Hi, folks.  

I'm new to QJ, but wanted to says thanks for taking the time to provide your thoughts re bear-proofing.  I've been fortunate to be healthy enough to canoe in the Northwoods for 35+ years and have seen a bear only once.  It was actually on my very first trip (1973).  I was 13 at the time and was canoeing with my next door neighbor for several days on Moose Lake.  I witnessed a bear near our camp run across a creek...looked to be chasing after a small deer...only lasted a few seconds, but I still have the vivid memory 35 years later.

Anyway, for the past 10 years or so, I've always kept a fairly clean camp and ground my gear and food pack, even having the food pack with me in the tent at night sometimes.  Instead of bear spray, I carry a small air horn (the kind used on boats or at sporting events).  I figure a good blast or two of this would frighten any bear aiming at my pack.

Now, after reading on this topic in various forums, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just being stupid....or perhaps ignorant and just lucky....so far.

Is the air horn a good choice?  Can it replace the need for repellant?  Maybe use both?  

Is it ridiculous to even think about keeping the food pack in the tent?

Thx, again.

Pine-knot.