two legged snake problems in the woods

[STR]

My biggest concerns walking or working in the wooded areas here in Oklahoma has always been rattle snakes and copper heads which I've run into quite a lot when either hiking, fishing, or cutting fire wood.

As for people problems. I worry about the WMAs like the ones near here where you are warned with big signs before entering that firearms are prohibited more than I do the ones where I can carry mine on me when I go there. More crime seems likely to me in those areas listed as 'gun free' where thugs can get away with their craft in highly populated areas of unarmed hikers or bikers and where the gangs hang out under the bridges and deal their drugs than in areas where there are potentially armed citizens IMO.

We have a place called Path Finder here that is over 35 miles of trails or more for bikers, hikers or joggers too for that matter and it is patrolled by one police officer on his mountain bike. The dealers and gangs that are frequently seen hanging in places writing on the walls and recruiting as well as dealing seem to have a system that works pretty well alerting them when to move and when its safe from him finding them. Between this and that unarmed feeling when there it keeps me as well as others I know pretty well out of those areas. I'm not much into being made a fish in a barrel for someone thank you.

There are times when I've worried about pot farmers when I'm cutting fire wood during 'harvest season' here in Oklahoma. I never gave this a thought until a friend of mine was shot at when he exited his car to get off the side of the road to take a leak in southern Oklahoma and was shot at as a result when he walked a ways into the woods one Nov. to get away from a line of sight of the two way traffic. Apparently he was being warned for getting too close was what the officers told him when he reported it. He ran back to his car and shot off a couple of rounds in the direction of the sound of the bullets coming toward him and took off. Now that gets you to thinkin'! I always wonder if that would occur cutting firewood at the wrong time at the wrong place now as a result of that story.

I do like a good walking stick with me in the woods when I'm hiking, and a good easily carried fixed blade along with one of my trusted revolvers or a back up smaller pistol. A shotgun is nice unless its a real long hike where that much gets a bit heavy to carry.

I generally like to stay out of the woods during hunting season unless I am hunting and usually I only hunt my own property or a friends or families rather than go to areas frequently hunted by others. My grandfather was shot with buck shot mistaken for a turkey once. One of my gross memories as a child is him taking my thumb and making me rub that pellet he had under the skin on his forehead. YUK! Safety is a must when firearms are concerned and education is too in my book.

Angle iron. Good thread. Little late seeing it. Also it was good reminising with you about the days we spent at Scott AFB when stationed there. Don't be a stranger. It was good to meet up again with you my friend.

STR

 

[reconranger]

I feel less safe in the bush when close to a reserve because of the addicitions/social dysfunction issues that are all too prevelant in those communities.

Got to wonder if you would still feel that way if you were armed better than they are???

I'm armed better than any LA gangbanger, and maybe even better than the LAPD! That's the way it has to be if any society is going to be truely free!!!

 

[upnorth]

Sorry to hear that.............what steps, if any, do you take in response?

thanks !

.

6'2" and 230 pounds bluffs me through many situations. I am not a tough guy and don't look for violence. I believe in live and let live and that my life/someone elses is their businness and what they make of it is their choice. I stay away from dangerous areas and people if/when I can. But at the same time I will not bend over and say "insert it here". Sometimes a guy has to make a stand. When that happens you have to be mentaly prepared to follow through. I have been in those situations and I hate them. Except to defend myself or others I see no use and have no desire to confront. I keep my eyes/ears open and my mouth shut in many situations. I find that it is my or someone elses mouth that escalates a mild confrontation into a potentialy violent outcome.

 

[znode]

I'm armed better than any LA gangbanger, and maybe even better than the LAPD! That's the way it has to be if any society is going to be truely free!!!

How'd you manage to get a CCW in CA?

 

[David E]

I'm armed better than any LA gangbanger, and maybe even better than the LAPD! That's the way it has to be if any society is going to be truely free!!!

In the woods ?

NOW I'm curious..........whatcha carry ?

.

 

[Leanwolf]

A very good case can be made for a 4" .357 as an "all around" field/trail gun. The GP-100 is about as stout as they get, too !

.

Yep ... and in a pinch, this one will do pretty well, too.

Pre-warning Ruger Security Six. Hard to beat a good, sturdy .357 revolver out in the boonies.

L.W.

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

...................

 

[David E]

Yep ... and in a pinch, this one will do pretty well, too.

