Down bags and bears?

[nclonghunter]

I was messing with my gear today and I laid my down bag on the floor to put it in the stuff bag. My dog started smelling the bag with great interest. I now wonder if a goose down bag would attract a bear or other critters that a synthetic bag wouldn't. If I bivy hunt and leave camp all day, it may be a good idea to hang my down bag in the air like a food sack. Any ideas on this?

 

[nclonghunter]

I know that feathers are a strong attractant to predators. If you ever did any trapping you may know you can put feathers around a ground trap and catch critters just with that set.


I do not know if they treat or attempt to de-scent a goose down bag?

 

[Beastmode]

Not only do I Bivy hunt but do a lot of backcountry hiking trips during the summer all over the state of Idaho and have never had trouble with bears or predators coming into camp and all of sleeping bags are down.

 

[Wiltz]

I would think they do quite a bit to de-scent a goose down bag.  otherwise it could potentially smell quite a bit.  I think the dog may have been smelling you on the bag.  My understanding as to why they use feathers during trapping is to give a visual clue to a down bird not a scent.