Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Posts: 6113

How many of you carry a handgun every time you go hunting or fishing? I'm talking for protection against bears etc. Most outdoorsman out there or very few carrying for protection? I'm guessing if you grew up out there you probably don't even worry about bears. If you are going to fish the river some evening do you take a handgun? If you are coonhunting at night, is the .44 on your belt? Just curious.

Me? I think I wouldn't mind having one on. lol

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 284

Yeah, pretty much out of habit I guess.

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Registered: Feb 2007
Location: Elkview, WV
Posts: 134

Shoot, I carry one in WV. Snake deterent!

Jim

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: Buhl, Idaho
Posts: 9

I grew up in Florida hunting hogs and deer. nearly 20 years now in Idaho and seldom take a gun bear or lion hunting. IMO the neighbors pit bull is much more dangerous than what I will encounter in the woods.

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Registered: May 2006
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1344

Yep.. One weekend we were chased by a bear... And no we didn't instigate it (that's my story and I am sticking to it!) and the next weekend stalked by a cougar all while bowhunting... We decided to start packing iron... Nick has his .44 which I would only shoot to save my life.. I prefer my .357...

On the other side of things... If you are "coyote" hunting and your dogs end up under a tree... And Fish and Game happen by.. You better be carrying a gun of some sorts... Otherwise they figure you are not coyote hunting...

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Park Falls, WI.
Posts: 487

Never, and that is for thousands of trips afield. I am thinking about starting to carry when running my hounds because of the wolves.

I have been chased by bear and that doesn't bother me. We don't have cougar. If I ever have a chance to kill a dog killing wolf and I am not prepared I will be frustrated.
Kyle

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: Buhl, Idaho
Posts: 9

My hunting buddy says the same thing and I am thinking about carrying because of wolves. It is a shame that to protect your pet, hunting buddy, and prized dog that you have invested thousands into bringing him to his prime, you become an outlaw by shooting an attacking wolf.

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Registered: Sep 2006
Location: Utah
Posts: 176

I carry whenever I can.... more for the 2 legged monsters...lol! Here in Utah if you only have a pursuit permit you are not allowed to carry any gun.... even with a concealed carry permit. I carry my .40 when I am out running dogs or coyote hunting. I don't worry about bears or lions.... I tell my friends and family all the time I wish one would attack me.... at least I would have a fresh track to run...lol!

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Registered: Jun 2006
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 93

i was born and raised in western washington , we never had to worry about packing a gun even when we went and picked chantrell mushrooms for extra cash. however , after I-655 went thru , about 2-3 years after , you never seen me picking mushrooms without a pistol on me. we had to many bears and cougars before they shut down hunting. then when they shut it down , it tripled the problem . now that i have been gone from there for almost 5 years , not only if i were to venture back out in my old stompin grounds , i would not just be packing a pistol , but there would be a fanny pack on my side with extra bullets and quick load cylanders , and possably an extra gun. reason being , is because it is virtualy impossable to travel a logging road and not find a bear or a cat ... happy hunting

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Montana
Posts: 95

for coon hunting i carry a 22 pistol, i have had to shoot a couple coons in the water off my dogs and have had coyotes move in on the tree. For lion chasing i carry a 41 mag thats weighs just 16 oz. the rest of the time i don't pack any extra firearms, there has been a few interesting bears encounters when i have been calling elk.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Tonasket,Washington
Posts: 923

no guns here unless hunting.Not even when we're huckleberry pickin' and its almost impossible to go into a huckleberry patch without running a bear out.We run bear for a timber company in Western Washington occasionally and we never take a gun into the feeders although the bear are on them all the time.Just when they are bayed or treed.And we work on a population survey for lions in the winter,for the Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and very rarely pack a gun(except for our dart gun).We have some grizzly here and the biggest thing is just letting them know your coming.

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Registered: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 269

My father always carried a gun where ever we went. The same goes for me and my brothers. I guess I kinda feel naked with out a gun when I am in the great outdoors

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location:
Posts: 59

Usually when bow hunting I pack iron. Only for Grizzlies. I figure those cougars you catch stalking you aren't really out to get you. They make a living eating a critters way more wary than we are. My wife takes pepper spray and has had some close calls when the Jack Russel treed some cubs a couple of times.

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