weathershak
Delaware
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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tunerdude wrote:Not meaning to start a ruckus... just asking if we just sit around and watch the bear consume whatever it wants, including the DW while waiting for a LEO; or, do we become, shall we say, more proactive?? I'm a retired Navy chief and my inclination is to protect, first and foremost. Looking at the NRA's webpage about even a few of the state by state restrictions, it doesn't look any too good.
Thanks for the "welcome"!!
Just curious, What kind of gun would you have to haul around to stop a bear? Would it be more accepted to carry a shot gun vs a hand gun?
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shooer
ventura county
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1977 FORD 4X4
1980 LANCE
I keep 'em a while.
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Ken451
southern Ohio
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weathershak wrote:Just curious, What kind of gun would you have to haul around to stop a bear? Would it be more accepted to carry a shot gun vs a hand gun?
It all depends on what kind of bear you are worried about. Black, grizzly, polar, panda, teddy?
If it's polar bears or grizzlies, then a handgun, even a big caliber, is marginal at best. Black bears are generally shy and I wouldn't worry about them, myself.
Personally, I'm not one who worries about 4 legged predators although I would give it serious consideration if I were going to Glacier or Alaska. Even in those areas, good common sense is one's most important defense.
And yes, I've solo camped in the Boundary Waters Canoe area (Minnesota) where there are black bears and wolves. My last trip there, I was thrilled to have a pack of wolves howling in different directions around my campsite. No, I wasn't worried, I was thrilled with the experience. Wolf (and black bear) attacks on adult humans are extremely rare in the lower 48. I've read that there were zero proven wolf attacks on adults in the lower 48 in the entire 20th century.
From a legal standpoint, long guns have less restrictions than handguns although most of the mountain, southern, and midwestern states allow handguns. National Forests have no restrictions beyond local laws (and you cannot take a firearm into a federal building, like a ranger station).
Ken
2006 Sundowner horse trailer with living quarters,
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retired with horses
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weathershak
Delaware
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Thanks for the answer. True about the wolf attacks being zero(source, Lakota Wolf Preserve) Should I decide to carry, I would prefer the shotgun myself. I thought it would be less of a hassle carrying something that cant be concealed.
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Deputy Chief P.O.
Linden, California
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Welcome to the forum!
I am retired law enforcement. Personally I believe that those who are interested in carrying a firearm in their rig, who are trained in gun safety and understand responsible firearm conduct add an extra element to their traveling safety.
However you need to comply with and adhere to each US state laws or foreign country's laws which may prohibit you from doing so or have certain restrictions.
Possession of a firearm is no guarantee that you will be totally safe, it just provides those whose responsibly carry one further safety option in a life threatening situation.
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Groover
Pulaski, TN
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I heard of an interesting, legal and inexpensive option recently. Carry a can of wasp spray. Most have a range of over 20 ft and it would probably run off most wildlife and humans if sprayed in the face. I feel sure that a good spray in the face would take the fight out of me and mess up my aim with a weapon. Since it is legal everywhere you could keep it closer at hand. A firearm won't do any good if it is not with you when you need it. Also, virtually any family member could use it, not just trained and practiced individuals.
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trucker495
Linden, CA
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Here is my spin, I personally keep a weapon in my RV for personal protection. I was raised around guns and did lots of hunting as a kid and was taught gun safety at a very early age. My children were also taught to respect firearms. It all comes down to personal preference, if you are anti gun thats great. If you are pro gun that is also great. I respect both.Crime can happen anywhere including boondocking areas so my philosophy is be prepared for any potential problem. Just one old farts opinion.
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Deputy Chief P.O.
Linden, California
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Groover, your comment,Groover wrote:I heard of an interesting, legal and inexpensive option recently. Carry a can of wasp spray. Most have a range of over 20 ft and it would probably run off most wildlife and humans if sprayed in the face. I feel sure that a good spray in the face would take the fight out of me and mess up my aim with a weapon. Since it is legal everywhere you could keep it closer at hand. A firearm won't do any good if it is not with you when you need it. Also, virtually any family member could use it, not just trained and practiced individuals.
This option certainly is better than nothing.
However, in my experience, pepper spray on some humans doesn't always work. I have seen people that have been sprayed, not affected (certainly not the norm). Beware of spraying dogs with pepper spray unless there are no other options, I have witnessed it not work on dogs. I never tried pepper spray on a bear, but if it failed to work on a dog, God forbid should you spray a bear with it.
I do not have any experience with Wasp spray and am interested in it's chemical makeup, if you have any information on this, I would appreciate it. But please remember even wasp spray will not stop another gun.
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midnightsadie
ohio
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we carry a gun ,ITS not a weapon, it is a very important TOOL , use as needed . would I shoot sme one? only to protect my family.
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mtdew999
Backwoods, Oregon
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I take a handgun when I travel - if I remember to pack it. I live on a large farm in an isolated wilderness area - and protection against wildlife and strangers is probably more common at home than on vacation. That said, my most effective tool for protection of my home and livestock is NOT a gun, but a good dog. That's why I "carry" my black and tan coonhound when boondocking in the back country.
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