Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 7:54:59 GMT -8
Poor guy his question was simply to those who *do* carry, in what manner do they carry? Out of the woodwork come the swarm of anti gun people using every tactic known to man to preach their gospel. This question never was about to carry or not to carry, the 2nd amendment or anything of the sort yet so many sought to bomb the guy with their political ideology.
Jambeaux
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Feb 19, 2016 8:08:15 GMT -8
Although once I was stalked by a pack of coyotes and had it in my hand as I walked. Attacks have happened before. Quoting from the article to which you linked: "But Tuesday's attack is "unprecedented and a totally isolated incident," he said." You certainly have the right to carry a firearm if you want, but as many have pointed out already, a can of bear spray would be more effective, lighter, and much easier to reach in the event of a need.
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Post by trinity on Feb 19, 2016 8:22:01 GMT -8
Poor guy his question was simply to those who *do* carry, in what manner do they carry? Out of the woodwork come the swarm of anti gun people using every tactic known to man to preach their gospel. This question never was about to carry or not to carry, the 2nd amendment or anything of the sort yet so many sought to bomb the guy with their political ideology. I'm not seeing what you describe. OP posed the question "Just wondering if anyone else does?" This, in my opinion, invites input from those who do not carry, as well as those who do. Plus, it's a message board, for heavens sake, and OP came in as a new guy and immediately posed a question about carrying in the back country. Most of the responses have been from those who do not carry, but most have simply stated why they don't personally see the need. They have done so respectfully, and the OP likewise took those responses respectfully. Bombing people with personal ideology? I don't see it. Plenty of that in TPA, but not here.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 19, 2016 8:30:25 GMT -8
The underlying problem with most "training" is standard firearms training, as I somewhat alluded to with my Hogan's Alley reference, is it's not at all wild-land specific: so city/suburban people get out of their comfort zone, hear a noise in the brush in BEAR COUNTRY and overreact. That happened in Alaska within the first two months of the Coburn Amendment to the credit card law taking effect.
Every third question involving "safety" on the national park sites I follow (none of whom are in Grizzly territory) as well as here involves BEARS, when what is gonna kill them is drowning, falling off cliffs and maybe a bee sting..... yet that noise in the brush is gotta be that big bear coming to get them....
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Feb 19, 2016 9:02:18 GMT -8
Poor guy his question was simply to those who *do* carry, in what manner do they carry? Out of the woodwork come the swarm of anti gun people using every tactic known to man to preach their gospel. This question never was about to carry or not to carry, the 2nd amendment or anything of the sort yet so many sought to bomb the guy with their political ideology.
Jambeaux Sorry, I disagree.
Thread is titled "Protection while backpacking", asking *whether* anyone else carries a gun for that purpose. I think it's logical for people to address the "protection" aspect even if they don't carry a gun, especially if they feel that a gun may not be the best or appropriate tool for the job. And given the subject, statements like "Chances are I will never need it but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." is certainly going to invite responses to the "need" aspect.
The part of the question to those who do carry was in the second paragraph, as an "also..." No one answered it because, apparently, no one who answered carries a gun backpacking for protection.
Btw, the only person mentioning the 2nd amendment or political ideology is YOU. All the other responses just addressed "protection on the trail" which is what the question was about.
Personally, I think this is about the best behaved gun thread we've had in a long time. I'm rather proud of us!
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 19, 2016 10:26:13 GMT -8
Poor guy his question was simply to those who *do* carry, in what manner do they carry? Out of the woodwork come the swarm of anti gun people using every tactic known to man to preach their gospel. This question never was about to carry or not to carry, the 2nd amendment or anything of the sort yet so many sought to bomb the guy with their political ideology.
Jambeaux So anyone explaining the practical aspects of why they don't personally carry a gun for protection (which is pretty much all I've seen here, and what the question was about) equates to "bombing the guy with political ideology"? Sorry, I'm not seeing it. As Jazzmom mentioned, no one here brought up the 2nd amendment at all except you, nor any political ideology for that matter. Your response seems a bit knee-jerk sensitive given what folks have actually said.
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 19, 2016 10:42:47 GMT -8
when what is gonna kill them is drowning, falling off cliffs and maybe a bee sting..... This. What I carry for actual protection are enough layers, good raingear, waterproof stuff sacks, extra food, and a dose of schedule flexibility so I'm not forced to cross nasty swollen creeks or washed-out cliffs I'm not comfortable with. I'm not allergic to bees. I've had numerous close encounters with black bears, grizzlies, coyotes and wolves, and by far the most dangerous spots I've been in were self-created, almost all of them having to do with rivers (and/or waves if I'm packrafting) and nothing to do with bears. Don't get me wrong, a pack of wolves howling close by at night or a brown bear splashing in the creek within earshot gets my blood pressure up quickly, but there's very little chance I was in much real danger at the moment. I get the feeling there is an evolutionary aspect of being afraid of the big bad [bear/wolf/coyote/what-have-you]. We weren't always completely atop the food chain, and there's something about it that sparks a deep-rooted fear. But that's just a pet theory, for what it's worth. I think it's also part of why exaggerated stories of predator experiences get passed around the campfire so often. I've heard stories here on the boards from a guy claiming to be stalked by 5 mountain lions at once (egads!), when mountain lions aren't pack animals in the least bit. The story didn't make a lick of sense, and I get the feeling the storyteller didn't know enough about cougars to realize his fable wasn't believable. I don't put much stock in random predator stories on the interwebs. Many are tall tales, exaggerated until they're at best only whispers of the truth. Some are true, no doubt (I have my own too), but often it's hard to tell the difference. My rambling $.02, anyway. - Mike
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 19, 2016 11:10:55 GMT -8
Oh and getting lost, dehydrated and hypothermia.
