Does anyone carry a gun on the trail?

“This thread cracks me up!!!

I'll get my two cents in, also. I carry a gun everyday, my career demands it. I also carry a gun most of time away from work, including hiking. I can't talk for everybody who packs (law abiding folks that is), but for me it's not out of fear. It's just being prepared. I also carry a first aid kit, a spare and jumper cables in my car. I have insurance policies on my home cars and fam. Am I sitting around freaking out that my house is going to burn to the ground, that I'm scared to drive to the store for I may get into a accident?, heck no. It's just knowing that you are being responsible and preparing for the unexpected. Some people are better off never owning, let alone carring a firearm. For that matter some of you folks on this site better be careful with sharp objects. Brair Rabbit I loved your comment. I try to respect everybodies ideas, but I don't believe there's any need to bash folks because of where they live or that they don't see things the way you do. I'm getting off my soap box now. Happy Hiking all, and if ya carry a gun, for goodness sake learn how to use it ,safely”

“From my perspective. I used to pack an M16A1, but I wasn't happy with the range, or energy producesd by the lighter wieight barrel/ammo combo.

So in 1987 I switched to the M16A2, very nice and served me well for years. Heck, I still use one now.

But since I've started going lightweight I was thinking of switching to the M4A1. Sure the range isn't nearly as much, but when suppressing area targets how many of us actually need 800 meters of range? Plus the nice set of modular sights, it's perfect for night hiking with the AN/PVS-14. Anyone use these before, do you think it's worth the money?

(BTW for your newcommers, that was sarcasim)”

“They say if an unarmed man sees a polar bear on the ice, it's already too late.”

“They say if an unarmed man sees a polar beer on the ice, it's already too late.”

“i personally just saw screw the weight and pack a saw.”

“I carry a space suit just in case all the atmospher is sucked off the planet. I don't think I'm paranoid or anything, I'm just being responsible.”

“How does an unarmed man open the beer?

Oh, the humanity!”

“with his toes.”

“I don't have to be careful, I've got a gun.

-Homer Simpson”

“Someone please tell me what's the big deal with carrying a firearm anyway.

I doubt, no I know, none of you would know if I was carrying a gun or not.

I'll be lurking in shadows!!!!

Happy Trails,”

“I thought most stalkers carried knives or clubs. A gun makes too much noise even if you sneak up behind someone.”

“Your right bacpac, most do carry knives or clubs. But with so many people bringing their dogs (most are as big as horses) a stalkler has to be able to defend him/herself. Plus those damn space suits are made of kelvar or something tough that my knife won't penatrate. HA HA LOL”

“Stalker - It doesn't bother me if you pack a sidearm. Many experienced and trained people are perfectly at home with sidearms like you and it is very safe. At this time I personally don't want the extra weight in the back country.

They recently outlawed handguns in the wilderness area where I patrol. However, in the three years before that I only saw one non-hunting person with an unconcealed sidearm. I am certain there were dozens more packed away and still are. I don't think it is anything to worry about.”

“The only gun I own is a paintball gun. I don't take it BPing.”

“You know, I don't buy this "if you need a gun for peace of mind, stay of the trailer". I mean, I think if anyone were in the situation where a bear was about to attack them, they'd be wishing big time that they had a gun.

What's wrong with hiking the trails, minding the rules to avoid/not attract bears to you, and carry a gun at the same time for extra protection. Sorry, I do not want a bear eating me. I don't care if the chances are .0001%. If the chance is there, I just assume have the extra protection.”

“I know what you mean Dave, but I'm more scared of guns then bears. But if I'm ever getting attacked by a bear, Shot the b@stard off me.”

“I went on a couple of trips with a buddy of mine and noticed in camp he had packed in a handgun but had kept it concealed ....when
I looked closer it was a .22 , I asked him what's that for ? "He replied bears" I said what do you want to do pi$$ them off?

I have always felt safe in the backcountry
but there are no griz
in CA anymore and folks have always been friendly. There were some drunk cowboys firing into the air with their .44 mag
pistols... that was a little scary.”

“There's a good chance poping off that .22 in the air would scare a bear. Anybody bring firecrackers to scare the bears? I bet those magnesium flashy kinds would work great.
I only pack my .38 when hiking with the family.
When hiking with friends booze and pot( not me mind you) become a factor and the guns stay home.
If I'm going to my little piece of paridise ( my secret secluded spot)I take my single action .22 for plinking and shooting pinecones.”

