What do you take to the woods?

B

bubbaturbo

New member
I like to ride ATVs in the woods. When I do I usually take a 45 Colt lever action rifle. Sometimes I go in on foot though, and I want my hands free and I don't want the weight. I usually take a Para-Ordnance P13. I often see coyotes and packs of dogs but I have never had any trouble with any. In any case, I never go without a gun. (This is on private property). Someone else in another thread mentioned taking a GP100. Also, anybody have any trouble with animals, wild or otherwise, where you needed a firearm on a outdoors trip?
 
Here in Az, it's best to always take some kind of firearm with you when you go out. Personally, when I'm hiking ,or camping, I take a pistol, and a rifle, usually a 30-30 carbine, and one of my 9mm's.

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!
Defend the Constitution from the foreign threat!!!!
 
Usually a 9mm and some kind of long arm.
Shotgun 0r 10/22.

Sometimes if I have the 12 gauge, I'll take
an SW 317 with some snake shot for the first 3 or 4 rounds.

Knife, flashlight.
 
bubbaturbo; I do alot of camping, fishing and shootin' in central washington state. Sometimes I take my Glock 21 and at other times I'll take a 357 mag. But I ALWAYS take my Rem 870 HD 12 gauge with slugs. Just depends on the part of the country you go stompin' around in. When I take my ATV I wear my Glock 21 in a Glock belt slide with an extra mag. I just ordered some winchester 185 grain TMJ +P's for the woods. I guess it's pretty hot stuff with deep penetration. I ordered it from thesportsmansguide.com. Best Regards, J. Parker
 
I find my Ruger Blackhawk in .357 mag very comfortable on short hikes mounted in a strong side Uncle Mike. For longer hikes when sporting a backpack, I stow a Glock 19 in the nearest pouch.
 
Generally speaking, I take a red 1972 Cadillac Eldorado convertible with the top down, a co-ed of legal age and an attitude to match, a couple bottles of something aged about the same length of time as the co-ed, a viagra, and a cashmere blanket.

but that's just me.

take whatever you want.

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Take the long way home...
 
If an auto, I would take my Glock 22 with 3 high capacity mags. If a revolver, I would take my 44 Magnum Vaquero.
 
I commit the ultimate no no went it come to being in the woods. Camp, hike and hunt alone. The deeper and more isolated, the better. Definitely have to rely on a sidearm for protection. Use a 41 Magnum, S&W model 657 with a 6" barrel.

Robert
 
There are woods in AZ, deep ones, too! And I love getting to them. I take my D.W. 5", .44 Mag.. Pretty much covers all my needs. Complain? Me? OK, it's sooo heavy! I also switch it out with a *&* ten shot, s.s., 617-2 (.22). This also covers all my needs. And it makes less noise.
anodes.
 
I used to take a gun just for wild animals. It was always a magnum round like a 10mm or a .357 Sig. Need something with a flat trajectory that penetrates deep.

Now, since I live on the southern US border and we are having serious issues with illegal Mexican immigrants attacking people that they come across, I carry more than just for animals. I carry for defense against a group of people, and that means more ammo than if I were carrying just for animal defense. Fortunatly for me, that does not mean a change in guns. I used to carry a Glock 20 or a Glock 31 and I still do. Either one holds more than 15 rounds of serious firepower, and I usually have a second mag.

When it comes to rifles, I change a lot, but my .44 Magnum Winchester Trapper lever gun with 9+1 capacity works really well for just about anything I could come across down here.
 
1) areas where handgun if any must be concealed: Ruger Speed Six 158 grain SWC
2) free to carry areas Ruger 7.5" Blackhawk in .45 Colt 250 grain hard cast SWC at near max loading.
3) canoe or fishing trips. parkerized SKS paratrooper carbine with folding stock bungeed under seat.
4) four wheeling trips or car camping. full size SKS with folding stock modified to take 30 round AK mags.
5) any of the above in BIG bear country sub SKS for 45-70 lever action

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.
 
I always carry a 4" Ruger GP100 with 2 speed loaders on the belt. I also keep 2 additional speed loaders in the truck along with some additional ammo. I also often have a 22LR or 12ga along as well.
 
Varies with the trip. When hunting quail during deer season, I carry a Redhawk in case I'm attacked by a rabid buck.

