The reality of wilderness animal attack and carrying firearms

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dan-g

dan-g

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I gona start this of with a addmition, im a really logical guy, normaly.

However when it comes to bear, cougar, and people attacks my logical nature rapidly goes down the toilet. I find myself carrying a .357 ontop of my survival supplies knife,tomahawk,firestarter, etc... and if I ever run into anyone in the woods they look at my like im a backwoods freak. Which is Hilarios because one of the resaons for the firearm is movies like deliverance and the reality of Humboldt Countys massive meth problem in the backwoods. Yet, to them I apear to be the country bumkin.

Basically I know the odds of bear, mountain lion, and people attacks yet Regardles of the 99.8% safty I still want to carry. Using your wits you avoid any danger. Bear bangers and bear spay are all you need for black bear. A long knife and my hiking staff should take care of Mountain lions. People are easy to avoid, we tend to be loud and destructive to the enviroment. Pot patches can be avoided easly by smell. The reality of having awarness and knowlege of your area, leaves me aware of how safe it is.

At this point im aware this is a psychological condition, posibly a runoff from the panic that siezed the country after 9-11. Most of us are aware firearms arent going to stop terorist, however they make people feel better in a situation where we dont have any control of the outcome.

The reason im bringing this up is ive taken to hiking with my wife and some amazing survivalist friends. They have some amazing wild plant recognition, primitive tool making and wild food gathering skills. However there, "one with nature" methods, clash with firearms, and my wife never really liked my guns. I really enjoy the sharring of knowlege and im impresed by people who could really live forever in a primitive enviroment. Ive even considered buying a 340pc that I can conceal but that just seems kind of pathetic, like hiding my dirtly little secret.

HERES THE QUESTION TO OTHER FORUMITES. Am I a weine for clinging illogicaly to my firearm. Before anwsering please state if you own guns or not,
since this will heavly influnce your replie.
 
Started writing my reply twice and opted to delete it. It's an interesting topic, but every time this issue comes up, the thread implodes to the detriment of the W&SS community. So I'll just say that it's up to you to determine what gear best suits your needs and comfort level. I spend a lot of time in the woods, some of it in bear country, and I have not felt insecure because of my lack of firearm. If I could carry one without restrictions, I would still choose to go without. If I was regularly in grizzly country, I might think differently. Everyone's mileage will vary.

All the best,

- Mike
 
No, you are not a weeny for clinging to your firearms.

Yes, I am a gun owner for most of my 69 years, a N.R.A. life member since 1968, and I shoot at least once a week, if not twice, now that I'm retired.

Yes, I would buy a small concealable piece if it makes life easier. I do not belive going about the wilderness unarmed. It's not the animals I worry about, but the people. In a lifetime of backpacking, canoe camping in remote spots, I've never had a problem with an animal. But twice I've had a problem with people who were not there for the love of nature. Both times a small concealed handgun making an apearence made the situation go away.

Dan, always go with your gut feelings.
 
I alway's take one...not just for animals, but for two legged animals also...they scare me more.
 
I live in an area that we have lots of critters but I worry more about the 2 legged ones. I own lots of firearms but only bowhunt. When ever I am in the woods I carry a handgun. Usually one of my Glock 40 cals or my 44 mag.

Mike
 
NRA member here... gun owner for most of 41+ adult years. Everybody in my family owns, trains, and carries.

I've hiked all over the east coast from FL to ME as well as in UT. Never had an animal problem so I don't carry for them. I have been involved (as the victim) in 4 separate violent incidents and I know from experience how suddenly and unexpectedly something can happen.

I carry wherever it's legal for two-legged problems.
 
.357 is a wonderful woods gun.

No, you're not a weenie for carrying it.

Mankind has never been "one with nature", so don't let a romantic notion affect your decision, and don't try to shove it down their throat.
 
This is something I have to balance all the time living where these critters roam.
I find carrying a weapon isn't a problem walking around on the property. It's trying to carry while working is where I find myself with just a blade.

With the stooping/bending from loading, climbing on and off equipment, running chainsaw, etc. I find weapons not only get in the way, to being unsafe in hanging up on something.

The problem I see is when you really need to have a weapon with you, is when it's not on you. Like a year or two ago when it turned to dusk and I couldn't see enough to keep running the chainsaw, as I was walking back to the truck I could the Mountain Lion close to me. Or even yesterday, I stepped outside the truck only to smell Bear so Strong that I checked the Dogs to make sure it was them from rolling in Bear skat.
Today I stepped outside the truck walked along the tree line and the Dogs start to go nuts barking, they didn't chase after it which isn't a good sign. I could hear something large walking down through the woods.

The bottom line is I find my Bear gun too large to have on me while working and I'll be in real trouble with the wife if she finds me half chewed by some critter by going out unarmed again. :D

I guess it's like anything in life, there are risks in everything and we all have to decide if and when the risk is too great to go unarmed into the wilderness.

Let's just hope that Choice will Aways for us to make.
 
