One of the reasons to carry a belly gun when in the woods

[BigSky56]

Hunters fend off pack of aggressive wolves
A few years back a hunter was killed by a bear while gutting a elk his rifle was 20 feet away, where you going to put your rifle while you break down game. I have my own thoughts why the horses blew-up, horses dont like loud noises around them and a 44 and a mag rifle fall into that category. It takes a heck of a good horse to tolerate gunfire next to and around them. danny
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/loca ... 03286.html

[Old Ironsights]

Hunters fend off pack of aggressive wolves
A few years back a hunter was killed by a bear while gutting a elk his rifle was 20 feet away, where you going to put your rifle while you break down game. I have my own thoughts why the horses blew-up, horses dont like loud noises around them and a 44 and a mag rifle fall into that category. It takes a heck of a good horse to tolerate gunfire next to and around them. danny
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/loca ... 03286.html

Two is One. One is None.

Carry a backup whenever possible.

[kimwcook]

Danny, I would never consider trapsing the woods without a sidearm. Like you said, what are you going to do with your longarm while doing something else. You're going to put it down and at the time you're going to need it, it'll be 30 feet away leaning up against a tree or worse yet the bear, wolf, etc..is sitting right on your rifle.

Those guys were lucky. I don't think they'll in trouble, but common sense sometimes isnt' a part of the equation.

[RKrodle]

Dang glad we don't have them down here. Glad everyone made it out ok, the Feds need to get out of this and let the states handle it.

[Hobie]

The answer is to kill just enough wolves to make them fear man. This requires killing one or two "junior" wolves from every pack.

[MrMurphy]

Rifle slings were invented for a reason. One man works, another covers. NEVER leave your weapon.

[C. Cash]

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it, as they say.

[new pig hunter]

as Mr Krodle suggests, the Golden State does indeed take care of their own. Fortunately we don't have wolves here. They were legislated out of existence by their brethren in sheep's clothing in the state kapitol.

which also explains why archery hunters in Kali cannot possess a firearm while archery hunting. It would appear to be patently illegal, in the spirit if not the letter of the law, to defend onesself from predators in the Golden State.
-- DFG para 311j.

Cheers,

Carl

[BigSky56]

For those that havent experienced big predators with or without stock when hunting, most people hunt alone and after the shot end up gutting the animal by themselves and even when you go back with help to pack out the meat it takes 2 to load stock, 1 can but its a pain, try hanging a 125 lb elk or moose qrt on one side of a horse and then move to the other side and hang the other while keeping the saddle from rolling and do that with a rifle in your hand or slung over your shoulder on ground thats steeper than the back of your head. Having a belly gun will save you some hide its just a matter of time.danny

[junkwrencher]

In TN an archery hunter cannot carry any firearm unless he/she has a carry permit. In states that don't allow even that, a hunting knife with a blade long and strong enough to reach the vitals of a large predator is mandatory and should be on one's person even without the "belly" gun. Read longhunter and bowie here.

[RustyJr]

There is a reason that these animals became extinct in certain areas in the 1800s and this is one of them.

RustyJr

[Mescalero]

I share territory with a melonastic Jaguar.
I ALWAYS carry a pistol.
So far, I leave it alone, it leaves me alone.
I can live with this.

[El Chivo]

it would be nice but how much weight can you carry? Two firearms is a lot of weight.

[Old Ironsights]

it would be nice but how much weight can you carry? Two firearms is a lot of weight.

We're not talking 2 rifles, just a rifle and a BUG.

A snubby in a pocket can make all the difference...

[Huntermb]

It's funny but from having spent my entire life living and hunting in "wolf infested" areas, I have yet to ever have been threatened or stalked by a wolf or have talked to anyone who has. Wolves will usually go out of thier way to avoid a human.

[Blaine]

I always have a handgun of some sort with my rifle when I'm hunting. As far as that goes, I don't like to get very far from the rifle....Military training: If someone can grab your rifle, you are too far away from it. We made a game out of it and it helped keep it close.

[Old Ironsights]

It's funny but from having spent my entire life living and hunting in "wolf infested" areas, I have yet to ever have been threatened or stalked by a wolf or have talked to anyone who has. Wolves will usually go out of thier way to avoid a human.