"Just hiking", I'll carry my Delta Elite--or if the mood strikes, a Blackhawk in .45 Colt. The latter choice is becoming more attractive with the increase in the local bear population.

They tell me bears are afraid of people. Fine. Now, who told the bear? Same for the lions. I won't start anything; I just want to be able to finish whatever does start.

:), Art
 
When I had a home many years ago in the middle of the Tonto National Forest I had a run in with a pack of wild dogs. Hunters would loose their dogs and would not be able to wait days for them to return. These dogs would meet up with each other and form packs. I was hiking alone and before I knew it I was surrounded by five bad looking dogs that were circling me while they snapped and growled. What was bad was I could only see four at the time as one would always be behind me.I remember a German shepard was about to bite the back of my leg. At that time I cocked the Colt Trooper .357 that I had in my hand and was just about to shoot him. At the sound of the gun being cocked they backed off and went back into the woods. The only thing I can think was that they were familiar with firearms and knew what that sound meant.
About two years prior to this (about 1973) in the same woods I was lucky enough to have a large wolf walk by me about 40 or 50 feet away. He looked at me without breaking stride and was close enough for me to see his grey eyes. I was told there are no wolves in AZ but I know it was not a very large dog. This was a very wild place and it was not uncommon to see a dead deer up in the trees. Coming directly from NYC I at first thought maybe the deer jumped into the tree and got stuck but a closer look found claw marks in the tree trunk. There were times I felt eyes watching me but never saw anything. Never saw a bear but saw fresh foot prints and at times heard brush move.
 
Have I ever had any trouble with animals in the woods?

Well... My wife and I have remote camped (often from the back of a built jeep) for years. Its almost always just us two. We also backpack and hike and NEVER use a campground. Dont like 'em, dont believe in 'em. If you do, great! It keeps you out of the back-country where I will be! :]

In all those years we have had only two issues with animals where I felt the need for a gun. In both cases it was the case of a two-legged animal. I am a firm believer that unless you are truly a neophyte in the woods, or happen to be in Alaska surrounded by brown-bears, it is HIGHLY unlikely that any animal will ever pose any kind of serious threat to a human. It is FAR more likely that you will be accosted by another member of our fair species.

In the first of my encounters, My wife and I were in a tent in Death Valley when all of a sudden we heard the unmistakable WHUMP! of my cooler lid slaming shut. Now I hadnt left it open! I sat bolt up-right in my sleeping ba, making a ruslting noise at which point I heard the patter patter of feet on the rocks outside. my wife jumped about a foot straight up and I pulled out my only firearm that I owned at the time: a Ruger .357mag BlackHawk. Not your first choice for self defense but what the heck. My wife unzipped the tent flap as I lurched out of the tent swinging that big ol' hog-leg around the camp site as I eared back the hammer. Didnt see anyone. I was bare ass naked and had my johnson swinging in the wind and flashling in my hand scoutning for the noise. I looked under the jeep to the other side and never saw anyone. I looked around for a few minutes and couldnt figure out what happened so I assumed that I imagined it. Went back to bed, if not to sleep.

Next morning as I was loading the jeep I saw a set of footprints and hand prints next to my jeep on the opposite side right behind a tire. the handprints were in a place that only a crouched person could make. Nearest I figure some desert rat (human variety)was out of food and out of money and decided to try and raid our food but slipped up on the lid. I am glad he managed to hide from me in hind sight cause I surely would have shot him. I was spooked.

Second time was a couple of dirt bikers in Anza Borrego who decided to leave wherever it was that they were camped and come look for us after seeing our jeep lights late at night. My wife and I were looking for a camp site after having pulled off the road into a hidden ditch when the two dirt bikes came roaring up and stopped on the other side of a bush from us.

My wife grabbed my arm real tight and this time I unholstered the .40cal that I had replaced that single action BlackHawk with and cocked it as we crouched. The one guys said in a low voice to the other: "Did you see them?"