“In all my years on the trail(hunting season aside) I have never once seen or heard a drunkerd blasting off in to the air. Never. I will tell you one thing I am glad I don't hike in your woods if that is all you hear and see.

.22 for a bear, please!!! That boy deserves to be mauled after he has first been flavored with some bear spices.

Well put there Stalker!!!!

Thin air your ignorance is gleaming with that space suit comment. Get a clue will ya. Fear and paranoia have nothing to do with why one chooses to carry in to the woods. That is a poor assumption on your part.

Whats this malarkey about guns "ruining the wilderness experience". Who's I might ask? Dogs ruin the wilderness experience but that does not stop people from taking them. Guilty as charged. Wilderness is a personal perception. At what of the GPS does not that ruin the wilderness or the cellphone for that matter? Or do I go as far as saying all the modern advances in the gear some many of you horde. The triple ply and shaker jets, bla, blah, blah, Nothing kills my wilderness experience more than some gear queer raving about some piece of techno crap. Wilderness is what you chose to make of it plan and simple. Do you think the earlier explorers of the west debated over whether guns would ruin the experience. Granted those were different times, but wilderness will vary from one to another.”

“Seems kinda funny to carry a gun in bear country for protection if it's packed up. What are gonna do? Ask the bear if he can wait a min so you'll have time to get your gun?!?! LOL!”

“We were in the Kern Canyon and they were more like Urban Cowboys
...that had seen to many westerns! LOL!!!
The horse packers that brought them in and dumped 'em off looked like they had enough of them. We were headed farther up the canyon the next day anyway.....glad to leave those guys behind!”

“I carry mine holsterd. I bring it when I go with the family for that extra insurance like stalker stated so well. I put my shirt over it when people are met on the trail so I don't make them feel uncomfortable.( i'm such a nice guy)

The bears don't worry me at all. Where I backpack they are hunted and avoid humans. Its the Mountain lions and people that concern me when kids are along. Call it a false sense of security but it makes the wife feel better and my parinoid father in law. I also have no problem leaving it at home.

I've been backpacking as a adult for 15 years, 5 times a year and never once been in a situation that I wished I had a gun. But Its nice to know the insurance is there if you need it. After all, my house hasn't burned down yet.”

“This is great. We have a new gun thread like every week.

In 15 years of backpacking I have never needed, or wished I had, a gun with me.

I don't care if you bring one. I don't understand it, hell, I drill holes in my toothbrush! But if you are responsible, go for it.
I'll worry a lot more about you having an accident with it, then I will about bear attacks.

But, if I did bring a gun, it would be a useful one, not a handgun.

This is the gun I would bring.”

“hey, m-nutz did you get those files I sent you? Hoped they worked this time.”

“I'm with gojo and.......

They say if an unarmed man sees a polar beer on the ice, it's already too late.”

“Stalker - I still can't read the files. I have MS Works and paint and spreadsheets. Do I need to do something different to open them. I mean, I can open them, but it's just line after line of dashes and jibberish looking stuff.”

“nutz, we will more than likely get bashed for not sticking to the point on this thread. (sarcasm)
Sorry for the delay, was just getting off duty, with my last post here and had a 45 min drive. You shouldn't have to do anything special to open them. I will try sending them from home, I believe it's on my end at work. I made you a diagram, think it should help, so I will try to get it to you later. All the Stalk'in has made me very tired.”

“This is my problem with guns in the Backcountry. The places you might encounter a bear are most always at camp durring the night. Most camps that bears visit are popular ones that they have visited before and scored some hiker food. These camps become part of their nightly haunts and this is where most of the very rare bear attacks occure. If you bring a gun and have it ready durring the night for these bears, the following scenerios are what scare me.

BAD SCENERIO 1:

You wake up suddenly to what sounds like a bear knocking over your pots and pans. You reach for your gun, open the tent fly, fire a few shots to the left or right of the bear, sucessfully scaring the beast into the woods. A minute later your sleep is further disturbed by a woman screaming, she just realized your scare shot hit her husband sleeping on a ledge a half mile away.

