Sup /out/. I'm going to be hiking and camping outside by myself for the first time tomorrow. Going to be testing out all the new gear I acquired over the winter.

I'm going to be hiking in the cascades to a small lake (150y diameter) at around 4k feet. What kind of precautions should I be taking to protect against all the big critters?

Where I am going there is no Grizzly bear, but cougar, black bear, and things like Elk/deer. I'm planning on having a good fire going as long as I can in the night near my tent and to have my food hanging in a tree. Would a fire alone discourage creatures from coming near me? I was also planning letting off a few gunshots before bed too.