Some wolves walk on 2 legs...

[Huntermb]

It's funny but from having spent my entire life living and hunting in "wolf infested" areas, I have yet to ever have been threatened or stalked by a wolf or have talked to anyone who has. Wolves will usually go out of thier way to avoid a human.

Some wolves walk on 2 legs...

yeah but they normally aren't as quite as the real thing... My rifle is never farther away than the length of my arm or slung on my back...

[Blaine]

It's funny but from having spent my entire life living and hunting in "wolf infested" areas, I have yet to ever have been threatened or stalked by a wolf or have talked to anyone who has. Wolves will usually go out of thier way to avoid a human.

They brought Canadian wolves down to Idaho and other places and they were NOT scared of humans. They have ruined entire herds of elk, deer and attacked stock, pets and humans. The introduced ones are not the same because they have no fear of humans.
Anything that growls at me in the woods is going to be considered for elimination.

[Huntermb]

I was merely stating what my experience growing up in the north with wolves around was. They do take elk and deer and moose and the odd cow and horse up here as well, they are pedators. I whole heartedly agree that if something is a threat to a human then it needs to be dealt with.

I just don't buy into the "shoot it because it's a wolf or bear or whatever" cause they are all bad attitude that I've seen from time to time. I've known farmers up here that will shoot any bear or wolf as soon as they see it no matter where it is and I just don't feel that it is right.

[dbord130]

Shoot,shovel,and shutup!

[BigSky56]

Valerius Geist a noted Canadian wildlife expert use to think wolves were non-threatening till he his wife and dogs were attacked then he made a study of them and concluded that Alaskan and Canadian wolves had a somewhat fear of man due to hunting them, the wolves in the lower 48 have been protected and dont have that fear course there was the girl killed in Alaska by wolves then there was that young man killed around Yellowknife and a girl researcher killed in Alberta in a wolf enclosure all in the last couple three years.
So far this year in my county a guy was surrounded by wolves while pleasure riding 5 miles from town a saddled mule was harassed at a trailhead broke free and chased up the Yaak hwy by 3 wolves (I know the lady she rides her stock her in the Rose Parade) several ranchers have lost stock and horses to wolves. last week the USF&G closed a road cause wolves killed a moose and were afraid people were going to SSS the wolves and grizzly that cleaned it up. The word is protectionism and it applies to predators you dont whack them they get bold, law of the jungle. Soon as the USA gets the same hunting and stock predation rights as Canada has it will get better. danny

[Malamute]

it would be nice but how much weight can you carry? Two firearms is a lot of weight.

I've always carried a pistol, whether I had a rifle or not and never felt overloaded, so long as the pistol was a reasonable size. I have no use for long barrels or extra heavy sixguns. A 4" 29 or 4 4/8" SA 44 or 45 will do whatever needs doing, even in grizzly country, and is comfortable to carry all day in a decent rig.

[Huntermb]

You guys would have to adjust to living up here You can't carry the majority of pistols out in the bush with you legally, which is truely sad on our governments part. So we learn to make do with rifle and knife up here. I also carry a hawk with me as well.

[Huntermb]

Valerius Geist a noted Canadian wildlife expert use to think wolves were non-threatening till he his wife and dogs were attacked then he made a study of them and concluded that Alaskan and Canadian wolves had a somewhat fear of man due to hunting them, the wolves in the lower 48 have been protected and dont have that fear course there was the girl killed in Alaska by wolves then there was that young man killed around Yellowknife and a girl researcher killed in Alberta in a wolf enclosure all in the last couple three years.

I have been reading of more and more accounts of this. I just haven't run into anyone up here yet who has had it happen...yet. I know far more people who have had nasty wolverine encounters (my self included) or black bear encounters. I've shot my fair share of wolves (legally and with licence) and trapped a fair amount too. I hope they these attacks don't start becoming more the norm than the exception.

[BigSky56]

Huntermb my hatchet gets alot of use quartering up elk or moose works better than a saw. danny

[Huntermb]

Huntermb my hatchet gets alot of use quartering up elk or moose works better than a saw. danny

Isn't that the truth, works so much easier and slicker, and in half the time. I figure if I can split the pelvis on a moose then I might have a chance on a bears skull in a pinch.

