Woods weapons, are they really neccessary

Flipincanadian said:
Personally i do not go into the woods without a firearm. This is in large part due to bears and other wild things, But it's also not to the discount of two legged predators. Last summer there was a noticeable bear problem in the area we frequent, so we armed ourselves accordingly.

Just as a side note, and not trying to get political. Not all Canadian's have such a "Canadian" view on firearms, I know many who have a more "American" view including myself. If I could i would carry concealed or openly whenever possible.
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AMEN to that!
 
while i dislike Australian gun laws intensly. if it were legal for me to carry a firearm, i doubt i would.

however, i would not object to being able to have a pump action shotty at home. (while i can get a license for one, Australian weapon storage rules basically mean it's going to be useless if some hoon comes through the window).

i've never been in any situation in Oz where i felt that a gun would come in handy.

not dissing on the second ammendment, but in some ways, i'm kind of glad we don't have that "right".

in other ways, i wish we did.

just FYI: the only rifle i would actually want to own is a Lithgow .303 (the calibre this country was built on).

if that makes no sense to you, you're not alone. i'm a little conflicted about such things.

peace.
 
STAGE 2 said:
A weapon is just a tool
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This is completely true - a firearm is simply a high speed lead injection device. There are multiple uses for this tool including - food acquisition, self defence, warning device, reassurance device, etc.


How do I stop my dog from biting people?
Simple, just place a small piece of lead behind his ear!
Will that really work?
It will if you use this applicator (holds up gun)!
 
i had to hospitalize a bunch of guys once on a big dead stretch of road on I-15 that tried to jump me at a rest stop, because i didn't have a weapon that they could understand and respect immediately.

i've been lucky with some large predators too while out in the wilderness.

i don't always pack a firearm, but there have been times that i have sorely regretted it, and miraculously survived.

i think my luck's about run out by now.

pack 'em if you got 'em.

vec
 
I always carry wherever I am legally allowed...be it down the street for a cup of coffee or on a three day backpacking trip. God willing I will never have to use my handgun to defend myself, but I am prepared; I practice regularly. I've made the choice to take responsibility for defending my self and my family. Everyone gets to make their own decision....and if someone believes that they can handle every dangerous encounter in life without a firearm....more power to them.

- regards
 
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g123 said:
Hey Guys,

We have a lot of threads on rifles and handguns for the woods, but are they really necessary? I have done a lot of backpacking and hunting, but this usually takes place over a three to four day period and not an extended time in the woods. Therefore I do not consider myself to be able to bring actual fact to this conversation.

So here is my question for you guys that have spent long durations of time in the woods, do we really need any type of rifle or handguns to protect ourselves and if so, from what?

Practical experience is always the best teacher and gives the best answers!

Thanks,

Geoff
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g123,

I think you know most of the answers already. To help us, you could
ride-along and interview various LEOs. Interview excons and newsguys.
Some rural area still use analog radios, which you can listen to with a scanner.
The actual quantity of crime is amazing.

As to first hand experience, there are other ways to learn hard lessons:
Newspaper articles, and news reports radio & tv.
Of special interest to me, are under-reported crimes, because it gives me a
measure of how much or how well the media covers crime.

For long term survival, or wilderness activity, firearms do add some insurance,
and allow one to secure food, i.e. meat. Weapon used more as a tool. Securing
food should be part of the natural wilderness experience; considerations of scarce
animals and too many hunters are, of course, limiting factors.

Bad guys do hangout in the woods: mj growers, free-rent-excons, booze-party misfits, etc.
BGs are also known to stroll the close-in trails and trail-head parking lots.

Neither cell phone connections, nor police response times are good in remote areas.

Holey Moley, aint this common sense.
 
I pack when and where it's legal, it's avoided trouble a time or two, and was worth it's weight in gold. Exactly along the lines of what Vector001 was saying.

I really feel for you guys who aren't able to do that based upon laws, I'm very thankful for having the option open to me.
 
In over 20 years of backpacking I've never had to use a weapon.

IMO the main threat in the woods would be more if you were car camping or camping only a mile or so from the road.

I think the chances of a criminal hiking 5 or 6 miles over rugged terrain is low.
Also the only bears I have ever seen in my area were always running from me.
 
For myself, having a weapon while hiking or camping is just a natural. Humans are born without natural weapons, and we have always armed ourselves as we could when moving through our environment.

And just as with any piece of equipment, much of what we carry with us we won't necessarily end up using. Often, it is simply there in case it is needed.

I can think of few pieces of equipment which could be more fervently wished for if needed, but not possessed, when the time came.

Andy
 
Well, I've never need a fire extingusher in my kitchen, but I've got one there anyway.
 
I ALWAYS carry my .40 with me. I figure there are too many ways in which I could use it should something happen whether in the woods or civilization. I figure encounters with animals (2 or 4 legged) that are hostile, a last hunting resort, a way to signal someone if I can't move for some reason, the value of the components and fuel in the ammo should the need arise, etc... I will likely never need it but then again I have only needed my seat belt once in 35 years and I put that on everyday.
 
A friend of mine's grandfather, 70+ y/o, was treed by several ferrel dogs while hunting. All he had was a muzzleloader. He was able to pick off two, but had to stay in that tree for a while before they left him alone.
It amazes me that a senior was limber enough to climb that tree, muzzleload, and fire to protect himself.
I know this is a rare occasion and those dogs must have been extremely desperate.
I have never carried my pistol while on trails, but his story is making me consider packing my pistol in the woods.
 
g123 said:
So here is my question for you guys that have spent long durations of time in the woods, do we really need any type of rifle or handguns to protect ourselves and if so, from what?

Practical experience is always the best teacher and gives the best answers!
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Absolutely you need a firearm - in order to protect yourself from feeling like a helpless unarmed Canadian, Australian or European! ;):D

Seriously though, I don't think so - I've encountered bears climbing into my canoe at a portage site and shared the trail with mountain lions. Never had the need for a firearm which is a good thing since they're pretty heavy and I'd rather haul beer. :thumbup:

Risk assessment is a funny thing - statistically you're more likely to die from a heart attack or a bad fall than anything else while you're out and about in the woods. But no one discusses the need to improve one's diet to protect against heart disease or take up yoga to improve one's sense of balance - even though doing yoga or eating dark leafy greens would better improve your chances of coming home to see your family than carrying a pistol or rifle for the vanishingly small chance you might need to defend yourself.

Now, if there's some chance I'm going to run out of food while I'm out in the woods, then, yes, absolutely I'd bring a rifle. And a fishing pole.
 
hollowdweller said:
In over 20 years of backpacking I've never had to use a weapon.

IMO the main threat in the woods would be more if you were car camping or camping only a mile or so from the road.

I think the chances of a criminal hiking 5 or 6 miles over rugged terrain is low.
Also the only bears I have ever seen in my area were always running from me.
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I agree and would add that as a male I'm a lot less concerned than I think I'd be as a female.
 
AF said:
I agree and would add that as a male I'm a lot less concerned than I think I'd be as a female.
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Yeah totally agree. Almost think carrying some sort of weapon should be mandatory for any woman between say 20 and 50.
 
A firearm is insurance in the same way i hope to never use it. As in car insurance, have it to have it and hope to never claim or use it.
 
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