What's your deep woods defense?

Happy Camper

Happy Camper

Joined
Jan 8, 2000
Messages
311
I've noticed that great number of people around where I live carry nothing more threatening than a collapsable titanium neon colored walking stick from REI when they hike.

With all the choices out there of pepper spray, firearms, BIG knives, and Chris Reeve walking sticks, which is the one you would use for defense(if you absolutely had to)? I'm leaving it open to allow for different regions and corresponding expected threats.

I usually have a firearm on me when I'm out of the city. This being the southwest, I'm more or less in fashion. I suppose my biggest potential threats are wild dog packs and the few roving criminals that are out there.

-aside-
One time, I was hiking with a friend in the Superstition wilderness in AZ, and we passed a group coming from the other direction. After exchanging greetings and information on what lay ahead and how far it was to the nearest stream, someone from the other group asked me why I carried a pistol. To this, I replied, "Because my friend carries one, and HE's not very stable."

Just thought I'd share that. We all got a good laugh out of that one, and I've used it many times since.

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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
largefxed blade a six foot ironwood walking stick and some rope with a grapple. and if hunting the bow or gun

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Sanity is overrated, simply a moonbeam spilling pearls on a dark and treacherous sea.
j . p hissom
 
A .44 magnum Redhawk, a rifle if rifle hunting, a walking stick most of the time, a bow if bow hunting, and/or a fixed blade knife. I often can be found with two or three of these at any one time!
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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
Happy Camper- I'm more apt to carry a gun IN the city! Now if I lived in grizzly country........
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Peacefull and ask-no-questions attitude has done well for me so far...A hiking stick or stones along the trail keep away mean dogs. I guess if it came down to it, my Spyderco Dragonfly (less than 3in. blade) is always on me and razor sharp...I've never thought about using it for defense because its so small.

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An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
 
My comstant companion, the Anaconda9 and the "snake" walking stick. Perfect for cracking the occassional head!!
 
My preferred defensive tool if I had to defend myself against random and assorted things, a shotgun. Probably with a large shot load of some sort followed by slugs, and more big shot on the stock, or my belt.

More realistically, I carry a stick. And a knife. I feel rather comfortable defending myself against humans with a stick, and pretty comfortable defending myself against animals with a noisy presence. People with guns are another question entirely, and I would never draw on someone who's already pointing a gun at me, so a gun is only good offensively vs. another person.

I will acquire pepper spray for my forays into the woods around here because of bears. I'd personally prefer the shotgun, but see little realistic ways of me carrying a shotgun while backpacking or bicycling, and having it at the ready. I will also wear a bell.

Stryver
 
Good answers;

I came up with the question after a visit to a knife shop. A great many large fixed blade knives seem to cater to people who picture themselves fighting off a bear with one.

In fact, I still have to resist the instinctive impulse to go with a larger knife than what I need. According to Randall's catalog, I'm not alone; most people choose knives that are too long. Why?

Do any of you fight this same irrational impulse? Can I blame the writers of Rambo or Crocodile Dundee?

But getting back to the thread, Stryver has a good point about not drawing on a gun. But that's not the only situation that might occur. It's also possible that a gun in a holster might have a strong deterrent effect on a person or group who intend nothing good and may themselves be armed.

I'd also like to dispose of a feral racoon from a safer range than a staff will allow.

Just some further thoughts.

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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
I carry a walther tph 22. No one ever asks me why I carry it 'cause they never see it. It sits unobtrusively in my backpocket in a leather holster I made and even in t shirts and shorts, you wouldn't know it's there. It's not a 44 mag but I'm guessing you wouldn't want to be shot by one either.
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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
Gregory:

I think large knives have more to do with tool use than defense. I sure don't get enthused about them, but I spend a long time checking hatchets and axes - which is almost the same thing..

Jimbo
 
Bushmaster XM-15 pre-ban shorty in .223 with telescoping stock and heavy barrel...Hee Hee

~B.
 
First off in the deep woods I feel safer than in any urban environment. I feel that I have less to fear there than any other place. Outside of mishap, wild animals cause me little worry under normal consideration. In the deep wilds I am also more unlikely to see a human, my biggest worry as far as the predator species. Usually in the wild I may have a .22 kitgun, not always, a walking stick, several knive (one of which may be a large knife) and a belt ax if I do not have a large knife. Add to this my new fav tool the Cold Steel Shovel and I think I am fairly well protected. If for some reason I feel the need I will add my Redhawk to the above. Possibly I may just wish to practice with the weapon. Where I know there are bears you can often find a Bear Spray on my belt also.

Closer to civilization is where you are more likely to see me carrying a weapon, it might be the redhawk or my new EAA WItness compact .45 which I am learnign to dearly love shooting. It might even be something smaller and more discreet like a Makarov.

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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
Lots of exercise, and no deodorant! *L*

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
I also feel safer in the woods than in the city. When hiking I usually carry a 9.5 inch long blade knife, a 5.5 foot long stuff and
a medium size pepper spray. The stuff and the spray work like a charm for dogs, and the knife (seathed) for their owners.
 
My best defense is common sense, not panicking, and being aware of my surroundings at all times.

If all else fails I usually can be found with a Glock M30 or M21 as well as a knife or two.
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AJ
 
Well, if I can't rip off my skidded in shorts to throw at them fast enough,...I'll opt for that "damn string" thing that my girlfriend is always bitching about that she keeps in her pants (pocket perhaps).
 
I have been known to carry an ice axe (yes even in summer). The axe makes a pretty good walking stick and can be pressed into self defense if required (its built like a classic warhammer). Just make sure you keep the protective covers on the head until required.
 
I'd have to agree....keeping your wits and staying calm has done wonders in the past.

As for carrying an Ice Ax, that is common when scrambling in the Rockies. Snow & ice often remains throughout the entire summer at the 3000m+ elevations.

Other than that, for general hiking I carry varying folders. For canoeing, generally a short barrel shot-gun.....loud "bark" for animals and quite a "bite" if required.

I always feel safer in the bush than the city. Something to do with that "recharging the karma" thing....

My two cents
 
I'll agree -Citys scare the snot out of me - in the country a folder like a Standard Spiderco and classic sak. and keeping aware of where I am has served well - I'll probably add a Leatherman to that list for the country and in the city an M-79 should be sufficient.

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ROFL!! As a former Park Ranger, we had this saying, BKLD, which stood for Big Knife, Little Dingus. I might add that during my 20 years as a physician, my favorite scalpel was the #15, which has a 3/8" blade.
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During my tenure as an ER MD, I found that simply communicating with people in a direct manner worked best. I had one guy whose head had suffered from contact with a pool cue, and he was so drunk that I was sewing him up, and he suddenly thought I was his assailant! He jumped up and started at me. The nurse split, and there I was. So I looked at the guy, and said calmly, 'Sir, that fluid running down your face is your blood, and I am your DOCTOR, and trying to sew you up!' He looked confused for a second, wiped his face with his hand, saw the blood, said, 'Jeez' (well, something like that), and laid back down so I could sew him up, meek as a lamb. Five minutes later the nurse and security come pounding into the room. Like that would have done me any good.

One thing about the psychological effect of guns and knives. People instinctively fear a knife much more than a gun. Flicking open a folder will stop most people cold in their tracks, and avoid any sort of violence, whereas if you draw a gun, you should be prepared to use it. Pepper spray is another good, non lethal method of defense.

Regarding various types of firearms, remember the old adage, your knife is to fight your way to your pistol, and your pistol is to fight your way to your rifle.

Be careful out there, Walt
 
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