handgun in the back country

[currie]

does anyone carry a sidearm into the backcountry during bow season. in case of bears or cougars etc

[Ilikefire]

I carry a handgun all the time, back country or not. Most of the time it's a .40 but if I go into areas I know are infested with bear or cats I'll switch to either a 357 or 44 just depends. I've only used a sidearm one for shooting at a cat while hunting, and the reason was the cat was stalking us from atop a little cliff and presented a shot, I was glad I had a gun that day.


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[six]

Yes I carry all the time. 9mm strapped to the waste belt of the pack. If you lay your pack down out of reach don't forget to put the gun on your pants belt. Not going to do you any good if you cant get ahold of it, or its in your pack. My buddy carried his around in his pack for a week. Not sure what good it would do him and I told him so.

[WapitiTalk1]

Only in Grizz country. Taurus .44 Ultralite w/305 Grn HSM bear loads.

[husky390]

G20 with a 6" barrel and meprolight adjustable night sights in a Hill People Gear Kit Bag for me.


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[Elkduds]

Taurus 617 titanium, 7 shots of .357, very light.

[Lefty]

While at the International Sportsmans Expo I was talking with the guys from Eastmans and others at their booth; of the 10 or so of us I was the only one who doesnt carry a sidearm in bear country.
I carry Bear Deterrent. The big can on my belt during hunting season the small size on my wrist the rest of the year.
While I do carry bear spray for a potential grizzle encounter, I dont really worry about lions or wolves.
However I carry for personal protection from crazy people. I know I would be reluctant to shoot someone with a side-arm,.. But a bad character I wouldnt have any problem filling his nose and eyes with capsicum.
My daughters carry in their cars ( So do I) and my oldest keeps it beside her bed.
I cant have a firearm at school in my pick-up,.. but there is always bear spray close ( and the handle for my Hi-lift )

[wawhitey]

I always carry. 9mm kimber when im in town, when im in the woods its either a s&w .357, taurus .44, or s&w .460. Depends on what im doing. No reason not to carry one, and i trust it over bear spray. Statistically they say spray is the way to go, but statistics can show anything. Especially when theyre made by people with an agenda. Like wanting people to stop carrying guns.
Had a blackie sneak up on me once when i was napping and shot him point blank with my .44. Knocked him ass over tea kettle. Shot at a cougar with the same gun and missed 3 times.

[ishy]

I carry spray. If the gun is big enough it weighs more than I want to carry, and I think I'd be quicker with spray than a gun even though I watch tons of westerns.

[Ridgernr]

I carry , after walking In on 7 wolves feeding on a 5x5 while shed hunting a few years back,
I find it nice to have an equalizer on board.

[Yotebuster10]

I always carry when out and about..in the woods I carry 45 acp or 44 mag...but recently I picked up a glock G40 in 10mm 6 inch barrel going to carry this in a gunfighters inc chest holster ... I chose a 10 mm because in NM we don't have big bears like you other guys do but 16 rounds of 10mm can't be wrong ...

[Fridaythe13th]

OK, now what would you carry. I have a choice of .44 colt Anaconda with a 6" barrel, very heavy. or a Springfield XD 9mm much lighter. I don't hunt in grizzly country. Which do I carry????????

I have never carried in the mountains but I do bring them with and leave them at camp for the 2 legged critters. But this might change this year. Hunting a new area in Colorado

[Mike_Parson]

i always have my Kimber .45 acp on my hip when in the woods. i feel its more effective than a can of spray....

[husky390]

OK, now what would you carry. I have a choice of .44 colt Anaconda with a 6" barrel, very heavy. or a Springfield XD 9mm much lighter. I don't hunt in grizzly country. Which do I carry????????

I have never carried in the mountains but I do bring them with and leave them at camp for the 2 legged critters. But this might change this year. Hunting a new area in Colorado

I carried a steel 4" N frame Smith for one season and traded it afterwards. Way too heavy. Also, have you seen the prices on Colt snake guns lately? No way would it leave my safe if I owned one.

I'd carry the 9. I've yet to run into a bear here in CO but have run into weirdos.

[Lefty]

,...
I'd carry the 9. I've yet to run into a bear here in CO but have run into weirdos.

I would hesitate in many situations to shoot weirdos with a firearm. A long time back I did run across a crazy fellow, I was scared for my life. I kept my hands on my shovel. The dude was crazy. I reported to the sheriffs department. The sheriff asked me to not file charges, The guy had real mental issues however I did fill out an extensive report. If someone acted that way towards me now and I have pepper spray I would be purchasing a new can the next day.

[VT Sasquatch]

I never used to carry in the woods with a few, rare exceptions. I bought a Ruger LR9 9mm a couple years ago and now I carry about 50% of the time I am afield. I used to lug a Beretta 45 on the rare occasion in the past and it was just too bulky. The LR9 was inexpensive and is really compact. I have never had to use a handgun and probably never will. For that reason, I'm happy to compromise with something small.

[husky390]

,...
I'd carry the 9. I've yet to run into a bear here in CO but have run into weirdos.

