Long guns in the woods.

buy a BID #$%# pistol and carry that! Long guns(at least hicking and in terms of self defence) in the woods are HEAVY! : ( I got tired when I was lost for 5 hours and seriously considered leaving the rifle and treking on without it in the wildernes because it was so heavy. Buy a big deagle or something high in caliber so you can hgolster it, be ready, AND get from a to be not exhausted....and not scaring the #$%@ out of the people you pass by....
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I cant legally have a pistol, because I'm not 21, as I stated before. I don't care if I scare people passing by, if they get eaten/mauled thats their own fault.
I was looked at with saucer eyes when I showed up at some teenagers cabin when they were partying for the weekend in the middle of no where when I was lost "WHY DOY OU HAVE A RIFLE?!?!" they asked.
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You should have said something like: "Didn't you know, some cougars escaped from the zoo :p
 
I know that bears are a legitimate threat
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In MA, I'm sure you are talking about black bears. I don't worry about black bears too much. They are pretty much scared to death of anything on two feet. Last year, I had a fair sized one hanging around, and I got a couple of BIG rocks and beaned him with one. I think he didn't slow down until he got to Idaho.
 
When I was re-reading the public hunting lands book to answer Doug, I ran across a notation that black bears are re-appearing in both east and west Texas, and can be mistaken for feral hogs. Black bears are PROTECTED in the state of Texas, and you can get yourself into one honkin' big bit of trouble by shooting one.

Of course if I were rushed by a sow with a cub, and it's me or her, well, she'd better be carrying a .44, because I will be. But the point of the caution was to be sure of your target, and not to shoot a bear mistakenly.

Springmom
 
The rules for toting a firearm in national forests and public lands (whatever they may be called) vary by state. There is no blanket one size fit all rule although I wish there was. :)

If it's legal, carry your trusty 22 rifle and enjoy yourself. Black bears rarely are a problem unless you mess up. I have been know to be hunting whatever is legal as I enjoying carrying a gun in the woods.
 
"...bears are a legitimate threat..." Yogi is no threat. Cindy might be if you get between her and her cubs. Otherwise, bears think you smell of nothing but trouble. They'll avoid you like the plague.
"... legality of carrying a long gun..." As mentioned numerous times, it depends on where you are. Up here, in Ontario, if you're stopped in the bush by a CO and you have a firearm, you are assumed to be hunting. No hunting licence and you're charged with hunting without a licence. Have a rifle chambered in a calibre not suitable for whatever game is in season and you're charged with hunting out of season.
There are some counties where no rifle of a calibre greater than .275 is allowed at any time. Mostly in Southwestern Ontario.
No handguns at any time, period.
"...got tired when I was lost...and treking on..." You got lucky. That's a quick way to end up as dinner for the scavengers. Sit down, start a fire and contemplate life in general.
 
Well, what if Yogi is shot down by Cindy and goes ego tripping and I am in the way?

I know bears don't like people, and will try to avoid them if all possible. But the fact that people DO die from bears attacking them is a good enough reason to bring a gun.

Plus, I like walking around the woods with a gun.
 
We have mucho public lands, National Forest and otherwise, here in Arizona. While there are some specialized federal laws regarding "Parks", "Monuments", and others, for the most part the AR, FN, HK, or the Galil comes with.
 
I concurr with Arizona Fusilier, with one exception: hippie and granola types. I'll be hiking along with a handgun or a rifle for protection out in the great wide open wilderness, taking in the scenery and in general just enjoying myself.

Suddenly, blundering along down the trail in the opposite direction, a pair of dirty unwashed hippies come tromping through. Judgemental stares for me and my weapon, brief and barely cordial words, and they continue tromping in their direction.

I don't know if they "report" me when they see me or not, but I've never had a forest ranger or rural sherriff come looking for me. I think they get back to their cars and forget about it, but types like that sometimes take it upon themselves to make trouble for others with views that they don't approve of. A little micro-version of eco-terrorism using harrassment from police as a weapon.

When hiking with a weapon, I make sure that I don't do any recreational plinking. If somebody lies and says I shot at or near them intimidatingly, I want a clean bore and no powder residue anywhere, with a full magazine.
 
Thanks azredhawk44 & Arizona Fusilier.

I've lived in AZ for 14 years and have barely explored any of it outside the Phoenix metro. When the kids get older I'll have to take the family out of the city more.
 
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