Pre-warning Ruger Security Six. Hard to beat a good, sturdy .357 revolver out in the boonies.

L.W.

PRE-warning, eh ? That means it was made in 1971 or 1972 !

Good, solid gun. In fact, a 4" Security Six was my first .357. And I just got back from shooting my 6" Security Six........

.

 

[Tim the Slugman]

check out the new thread about a female hiker missing in Ga.

 

[BrettP]

You're probably right.
To be fair, many states have laws I find equally crappy on many issues, and the latent racism which seems to pervade gets on my nerves.
About the only thing I like about the States is the guns and knives produced over there; nice stuff.
The wilderness is awesome here, and there's enough of it that I feel no need to go to other countries.
Except maybe Egypt; like those pyramids.

Now that is funny. So who brought up racism? Where did that come from? Also "over there". That's funny too. America is over there... The only thing you like about the states is the guns you can't get and the knives... Holy shit.

 

[stabman]

Now that is funny. So who brought up racism? Where did that come from? Also "over there". That's funny too. America is over there... The only thing you like about the states is the guns you can't get and the knives... Holy shit.

No one brought up the racism, it's just one of the things which has bugged me when I have been over to the States. It's just one of those things you feel and overhear(white racists don't shut their yap around me because I'm white).
I CAN get alot of the guns; the 50 cal S&W revolver which recently(relatively) came out is okay for here, as are pretty much any BIG handgun; it's the short ones which are taboo.
I like the knives because they are quality built. I'd PREFER if they were made here, but what am I going to do about it? Nothing, that's what.
America is "over there" as well, from Windsor anyway. It's OVER the river.
And as to the difference, well, Detroit was just deemed the most dangerous city in America, yet "over here" it ain't so bad. I can walk the alleys here any time from 11pm-3am and nothing bad ever happens, just some crackheads begging for money or hookers offering $20 blowjobs; safe AND funny all at the same time(safe if you stay away from the hookers that is!).
Come to Windsor, and ask any of our many black folks about the difference in racial attitudes as soon as you get "over there." There is a difference.

 

[BrettP]

No one brought up the racism, it's just one of the things which has bugged me when I have been over to the States. It's just one of those things you feel and overhear(white racists don't shut their yap around me because I'm white).
I CAN get alot of the guns; the 50 cal S&W revolver which recently(relatively) came out is okay for here, as are pretty much any BIG handgun; it's the short ones which are taboo.
I like the knives because they are quality built. I'd PREFER if they were made here, but what am I going to do about it? Nothing, that's what.
America is "over there" as well, from Windsor anyway. It's OVER the river.
And as to the difference, well, Detroit was just deemed the most dangerous city in America, yet "over here" it ain't so bad. I can walk the alleys here any time from 11pm-3am and nothing bad ever happens, just some crackheads begging for money or hookers offering $20 blowjobs; safe AND funny all at the same time(safe if you stay away from the hookers that is!).
Come to Windsor, and ask any of our many black folks about the difference in racial attitudes as soon as you get "over there." There is a difference.

You brought up race... Go back and read you posts you are the first person to bring up race.

A couple of trips over the river and you get your opinion of an American? Why don't you travel around this great and beautiful country a little and see what it's really all about.

Why don't you come down here to Utah and spend a few days in the desert camping. I will tell you something a couple of days and nights in the desert can change a person (I personally can't get enough). It is really something. I can tell you of a few great places to camp and hike.

 

[stabman]

You brought up race... Go back and read you posts you are the first person to bring up race.

A couple of trips over the river and you get your opinion of an American? Why don't you travel around this great and beautiful country a little and see what it's really all about.

Why don't you come down here to Utah and spend a few days in the desert camping. I will tell you something a couple of days and nights in the desert can change a person (I personally can't get enough). It is really something. I can tell you of a few great places to camp and hike.

Yes, I admit I brought up race. I said so. It's a hot topic issue for me, and if you read where the post originally occurred, it was in the middle of a Canada/USA pissing match.:barf: Silly, but that's the internet.
There are places in the US I'd eventually like to visit. More of them in Canada, but there's enough neat stuff over there.

 

[rhino]

Fortunately for the world, racism only exists in America. Good thing it doesn't exist in wonderful Canada!

