I hike in Colorado Wilderness areas, off trail, so I take my sidearm selection very seriously. I usually carry a SW 3" SS 629 .44 magnum loaded with Federal 300 gr. ammo. Back at base camp, I sometimes switch to a Glock 30, loaded with 185 gr. +p FMJE (not TMJ) truncated cone. For a truly impressive visual deterrent for the inconsiderate who come through your campsite, try having a Stoeger 12 gauge coach gun handy. I'll never forget the time I was assembling it from take-down mode just as a backpacker was coincidently (and rudely) taking a short cut through my base camp. He saw me with the Stoeger (in a non-threatening position-it was not even fully put together) and he did an immediate about face. Ha!
What do you take to the woods?
- Thread starter bubbaturbo
- Start date
JT King, I agree with you that people who travel/camp out in the boonies will ordinarily have more of a problem with the "two legged" wolves, than with the "four."
I also know by the area you described that you camp in Kalif.
I,too, for many years, have camped, hunted, hiked, fished, all over Kalif., although much more so in the Sierra, Santa Susanas, Trinitys, and San Berandino mountains, than in the desert. Several years ago, I killed a 400 pound black bear in the Sierra, about ten miles north of Johnsondale, Tulare Cty.
Given the growing population of bears, mountain lions, and, at least in the Sierra foothills, feral dogs, I believe that even an experienced camper can sometimes have serious threats from these animals. I've certainly seen them and know of several Kalif. mountain lion attacks on people. Know also of several black bear attacks on campers.
As for me, I have always carried firearms which would, if necessary, deal strongly with a bear or lion... or wild dogs. I know a game warden who killed a large mountain lion that was stalking his young son and a playmate, at a camp in the southern Sierra. Because of the perpetual ban on killing mountain lions, and even though he was a game warden, he indulged in that old but very wise axiom, S.S.S.
Now, here in Idaho, there are also a lot of bears and mountain lions... and in certain areas, feral dogs. I know two different hunters who had to kill black bears that were tearing up their camps.
Anyway, my advice is always watch for the two legged varmits... but be perpared for four legged ones, too, because there are some, that will make a lunch of you. Believing complacently that one need not worry about wild animals, just so long as one is a smart camper, might well lead to a tragedy.
FWIW. J.B.
I also know by the area you described that you camp in Kalif.
I,too, for many years, have camped, hunted, hiked, fished, all over Kalif., although much more so in the Sierra, Santa Susanas, Trinitys, and San Berandino mountains, than in the desert. Several years ago, I killed a 400 pound black bear in the Sierra, about ten miles north of Johnsondale, Tulare Cty.
Given the growing population of bears, mountain lions, and, at least in the Sierra foothills, feral dogs, I believe that even an experienced camper can sometimes have serious threats from these animals. I've certainly seen them and know of several Kalif. mountain lion attacks on people. Know also of several black bear attacks on campers.
As for me, I have always carried firearms which would, if necessary, deal strongly with a bear or lion... or wild dogs. I know a game warden who killed a large mountain lion that was stalking his young son and a playmate, at a camp in the southern Sierra. Because of the perpetual ban on killing mountain lions, and even though he was a game warden, he indulged in that old but very wise axiom, S.S.S.
Now, here in Idaho, there are also a lot of bears and mountain lions... and in certain areas, feral dogs. I know two different hunters who had to kill black bears that were tearing up their camps.
Anyway, my advice is always watch for the two legged varmits... but be perpared for four legged ones, too, because there are some, that will make a lunch of you. Believing complacently that one need not worry about wild animals, just so long as one is a smart camper, might well lead to a tragedy.
FWIW. J.B.
Hmmm...What do I take? Keep it simple.
A Glock-21 on my right hip with a pair of magazines on my left (thirty rounds of 230 grain Federal Hydrashock), a Paratool, and a 4" Spyderco. Hey it's what I know.
I'm trying to get my wife to invest in a .22 for "plincking", but its a losing battle...
Jon
A Glock-21 on my right hip with a pair of magazines on my left (thirty rounds of 230 grain Federal Hydrashock), a Paratool, and a 4" Spyderco. Hey it's what I know.
I'm trying to get my wife to invest in a .22 for "plincking", but its a losing battle...
Jon
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
J.T.King: I agree with you about the odds of more bad two-legs than four-legs. However, there have been two lion attacks in Big Bend National Park in recent years. Not many, given the number of people and the number of lions. both attacks were aimed at smallish children--lion-food sized.