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snappypepper
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Post by snappypepper on Feb 19, 2016 12:07:27 GMT -8
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Feb 19, 2016 12:16:47 GMT -8
OTOH? A Hogan's Alley with thousand pound grizzlies popping out of the trailside brush and rushing the hiker: with some full contact "reinforcement" would be highly entertaining. I'd like to play that game. Imagine 1000 pound tackling dummy charging you from the brush, about 40 feet away. You have only time to draw pepper spray or a firearm, and get off 1 good blast. How far do you think a 200 lb person would fly if hit by this padded dummy, at griz speed?The "cartoon generating part of my brain" is laughing out loud, zeke.
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Post by rodwha on Feb 19, 2016 12:52:36 GMT -8
Poor guy his question was simply to those who *do* carry, in what manner do they carry? Out of the woodwork come the swarm of anti gun people using every tactic known to man to preach their gospel. This question never was about to carry or not to carry, the 2nd amendment or anything of the sort yet so many sought to bomb the guy with their political ideology.
Jambeaux It's certainly a touchy subject for some, and I can understand why there are some who wouldn't be comfortable as there are some idiots out there doing dumb things. I wouldn't be comfortable with an idiot with a gun, but would have no qualms with someone who is responsible and knows what they are doing. I do find it funny that statistics are typically brought in as a reason not to be armed. As though the bear or mountain lion chewing on your foot apparently didn't read that part and needs to cut it out and go back to chasing animals instead.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 19, 2016 13:13:01 GMT -8
"As though the bear or mountain lion chewing on your foot apparently didn't read that part and needs to cut it out and go back to chasing animals instead."
So why not wear that life vest, carry the parachute at the ready all due to the more probable acts? No water filter or treatment then? No first aid kit? No rain shell? What's funny is being fearful of the unlikely to non-existant outside Hollywood while blithely whistling past the real risks people encounter daily: i.e. those "funny" statistics.
Oh and for many? Anyone seriously carrying a handgun for bear protection IS an idiot having proven right there they do not know what they're doing. Their three gun score notwithstanding. Now they say it's for people? More cynical than I, but okay. that's a personal choice as long as I don't have to carry their spare ammo.
"BEAR!!!!"?, information light idiot.
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Feb 19, 2016 13:17:36 GMT -8
I wouldn't be comfortable with an idiot with a gun, but would have no qualms with someone who is responsible and knows what they are doing. I've been a range officer at a local rod and gun club for many years and in all that time I think I can count on one hand the number of people who I believe are responsible enough and know what they are doing to carry. And I stopped hunting in large measure because of the fools I have seen in the woods who do the most insane stuff with their firearms. Nothing malicious, just stupid.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 13:49:28 GMT -8
My wife, who brings bear spray, has me as her backup plan. She runs faster then I do.
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Post by rodwha on Feb 19, 2016 13:55:18 GMT -8
"As though the bear or mountain lion chewing on your foot apparently didn't read that part and needs to cut it out and go back to chasing animals instead." So why not wear that life vest, carry the parachute at the ready all due to the more probable acts? No water filter or treatment then? No first aid kit? No rain shell? What's funny is being fearful of the unlikely to non-existant outside Hollywood while blithely whistling past the real risks people encounter daily: i.e. those "funny" statistics. Oh and for many? Anyone seriously carrying a handgun for bear protection IS an idiot having proven right there they do not know what they're doing. Their three gun score notwithstanding. Now they say it's for people? More cynical than I, but okay. that's a personal choice as long as I don't have to carry their spare ammo. "BEAR!!!!"?, information light idiot. Well now things are beginning to degrade... The truth of the matter, as the statistics give a general picture of, is that the odds are you'll be safe from dangerous animals while out in the wilderness. However, the truth also is, that at times you are not. The truth is that bear spray is extremely effective. However the truth is also that it's not 100% gauranteed to work. Neither is a gun typically. As I said before it is a great responsibility and one I have not chosen to accept in the places I've chosen to go as there are too many people. I also said I didn't believe someone irresponsible should be armed. Your other questions aren't worth my time, as well as your misplaced demeaning comment. I chose not to stoop.
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