[Paddlewise] Bear Bags

Hi all.  The areas that I will be camping in over the next couple years have some Black Bears, but not in large numbers.  What will be in large numbers will be raccoons, squirrels, etc that can be attracted to my food supplies.  I could buy a commercial bear bag and do the "hang it from a tree" routine, but I'm not sure if that is necessary.  So, a couple questions;

1.  How and where and in what do you store your food while camping?  

2.  What are the less expensive alternatives to commercial bear bags, yet are still effective?

3.  Anyone make their own bear bag and care to share the instructions?

Rick - Poquoson, VA

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