I heard on the news last week that portions of the San Bernadino National Forest are closed. It seems that mama bears take their cubs to picnic areas and campgrounds, looking for food. Mama bears are more of a problem than "just bears".
Bear hunting was stopped in Florida, several years back. Now, the edges of Tallahassee are becoming food sources. First, there will be the cutesy-poo human interst stories (well, actually, they've begun) and sooner or later, tragedy...Should eventually make for interesting hiking and camping in the Appalachicola National Forest--prime bear habitat.
At any rate, Condition Yellow is a Good Thing, in town or out...
Regards, Art
I heard on the news last week that portions of the San Bernadino National Forest are closed. It seems that mama bears take their cubs to picnic areas and campgrounds, looking for food. Mama bears are more of a problem than "just bears".
Bear hunting was stopped in Florida, several years back. Now, the edges of Tallahassee are becoming food sources. First, there will be the cutesy-poo human interst stories (well, actually, they've begun) and sooner or later, tragedy...Should eventually make for interesting hiking and camping in the Appalachicola National Forest--prime bear habitat.
At any rate, Condition Yellow is a Good Thing, in town or out...
Regards, Art
Jay Baker and Art:
yep! Im in Kali. However, I also spend most of my time in the Sierra and the San Bedoo Mtns. Just happens that both of my "scary" incidents happened in the desert.
I suppose I was a little hasty about implying that you dont need to worry about animals.... What I meant was that you are far more LIKELY to have to worry about them two legged ones. If you stay out of campgrounds in most states in the union you virtually NEVER see a black bear. Ene if you do, unless its a momma-cubs situation they largely leave you alone and meander off on their own. You are in their house and if they rough up your cooler a bit, its certainly no reason to kill.
As far as Mountain Lions are concerned, Yes, there is an issue with Kids. But absent kids, the only cases of mountain lions killing people are on the fringes of their natural range where they really dont have game to eat. Given the large numbers of Mountain Lions in the Southern California mountains and the constant errosion of their habitat by middle-class housing projects there is obviously going to be a little population preasure. Those lions that arent succesful enough in the less habitated ranges are going to encroach on human settlements. In my mind thats not so much the issue with back-country animal threat. Hell, you are FAR more likely to need a gun for a Mtn Lion threat jogging in a gated community in South Orange County then ever in the high Sierra.
So my point really is.... you may be at some risk every time you go to the corner market at being in the stopre when some maniac holds it up, but the CREDIBLE threat that you should arm for is a far higher risk than that.
Same with Camping. You may be at SOME risk from animals in a remote location. but the CREDIBLE risk is Humans. The statistics suppot that and my personal experiences support it as well.
Again, IMHO, FWIW, YMMV and all that jazz...
J.T.
yep! Im in Kali. However, I also spend most of my time in the Sierra and the San Bedoo Mtns. Just happens that both of my "scary" incidents happened in the desert.
I suppose I was a little hasty about implying that you dont need to worry about animals.... What I meant was that you are far more LIKELY to have to worry about them two legged ones. If you stay out of campgrounds in most states in the union you virtually NEVER see a black bear. Ene if you do, unless its a momma-cubs situation they largely leave you alone and meander off on their own. You are in their house and if they rough up your cooler a bit, its certainly no reason to kill.
As far as Mountain Lions are concerned, Yes, there is an issue with Kids. But absent kids, the only cases of mountain lions killing people are on the fringes of their natural range where they really dont have game to eat. Given the large numbers of Mountain Lions in the Southern California mountains and the constant errosion of their habitat by middle-class housing projects there is obviously going to be a little population preasure. Those lions that arent succesful enough in the less habitated ranges are going to encroach on human settlements. In my mind thats not so much the issue with back-country animal threat. Hell, you are FAR more likely to need a gun for a Mtn Lion threat jogging in a gated community in South Orange County then ever in the high Sierra.
So my point really is.... you may be at some risk every time you go to the corner market at being in the stopre when some maniac holds it up, but the CREDIBLE threat that you should arm for is a far higher risk than that.
Same with Camping. You may be at SOME risk from animals in a remote location. but the CREDIBLE risk is Humans. The statistics suppot that and my personal experiences support it as well.
Again, IMHO, FWIW, YMMV and all that jazz...
J.T.
I usualy take a PPK in .380 with me when hiking. For long trips I am on a horse so I take a .41 56 smith and a AK then. I also carry the .380 when hunting for the people factor as it is light and out of sight. Carrying a large hand gun while hunting all day is a pain for me,hate the weight.