 

[fedaykincmndr]

Why attack something you probably don't understand, stabman? How about citing specific cases of your experienced "racism" here in the US? I'd really like to hear that. Perhaps it could be you were misunderstanding the person and the situation of disenfranchisement that affects a lot of people of all races, religions, creeds, colors, etc. By disenfranchisement I mean the adoption of the Nanny State. You don't do anything, let the government take care of you. There've been any number of people that have taken advantage of this (i.e. welfare system, foodstamps, WIC, etc.) and a lot of people are pretty angry about that from all walks of life. The American Ideal of work hard for what you have is becoming a distant and forgotten memory.

So, in short, before you go shooting your mouth off about how great Canada is and how horribly racist Americans are, take a look at the situation and do some research. In concert with that, don't talk to Americans about how corrupt our country is; you're stirring a hornets nest you don't want to face.

Before you run your suck that I'm denying it exists, let's get this straight: it does exist there's know denying it. Let me just point out one thing, it goes BOTH ways.

Rhino, you're absolutely right.

Sorry for hijacking the post so I'll contribute: I CCW everywhere I go. Parks (HUZZAH for new law in Indiana), grocery store, church, you name it. I probably have my pistol on me or in my truck. Hiking is no exception. There've been a lot of meth labs show up around here and I live quite aways from the nearest major city. I'm not taking any chances; also though it could really save your neck in a pinch. No one said a pistol couldn't be hunted with.

 

[stabman]

Fortunately for the world, racism only exists in America. Good thing it doesn't exist in wonderful Canada!

Oh no, it exists here too, people just seem, for the most part, to be more politely racist if there is such a thing. They try to appear non-racist, and if they keep their mouths shut, then everyone can get on with life.
I was always taught in elementary school that slavery never existed here; a total lie, but it seems to have served us well. Most people I've met DON'T KNOW that we had that stupidity here, so the legacy of it is forgotten.
It just seems to be a bigger issue in the US; even in anthropology, US researchers use the concept of "race", whereas, at least in our modern textbooks, the concept of "race" as a fixed, definable thing is shown to be a fallacy. There is no good, useful, across the board definition of race.

 

[stabman]

In concert with that, don't talk to Americans about how corrupt our country is; you're stirring a hornets nest you don't want to face.

Before you run your suck that I'm denying it exists, let's get this straight: it does exist there's know denying it. Let me just point out one thing, it goes BOTH ways.

Whatever. No one here seems to care about bashing Canada's weapons laws, so I feel no need whatsoever to soft-foot around US flaws. Tough. Nothing will come of it other than frenzied keyboard tapping.

I NEVER said that there was not racism on the black folks side; of course there is. Some of the racial tensions I noticed were the way in which black people, at least in Detroit, looked at me, and responded in conversation.. Every "race" has their racists; ask an old Korean what they think of the Japanese or the Chinese(I have; plenty of fun there).

If you want specific examples, well, I don't feel like it, and as you said, you know it exists. I don't need to confirm that I have seen enough to see what you have as well. And even if I posted a few dozen examples, it would make no difference; I could be making it up, or you could say it was a fluke, or you could say it's different elsewhere.

 

[BrettP]

Oh no, it exists here too, people just seem, for the most part, to be more politely racist if there is such a thing. They try to appear non-racist, and if they keep their mouths shut, then everyone can get on with life.
I was always taught in elementary school that slavery never existed here; a total lie, but it seems to have served us well. Most people I've met DON'T KNOW that we had that stupidity here, so the legacy of it is forgotten.
It just seems to be a bigger issue in the US; even in anthropology, US researchers use the concept of "race", whereas, at least in our modern textbooks, the concept of "race" as a fixed, definable thing is shown to be a fallacy. There is no good, useful, across the board definition of race.

This sounds like a certain book I once read... 1984. The Ministry of Truth - Newspeak.

 

[stabman]

This sounds like a certain book I once read... 1984. The Ministry of Truth - Newspeak.

That was a good book.:thumbup: The difference is that the facts ARE still here to be found, and once I got out of high school, I learned the truth, first on my own, then in university.

 

[stabman]

I'll offer an olive branch here:
Both of our countries are stupid in many ways. They also have many neat things about them.
I like the neat things here better, so that's why I'm here, and those of you in the States obviously like the neat things there better, or you'd leave.
Both of our countries have a level of freedom seldom seen throughout history; the differences are only in the details.