I would hesitate in many situations to shoot weirdos with a firearm. A long time back I did run across a crazy fellow, I was scared for my life. I kept my hands on my shovel. The dude was crazy. I reported to the sheriffs department. The sheriff asked me to not file charges, The guy had real mental issues however I did fill out an extensive report. If someone acted that way towards me now and I have pepper spray I would be purchasing a new can the next day.

I'm by no means advocating shooting weirdos but I am advocating protecting ones self from them. I've ran into enough of them in the desert and woods that have made me prefer a semi-auto over a 5 or 6 shot revolver. I've never had to draw my weapon as the smart thing to do was to leave the area. And I agree hose em with spray. But every situation is different and what you choose and how you react is up to you.

[Fridaythe13th]

"husky390"] have you seen the prices on Colt snake guns lately?

I got a great deal on the colt $450. have shot 3 deer with it in 4 years.

I was leaning towards the 9mm but not sure if it's very effective on a bear.

[Lefty]

I am advocating protecting ones self from them. .

I understand.
I know I would sleep just fine after spraying someone. but would loose sleep otherwise
A buddy of mine a big tough manly man , still does 75 push ups sit ups,and sit ups twice a day, college wrestler in the 80's. He had pull a gun on a bad dude. Never fired it but he spent a lot on nights thinking about it

[husky390]

"husky390"] have you seen the prices on Colt snake guns lately?

I got a great deal on the colt $450. have shot 3 deer with it in 4 years.

I was leaning towards the 9mm but not sure if it's very effective on a bear.

Guys are going nuts for snake guns with prices for nice ones going for low four figures.

I keep a very clean campsite and tie my food up in a tree. Most of the problem bears are near established campgrounds. Heck, I haven't run into one. My Uncle has ran into a mother and her cub and they took off before he could even move. Maybe carry the 9 and spray.

[Elkduds]

Can a superbright flashlight deter a bear, cat or determined homo sapiens? Even in daylight?

[wawhitey]

OK, now what would you carry. I have a choice of .44 colt Anaconda with a 6" barrel, very heavy. or a Springfield XD 9mm much lighter. I don't hunt in grizzly country. Which do I carry????????

I have never carried in the mountains but I do bring them with and leave them at camp for the 2 legged critters. But this might change this year. Hunting a new area in Colorado

You leave a $3000+ colt behind at camp????

[Indian Summer]

I'll just say this: If it's too heavy you will end up not carrying it. AND.... make sure it is front and center ready to go. A gun in a pack is obviously useless but it should really be on your daypack hip belt right there on the side you shoot from.

Of the 2 you mentioned since you have no griz I'd go with the XD. Springfield make a great firearm. I have an XD45 and really like it. For small I carry a Ruger LC9 which is really nice light and compact. I keep spray in camp. If I am in grizzly country I keep that on my hip belt too on the other side or right on my chest using the strap that goes between the shoulder straps. Yes I was a Boyscout!

[Kentrek]

Zero carry for me

I don't live in big bear country and when am over there I usually have a weapon

I'd definitely change my ways if there seemed to be more of a threat like places around yellow stone but as it is I'd rather carry in a city then in the woods

[NorthIDTLH]

I carry a .357 in my chest holster. That way it's always with me, even when I take my pack off to rest and glass for a few minutes. Revolvers are usually more reliable in adverse weather conditions and the dirt and grime that comes with Fall elk hunts.

[RAMMONT]

I live in a national forest in Montana and I carry either my FNX .45 or my .454, depending on which season, the wife carries her .357 - when she carries. As others have hinted at, I worry more about the two legged critters in the forest than the four legged ones.

[Njdiverdan]

I typically carry my S&W air weight .44. I use a diamond d guide holster so it is with me if I drop my pack. I am going to be hunting in heavier grizz country this year so will probably replace the .44 with my S&W .500. I will make up the weight penalty around my waist.

[nrocchio]

After reading how many of you carry, I may give it a try this year.

In CO where I hunt, it is really tough to get in, so I take as little as I can. I have run into quite a few bears here (4 of them last year), but black bears have never been aggressive in any encounter I have had with them. I leave my 9mm SIG at home, and keep bear spray strapped to the front of my pack. I feel safe enough with the spray, and don't want the weight of the side arm. If I was hunting in grizzly country I would be way more afraid and cautious... which is why I am glad I don't hunt around them haha.

[wawhitey]

Bout to spend some time in our grizz recovery zone here in the selkirk unit over the next couple weeks. Bringin the .460

[BlackOvis]

Yup, I carry the S&W Shield 9mm for Black Bear Country. Anytime I go into Grizzly Country, it's my Glock .40cal and a can of Counter Assault Bear Spray. Call it paranoia, but I don't like to take chances..

[wawhitey]

Yup, I carry the S&W Shield 9mm for Black Bear Country. Anytime I go into Grizzly Country, it's my Glock .40cal and a can of Counter Assault Bear Spray. Call it paranoia, but I don't like to take chances..

Id call a .40 for grizz taking chances, unless you just plan on using it on yourself if the bear spray doesnt work.

Imo .357 or 10mm for blackies, .44mag for grizz is the baseline for adequate. 9mm / .40 s&w = 2 legged critter stoppers.