Most place where the chance of a bear encounter is high, you will be sharing with other hikers. The chance of you waking and in your bewilderment firing a little low or off and harming someone is much higher then the chance of you getting attacked anyway. This is why guns do not belong on a backpacking trip! The chance is higher that the gun it's self will do accidental harm is much higher then any safety that the gun may provide.”

“Briar Rabbit, Please enlighten me if fear and Paranoia are not the reasons someone would bring a gun, then why would they? All I see here is the following reasons:

1. The FEAR of a bear attack.

2. The FEAR of a Human attack.

Did I miss anything?”

“Reminder: I am the NRA

mtn gal -
Yes, TFR does pack a radio, but it would be no more effective against a 600 lb. black than it would be against a 1400 lb. griz. As far as using it to call for assistance, even a chopper would take 1/2 hour to respond (horsemen even longer) - I doubt a 110 lb. lady could hold off even a small black for that long.

BTW, the griz range is, indeed, growing. They have spread as far south as the northern Winds, WY, and south-central ID (as far as I know of). They will likely reach CO, CA, WA, and OR within a few years.

Packing a gun is paranoia - plain and simple...
"A rose by any other name is still a rose."
Unless, of course, you bring it for recreational purposes, ie, pinging, target, etc. That type activity should be reserved for the creek behind your house, or maybe the shooting range (look around - there's one in your area). I thouroughlly enjoy enjoy shooting.

Taking a gun to protect your family from "danger" is not "responsible".
However, exposing your family to this "imminent danger" is quite irresponsible. Know what I mean?

Let me put it this way:
Someone says "I pack to protect".
Protect from what?
"You mean there is a degree of danger?" someone asks.
"Yes" you respond.
"So you're gonna head-off into that wild environment, where you and your loved ones could encounter a dangerous situation?" they say.
"Yes, I am." sayeth thee.
"Wow! how irresponsible!" they so insightfully remark.

A gun is to a backpacker what Viagra is to an erectile dysfunctionite.

Go ahead, ya egotistical badasses. If yer skeerd, say yer skeerd!

Peeps - if we backpackers, as a subculture, get to the point that we have to enter the domain of some of the worlds most magnificent predators as a danger to them, that's when it's time for us to hang our collective hiking boots.

We're their last hope - plain and simple.
Who else do they have?
Ranchers?
Farmers?
Mountain bikers?
Hunters?
Fishermen?
Accountants?
Firefighters?
Teachers?
Truck drivers?
Electricians?”

“Briar:

right on!!”

“damn! does this mean that i can't take my 12 gauge to cumberland island??? LOL!!!!

i used to hunt. i got tired of lugging that rifle around all day, just to enjoy a walk in the woods. so i gave up the gun for a backpack. too much weight, too much responsibility, not enough thrill.

thin air still sounds like a bedwetting liberal, though.”

“Did I mention I carry my dog?”

“Gojo, it's estimated that there are maybe 1000 grizzlies left in the continental US, and maybe 30 here in Washington state. They've been seen as far south as the Alpine Lakes region.

As far as a gun, I am not comfortable hiking with people who feel the need to carry one. But I 'spose if they keep it in their pants so to speak, it's okay. Don't be pullin' it out, cooing and fondling the damn thing.”

“gojo
This last year a female ranger, I forgot were, used the squelch on her radio to hold off a blacky. I work for a little while. She eventually punched it in the nose. When it retreated she high tailed it out of the area (NPS Morning report). You are right, If attacked the best she could do is tell them where to pick up the body. I have probably meet your TFR, does she carry a shovel and wear gaiters with shorts?

Most blackies can be intimidated. If you are in a group you should not fear them. Even alone (like the paragraph above) many can be intimidated if you are creative. Cats (mountain lions) can also be intimidated. Now Griz are a different story. No griz, no need for a gun I can see. Even with griz a gun is of little use unless it is the appropriate type. Mr. Rabbit I think has some experience with this in AK. I know one guy that goes fishing in AK ever couple of years. He takes a shot gun with a pistol grip and among his ammo shells that exposed in the air. I think those would keep yogi at a distance without hurting the bear, expect for a little ringing in the ears. He had big bears walk around their tents a night without any think being disturbed. Now he does a float trip not backpacking so weight was not a problem.

I love the dogs for bear protection idea. Around here we see it this way. The dog runs up to the bear barking and snipping, gets the bear real infuriated, then runs back to the owner with the bear hot on the dogs heels. Great protection.”

