GS7 - Feedback from Jack, the Campground owner

I had a nice visit on Tuesday with Jack Sanford, the owner of Shelter Cove Campground and Deli.  He was stoked with the tournament this year, and he specifically mentioned how cool headed everyone was.  I can't tell you how much I appreciated hearing him say that!  Some issues Jack did ask for help with:

- Some folks didn't know the rule about NO CLEANING FISH IN CAMP!  With a cleaning table 200 yards from camp there's no excuse for leaving a mess like that for our hosts.  Please make sure you do what you can to spread that word.  Thanks.

- Jack's being blown off by DFW regarding the troublesome bears.  If you can report your bear encounters here I'll compile them and get the info to Jack.  He hopes that firsthand testimonials from his customers will have some influence with the powers that be.  Thanks.

 

I liked the bear. Of course, he didn't break into my stuff..

I had my cooler broken into the first night but could not spot him in a line-up if asked which one.  It sounded like a bear but after seeing Slim Shady Saturday night not sure, it could have been him! 

we stayed Sun night were were one of two campers. Our coolers and a plastic bin were right out side the pop up about 2am I heard a boom I assumed it was a raccoon. I yelled and then went out side to look. The bin was dumped over and a bag of popcorn was torn open. As I looked around I saw the bear walking across the campground over were we did the fish printing. I strapped down the cooler lids and went back to bed. About an hour later the bear cam back I yelled again from inside the tent and he ran away. When I got up nothing else had been disturbed. 

That bear has no fear of humans at all.  That makes it dangerous.

The camp next to us had their cooler broken into on Thursday or Friday, I can't remember.  That cooler was only about 5 feet from their tent.

On Saturday night we saw the bear at least three times.  The first time was when a nice young lady called to us to say there was a bear in her camp.  My brother and I walked down there to check it out.  It was sitting at her pick-nick table going through their stuff.  She didn't notice it until she was a few feet away.  The bear grabbed their trail mix and headed off between the tent and the back fence.

We kept the bear in our lights while it proceeded to stop just past the fence at the end of the runway.  It sat there eating it's trail mix with flashlights all over it, about a dozen people there, and two dogs barking.  The bear didn't seem to care that we were there.  It did charge a couple of steps toward one of the dogs before it finally walked over toward one of the houses. 

About half an hour later it was back just on the other side of the back fence.  We kept it in the lights again to see where it went and make sure it left again, but that crazy local decided to go after it. He took that kids bow and chased it out on to the runway.  He claimed to have hit it, but the arrow bounced off.  That guy was a nut.

Maybe an hour later it was back again just outside the fence.  This time it stuck around a while, but I think it may have decided not come in the campground because we had flashlights on it. 

It was the dogs that kept alerting us to the bear.  That thing is so silent.  I don't think we would have heard it otherwise. 

It's probably about a 250lb bear by my estimation.  Nothing to be taken lightly.

I hope Jack is able to get DFG to do something about it eventually.  I hate to think that they wouldn't do anything until after something bad happens to someone. 

I had a nice visit on Tuesday with Jack Sanford, the owner of Shelter Cove Campground and Deli.  He was stoked with the tournament this year, and he specifically mentioned how cool headed everyone was.  I can't tell you how much I appreciated hearing him say that!  Some issues Jack did ask for help with:

- Some folks didn't know the rule about NO CLEANING FISH IN CAMP!  With a cleaning table 200 yards from camp there's no excuse for leaving a mess like that for our hosts.  Please make sure you do what you can to spread that word.  Thanks.

- Jack's being blown off by DFW regarding the troublesome bears.  If you can report your bear encounters here I'll compile them and get the info to Jack.  He hopes that firsthand testimonials from his customers will have some influence with the powers that be.  Thanks.

 

It should be pretty easy to get a depredation permit, especially if he can prove damage (assuming he wants to go that route).

i slept through all the bear commotion

I know this is a serious thread but I saw this and couldn't resist.

LMAO 

I sent that sumbitch up a tree about 4:00 am on Friday, I heard that bruin in my crab bait! I awoke  and grabbed my gaff and threw my camp chair at it!

Kiel and I pitched our tents on site 68 or 69 I believe.  Woke up the Friday morning with the muddy paw prints on the top cover of my cooler. Nothing was taken though. Bear came back early Sat morning and brushed against my tent. I stopped breathing for 2 minutes I think.

And please pass this to Jack.  A Big Thank You for hosting us with a great smile

Eric,

My two cents, I found Jack to be amazingly accommodating for a place to set up for this year's Gyotaku event.  Just before my departure home, I stopped in to thank him again and to let him know we plan on doing the event again next year.  He was enthusiastic with ideas of how we might be able to set up for the event better next year.  To me, that is an indication he wants our group back! 

I also found Jack very accommodating & friendly.

I think there were at least 2 bears, maybe 3, coming into camp. The one Sonny threw his chair at (before he burned it up in the fire  ) & chased up the tree was smaller & fairly easy to run off. The big one... not so easy. No fear of humans & not too concerned about dogs. While it was leaving (in no big hurry) the dogs were following it at a distance barking & people were behind them yelling. When one of the dogs got too close, the bear turned & stood up. It looked big to me. This could be a dangerous bear. It may not be long before the smaller one develops the same no fear attitude. I'm bringing my bear spray next year. I'd love to have a bear skin cloak  .

That whole chair in the fire thing, I'm blaming that on the wind! That chair was standing when I hit the rack! That said I did tree what I thought was a raccoon with the now burned up chair,after some loud grunting I found it to be a bear.

I hope Jack gets a permit to take them out.   If not just shoot them and say truthfully that they were threatening small children.  I love Smokey, but even a "friendly little Bear" is an extreme danger in the presence of children. No way will I consider camping with my son in a place repeatedly invaded by Bears. For GS8 this a matter as important or more important than OTW safety or irresponsible behavior. You can regulate the last two, but you can't regulate a Bear.