"No", said the second one, "I think they left the road"

"Don't worry, We'll find them, I think I saw tracks back a little ways"

Now I dont know but I felt a little nervous at a couple of scruffed up young men talking about "finding" my wife and I after 11pm at night in a remote back country area. I kept the pistol between me and them (unseen) until they took off looking for our tracks. At which time we both high-tailed it to the jeep and blasted out onto that dirt road with no lights on. I could see one of the guys ahead of me with his lights on and I turned on every light I had simultaneously on the jeep. He froze like a deer caught in the headlight as I rolled by him, slow enough to make sure he had no weapons out and said out the open window, "Dont follow me or come looking for me or I will start to feel in fear of my life!"

He didnt leave the spot as far as we could see him. Needless to say, We drove a long ways away before camping that night.

So to sumarize my feelings about needing a firearm in the woods....

The only really dangerous animals you are likely to encounter and cant avoid or leave alone are the Human Animals. I load for them every time I go camping now.

My jeep gun is a H&K USP45f loaded with 230gr Golden Sabres and my backpacking gun is a S&W(pre-sellout) 342ti .38sp +P Golden Sabres.

Whew! Havent told that story before. hope it helps or is at least entertaining! :]

J.T.
 
Great storys guys !

I was deep in the woods on my 4-wheeler one day, i stopped for a smoke and some fresh air when i noticed some ruffling in the leaves coming closer and closer to me at a very fast pace. Let me tell ya, nothing gets you pumped faster than that !

As the sounds came closer i heard the thing yelling like a stuck pig. I grabbed the only gun i had with me, a marlin .22LR loaded with 14 rounds. I felt as if i were seriously underarmed. Unless this thing was a raccoon i was in trouble.

I clicked the safety off and pointed it in the direction of the "thing". Suddenly it ran right past me so fast i couldnt even tell what it was. It ran past me behind some thick brush, all i could see was that it was grey and brown and about the size of a small deer. Maybe it was a deer. I really dont care what it was, I was shaking in my shoes.

Im glad i didnt have to shoot it being i only had a .22 i probably would have just pissed it off. Although im sure all 14 rounds would have been in its hide.

On another occasion, myself and 2 other boys all of us around 14 years old at the time and armed only with BB guns came across a WILD BOAR (in the same woods as the above story i might add).we were walking along and when i looked up it was standing there drooling right in front of us. What does one do? one runs !

Ive never climbed a tree so fast in my life! we waited there for about 2 hours until it walked away. We werent about to mess with a buncha BB guns. (we were young, not stupid) Besides, we were in his house. He was probably just trying to chase us off. Ive never heard of a wild pig attacking humans. Even though im sure he could have done some damage with those little stout horns on his nose.

We still talk about that pig when we get together. Im glad it happened. That kind of thing is what made us the best of friends. Plus it gives us something to tell our grand kids.

Now when i go in the woods i take something bigger than a BB gun or a .22 I normally take my .12ga or my .40 sig on my hip.

Tim :D
 
Gremlin: Wonderful post ... I certainly agree ... thanks.

Seriously, I normally take a Smith 627, 5 inch barrel, "N" frame .357 Magnum revolver loaded with 158 grain Federal Hydra-Shok (plus two speed loaders). This handgun is terrific for reasonable back-county self-protection.

The round is a compromise, which I believe is suitable for both two-legged and four-legged animal dangers in the Virginia mountains.
 
I frequently go out on a very large, high-dollar deer lease on the Texas/Mexico border. I’m sure that all have read the recent news articles on problems on the border. This kind of activity has been going on for many years.

When out alone in the desert, I am usually armed to the teeth, and very alert and aware of my surroundings. To be otherwise might prove detrimental to my health.

Minimum Firearm Requirement (MFR):

1 high-powered centerfire rifle
1 large bore high-capacity shotgun
2 large bore centerfire pistols

Last trip an H&K SL-8, M-870 mag., H&K USP .45, Glock M-23, and a S&W 4013TSW accompanied me. The 4013 is my carry gun. There were a couple of rimfires, and a few other odds and ends (sometimes a class 3 or two), for entertainment along for the ride.

While in camp, I usually keep a large bore pistol on my person at all times. While sleeping - same thing.

While out in the desert on foot, I will carry at least one high-powered rifle and one large bore pistol. If I’m feeling up for it, sometimes I will toss the shotgun over my shoulder.

When using a jeep or ATV, I don’t like to carry more firearms that I can maintain direct control over and usually leave the extras locked in my truck back in camp.

Skyhawk
 
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