[jackruff]

There are no wolves here, and the very few bears so far have caused no one any trouble. There are lots of coyotes and bobcats but, so far, they haven't attacked anybody. Hogs can hurt you, but usually only when you're trying to hurt them. There is just one animal I've encountered in the woods that I consider to be somewhat of a low-level threat to attack a man: a pack of feral dogs. I hunt private land so carrying a sidearm is not a legal problem, and, besides, I have a carry permit, and since this isn't a school, church, or post office, it should be okay!

[Dave James]

As usual it appears they where trophy hunters,if all states required as Alaska and a few others do the removal of all meat before the head and cape, problem more than likely would have been avoided. Where allowed by law I do carry a backup side arm normally a 357 COLT heavy loaded with wfn type lead, where not I pay a whole of attention to my surroundings when gutting out game, and it don't have to be wolves, had a small pack of stray dogs in South Carolina and a hog in Georiga try and take some game from me

[BigSky56]

Dave he was day hunting(go in early come out same day) in the bob marshall wilderness its stock or shanks-mare only you get your elk gutted pack out the rack & hide if you want it and come back the next day with 4 buddies or 2 horses and pack it out. The hunter dumped that bull near dusk he went back the next day with stock unless your camped in there with stock and you shot a elk in the morning its going to be next day even a outfitter thats camped in there will pack the next day if its a evening shot away from camp. All elk are trophy's and magnificent animals my favorite to hunt and eat. danny

[tman]

I would feel naked out in the woods without a 45 ACP, Glock 27, or at least a keltec pf-9. Even if i'm carring a rifle or shotgun. You Cannuck's must be a tougher breed.

[Old Time Hunter]

Shoot,shovel,and shutup!

That's what our local sheriff says too!

For those that are concerned about carrying while bow hunting, isn't a cap and ball revolver not considered a firearm?

[rjohns94]

penns woods allows us to Carry if we have a permit during archery season or any other season. thats good. I always have a pistol on me. always.

[Mescalero]

Jerry,
brother, you are on the path to true enlightenment.

[trooper joe]

Interesting thread.

Several years ago, I found out that in all but three counties in Michigan, wild pigs (escapes from domestic herds) have become a real problem. There was even a news report of a woman in north east Michigan being cornered in her garage by one.

I have started to carry a hand gun along with my rifle when I hunt. Especially small game hunting when I am using a .22 or .22 Mag. I usually carry a Sig 239 in caliber .357 Sig.

Being a retired LEO, I also agree that you may run into a crazy in the woods and the side arm should always be with you.

[Mescalero]

Living where I live, with the county sherrif 54 miles away; it emboldens those prone to abberant behaviour.
The pistol encourages polite behaviour.

[C. Cash]

Living where I live, with the county sherrif 54 miles away; it emboldens those prone to abberant behaviour.
The pistol encourages polite behaviour.

Well put! Funny how that works......

[Huntermb]

I don't think we also have the same hunter density in alot of our areas (at least out west here and in the north) that some of you southern folks experience. I have spent weeks up in the bush and never seen another human other than my hunting partner.

[Old Ironsights]

...Being a retired LEO, I also agree that you may run into a crazy in the woods and the side arm should always be with you.

Ta heck with crazies.

There are backpack Meth Cooks and "feed plot" Pot Growers to contend with... and that's just in the National Parks.

[piller]

I have a S&W Model 99 compact in 40 caliber which loves 165 grain hollow points. In a tuckable holster it is invisible and easily accesible. I would not wish to use it on a bear or one of the bigger wild hogs.

[gunner69]

I ALWAYS pack....... either my .45 or my Glock 40. Neither weigh much and, if needed, "oh pelosi" doesn't get it. When stationed in California, in the '60s, I had an experience that still haunts me. I stopped my the 7-11 Store on the way home, left my handgun in the vehicle. The store was being robbed, the store manager was whipped badly, and he and I were locked in the walkin. I could have been killed, worse yet I probably could have stopped the robbery.