“I had some kook on another site rip on me because he thought I felt "uncomfortable and unsafe" soloing and therefore needed a dog with me as protection...and that kook claimed he conceals a gun while hiking!!!

While hiking with a friend from school, this was our third hike together, he pulls out a 9mm while taking junk from his pack. After inquuiring, I found he brought it with him the last two hikes. He's been in a camp where a bear has done some damage and said he brings it "just in case". I didn't like the thought...till we started target practice!”

“i gotta hike with this buddur dude.”

“Would bears really follow a dog? I've been told just the opposite many times...that dogs are great intimidaters and are more likely to keep the bears away.”

“Amen brother!”

“it depends on the dog.”

“Which means-no chiuaua's(sp).”

“Paranoia is a basic survival instinct. It's the wariness that kept our ancestors from being drug down by a lion while they tended their herds or plowed their fields. It keeps you alive, BUT, on the other side of that coin, our ancestors knew that they could not be too paranoid. The fields wouldn't get plowed if they were afraid to leave the house, the herds WOULD be slaughtered if the
herdsman didn't try to stop the savage beast he was afraid of... so we see that Paranoia is counter-balanced by courage. Paranoia should only be a wariness, if paranoia takes control, courage is gone and you are impotent and not effective and therefore, Useless. Too much paranoia is simply a form of cowardice.

See Thinair, this paranoia complex you feel others have originates in your own fear and paranoia of guns. This is noticable in your responces. If you had the understanding of firearms you would not question anothers right to carry. Do you wear a condom? or a bike helmet when riding? or when driving do you wear a seatbelt? Why? Are you afraid of something might happen. How about carrying a first aid kit? Do you really need it all that stuff in it. Probably not, but it is a precautionary measure. Like Stalker pointed out earlier with the insurance. The odds are it is never going to happen but some like to feel safer than be sorry in case something was to arise.

I did like you humorous scenerio. That is a classic one, just like the one about shooting a friend coming back from a midnight urination. For starters never ever fire a warning shot. Discharging of the firearm should be your last alternative in a bear/cat encounter when all else has failed. Never ever go for one kill shot either, Look to disable first and keep firing until you are out. That is what I was taught in a shotgun training course for the NPS in AK.

Kleetn, if one was to pull out his gun cooing and fondling it in front of all to see, I would have to say that that person does have a problem. Guns aren't for every one. I know when I pull my gun out of my pants others get intimidated. MOHAHAHAHA.”

“I want to make one point clear.

When I say "I see nothing wrong in carrying a weapon". I can not state strong enough I am referring to people who are training and experienced with firearms.

thin air & gojo, while I don't see it the way you two do, you did make some valid points, before you fell off the far left side of mountain.

Owning and more so carrying a weapon is a huge responsibility. The weapon that is there for your protection is often the danger.

Like I said earlier; Some people have no business owning a gun or carrying a weapon. But for those of us, who are RESPONSIBILE gun owners, I see nothing wrong with it and it should be a personal choice (I'm PRO CHOICE)

There is a tremendous amount of fear and paranoia out there, and it seems to be coming from those who are scared of guns and gun owners.

Maybe we should convince the forest service to add armed trails and non-armed trails. That way all of us "scared out of our minds, freaky paranoid militant types" won't be spraying your campsites with bullets every time we hear a thump in the night.”

“And what MR Rabbit said!

You want to know what's scary? It's how much the rabbit and I think alike.

Good pt briar”

“gojo, Do you have a wife and kids? I totally disagree that wanting to protect your family is not responsible. I protect them at home and I'll protect them on the trail. Someone earlier mentioned instinct, well it must be my instinct to be the family protector. I see that as being very responsible.

BTW The bottom line for me is this; Why do I sometimes carry a gun on the trail ?, because " I CAN "”

“now, i just bring along my gun-toting, lesbian dog. she is a part-time abortion doctor and contributes all of her earnings to the oil industries and terrorist organizations.

i may start leaving her at home, though. she snores.”

“Guns are not the problem, bullets are the problem. Guns just help the bullets go really fast.

"Hey punk, see this bullet, it's a 44 Magnum, capable of blowing your head clear off. Now come a little closer so I can jam into your skull"

See what I mean?”

“NO”

“Yeah...what BaSO4 said!

Frankly, it ain't the bullet that kills...it's the hole the bullet leaves behind!”