydrated, but it can serve as a convenient landmark. Don't forget to use your water purification kit on any water you find.

Know What You Can Eat in the Wild
There are plenty of things you can eat in the wilderness if you know where to look. You can catch and skin a rabbit or other small animal if you have the means of cooking it, or you can look for edible plants. You may not be in love with the thought of living off of handfuls of nuts and berries in the wild, but they just might be what keeps you alive until you can be rescued. Spend some time reading up on edible plants before your trip so you know what you can and cannot eat.

Don't Panic
It's easy to panic when you find yourself lost in the wilderness, but that only wastes precious energy and causes you to make stupid mistakes. Keep a cool head and conserve your energy. All you need to do is survive, and you might find that's a lot easier than you might believe. And don’t forget your UDAP Bear Spray!

Hunting in Bear Country

Are you planning to go on a hunting trip in bear country? Obtaining the proper hunting equipment and understanding how to effectively use it can prevent a major threat to your life. Bears are a valuable species, but a number of people are afraid of them due to their nature. Understanding how a bear behaves will help hunters understand bears better, making it easier to protect yourself while hunting in bear country.

Hunt in the Right Season
Hunting season is upon us. Bears are extremely active in the fall as they are packing on as much food as possible for hibernation. It is easier to spot the bears in the fall since they are extremely active.

Don’t Surprise a Bear
One of the reasons why bears often attack is because they are startled. Hunters are focused on being quiet, and they often forget about their own safety. A bear is a solitary animal who avoids people. Normally the bear will retreat if they see or hear a human. They normally strike when they are protecting their young or their territory. Bears are surprised easily, and they can strike when they are startled.

Recognize Bear Signs
It is important to learn how to recognize bear signs. While most hunters know how to track a bear, some people are unaware of basic signs including the following:

•    Identify bear claws on the trees
•    Search for fresh tracks
•    Avoid hunting on a windy day as your scent can carry several miles away, altering a bear you are in their area
•    Hunt in a group

Invest in Gear
One of the most important things you can do is invest in the right clothing and gear for hunting. Clothing you hunt in needs to help you blend in with the scents of the area. Cover your hands and wear clothing to reduce any personal odors. Hunting with others is beneficial as it too will help you to stay safe and obtain medical attention if you are injured.

After the Kill
Hunting and cleaning a carcass is a challenge that you need to carefully follow to prevent bears from attacking. A carcass should be stored about 15 feet above the ground so you do not hang it close to where bears can reach it. Never keep food around camp as it can attract bears.

Take Precautions
It is important to focus on taking precautions before you go hunting. Learn the proper procedures to follow if you encounter a bear. The most important thing you need to remember is to stay calm. Slowly move away from the bear and give them a chance to identify you as a person that is not a threat. If the bear charges you, do not shoot. Most hunters panic when the bear is charging and they start shooting, simply wounding a bear and provoking them. The best option to use is to arm yourself with UDAP Bear Spray. Keep UDAP Bear Spray with you at all times, you never know when a bear might surprise you while you are hunting. With the right preparation and precautions, you can stay safe when you are hunting in bear country.

Elk Hunting In Montana

If you are looking to enjoy a good elk hunt, then you may want to consider going to Montana for a hunting trip. It can be a great experience to hunt elks in the Big Sky country state.  Montana is state renowned for the majestic elks that it fosters. You can go on a hunting trip solo, or you can hire an outfitter to help you increase your chances of harvesting a big bull!

State laws
No matter where you hunt, you need to follow the rules! If you have an outfitter to guide you then you don’t need to worry, but if you’re planning on hunting unguided then you need to educate yourself thoroughly about the Montana state’s hunting laws.

According to the Montana state laws, if you want to hunt elks in Montana then you must purchase a hunting license, and an elk permit. Those who are caught hunting without the license or permit are fined heavily by the Manhattan authorities.

You can only hunt elks on specifics dates set by the Montana wildlife department; this is for the protection of the elks. So before you embark on your hunting trip, be sure to check the date to see if hunting will be permissible on that day or not.

Outfitters
If you’re a novice hunter, then its best to hire an outfitter to help you catch your first elk. There are many outfitters all over Montana, but not all of them are worth their price. Do your homework before selecting your outfitter; select a company that will truly give you a good hunting experience!

Contact multiple outfitters and get quotes from them, compare their service quality and price. Sometimes the hiring fees does not include your travel and boarding expenses so ask your company to clarify what expenses are included in their fees and what are not. Select your outfitter after careful evaluation.

A good outfitter will not only take you to good hunting spots, but he will also guide you in every possible way on your hunt.  Since outfitters are expert hunters, you can learn a great deal from them.  While hunting alone can take weeks, maybe even months, to hunt your first Elk, you can kill your first elk in two or three days with a good outfitter!

Hunting elk is an exhilarating experience, and I think everyone should try it at least once in their life!

When you're elk hunting in Montana, don’t forget your Bear Spray! Visit UDAP.com for all of your Bear Spray needs!