I'm like you, I'm adamant about packing my .357 while on the trail. I also think it's perfectly logical. There are alot of things that aren't likely to happen that we prepare for on an everyday basis. Lightning striking our house, or it catching on fire, backup generators in case the power grid fails, seatbelts in case our car crashes, life preservers aboard commercial aircraft in case a plane goes down over water... In my opinion there is nothing wrong with being prepared for the unlikely events that could strike disaster in our lives. The presence of a firearm does alot more than add peace of mind when it comes to defense against animal attack. Especially if I were packing with someone like a little sister, friend, girlfriend, when I am responsible for their lives. Gunpowder is a failsafe firestarter, a three round succession soundoff is the international simbol for help/distress. The raport is also good as an audio signal for helping search and rescue locate you in the event you can't cry out for help. You're right, you may not NEED a handgun, just like you may not need a knife, or a compass, or any other piece of bush kit we pack-but to think you're crazy for packing a gun for the same "what if" or "just in case scinarios" isn't really necessary. Look at the history of our country-firearms have been an important part of everyday life for much of our society since its inception.
 
For those who carry as a deterrent against the "two-legged" problems, how does that work exactly ? how do you determine if they are dangerous ? what if they're packing also ?

I personally do not carry firearms so would like some perspective on the subject.
 
PayetteRucker said:
I'm like you, I'm adamant about packing my .357 while on the trail. I also think it's perfectly logical. There are alot of things that aren't likely to happen that we prepare for on an everyday basis. Lightning striking our house, or it catching on fire, backup generators in case the power grid fails, seatbelts in case our car crashes, life preservers aboard commercial aircraft in case a plane goes down over water... In my opinion there is nothing wrong with being prepared for the unlikely events that could strike disaster in our lives. The presence of a firearm does alot more than add peace of mind when it comes to defense against animal attack. Especially if I were packing with someone like a little sister, friend, girlfriend, when I am responsible for their lives. Gunpowder is a failsafe firestarter, a three round succession soundoff is the international simbol for help/distress. The raport is also good as an audio signal for helping search and rescue locate you in the event you can't cry out for help. You're right, you may not NEED a handgun, just like you may not need a knife, or a compass, or any other piece of bush kit we pack-but to think you're crazy for packing a gun for the same "what if" or "just in case scinarios" isn't really necessary. Look at the history of our country-firearms have been an important part of everyday life for much of our society since its inception.
Click to expand...


I couldn't agree more.

I have always said, my house didn't burn down last year, the year before or ever for that matter, but if you think I'm cancelling my home owners insurance, you're crazy.

I don't carry a gun to protect myself in the woods, I carry it to protect my family waiting for me to come home from the woods. If I die out there for what ever reason, what happens to them back home?

No, I think I will keep my gun and large knife when I go to the bush.
 
PayetteRucker said:
... there is nothing wrong with being prepared for the unlikely events that could strike disaster in our lives...
Click to expand...

Threat analysis considers two factors:

the likelihood of an event
the seriousness of the result​

Whenever either of these factors approaches a maximum,
the intelligent response is to prepare for it thoroughly.
 
Now, your not a weini for packing in the woods. Currently the only time I go into the woods is when I'm hunting (not really by choice though). I'm not 21, so I can't pack a handgun, but I do carry whatever weapon is in season (bow or shotgun), as well as a good sized fixed blade horizontal on my belt, and some other stuff in my pack. If I could carry a handgun, I would, but I can't...
 
I pack even when walking around the farm, a place I feel safe and have roamed since a young boy. I have had situations IE:coyotes, bears....rabid racoon where I was happy to have had my pistol/rifle on me (I tend to carry a .45 pistol and or rifle). Several times I have used it on coyotes attacking sheep and once on a reaaaaly rabid racoon and I had my lab with me.


Its not the end all safety precaution as anything can and does happen. But it makes me feel better and I always seem to feel a bit more "naked" when I dont have my firearm on me. I almost never ever need it....but its nice to know its there.
 
I would carry bear spray... for the simple reason that it has a much better track record than firearms. Someone mention poppers and spray are adequate for blackbears and smaller. I think it may be the other way around.... The larger the animal the bigger the gun.... pepper spray works on big or small, equally.

Even for those that carry on local public trails. I'd rather blast a problem dog in the face with bear spray than pull out a handgun and face possible criminal charges.

Here is an article compairing the Spray vs. Bullets...... http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/bear spray.pdf

By no means am I condemning firearms.... I'm just saying that all the statistical data points to bear spray as being more effective.

Rick
 
I carry my Ruger Sp101 everywhere I go,including the woods.The greatest threats tend to be on two legs.
 
KuRUpTD said:
For those who carry as a deterrent against the "two-legged" problems, how does that work exactly ? how do you determine if they are dangerous ? what if they're packing also ?

I personally do not carry firearms so would like some perspective on the subject.
Click to expand...

I carry everyday weather in the woods or not. I usually pack a pocket .380 Taurus TCP in the summer when in civilization and carry my Sig P239 in .40 S&W while in the woods or in the winter. The question you asked is a question that somebody who carries is always running through their head. Shooting an animal in self defense is an easy split second decision, shooting another person is something that requires lots of though before you pull the trigger so that if you ever have to, you can react with the speed needed. A dangerous person will demonstrate that they are dangerous and practice allows you react quickly.
 
You are not weird and are smart for being prepared in your mind. I carry a pistol when hiking but mainly for killing small game or 2 legged crazed people. If we had bears,cougars,etc around I would say a .357 is not over the top.
 
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