campfires and guns

[r1derbike]

In the Woods, so...

...I carry outside all the time. Pack of coyotes came running down the road, barking and yelping, so I charged them with my walking stick. Didn't have my outside fireplace going, so it was very dark, except for a streetlight 90 yards away (ranged it and other landmarks for parallax adjustments on my scopes).

They were wussies and scattered as I expected. Months ago, my wife was walking our cul-de-sac and two coyotes stopped to eyeball her. She was maybe 50 yards away, I bolted out of my chair and ran toward them. They wussed-out too.

My real worry is encountering a rabid animal from the woods around me. They have a nasty habit of attacking and not wussing-out.

 

[gspn]

He opened the cooler sat on the table bench and turning up the water jug to take a drink noticed another person setting at the opposite end of the table which spooked him to the point that he dropped the jug, and that in turn frightened the BLACK BEAR that had just moments before had be raiding the cooler, a fact later found out from the scattering of the rest of the contents of the cooler that were all about the area of the table.

That visual gave me a big ol grin.

 

[bobinoregon]

There's a world of difference between sitting around the campfire relaxing having a drink while carrying and being drunk and dangerous. Guns have always been a part of my outdoor life and I cant imagine camping without one or not having an evening beer around the fire.

 

[Leanwolf]

WHUGHETT -"I made a casual comment, Mr Moderator, you want to kick it up a notch. You don't have a clue what he [Leanwolf] is doing you are not there. Or is that you on the camera."

I really had no intention of addressing such a ridicuous and ill-thought-out post as made originally by WHUGHETT, implying that I projected the image of a gun-crazy drunk, waving a pistol around, carelessly and nonchalantly blasting away at passing hikers and flying night owls. But after the above, decided I would have to reply.

First, Sam1911 lives in Penn., and I in Idaho, so no, he was not the man taking my picture.

My partner took the picture just before he put on the steaks for dinner. Of course, I'm sure Whughett would chastise my partner too, as he was also drinking a beer and wearing his Ruger .357 Magnum in his belt holster. (I never saw him drunkenly drag out his cannon and blast away at rolling tin cans or even some trout in the nearby creek, however, perhaps by that time I was passed out from my one beer pre-dinner and my one beer post-dinner and just didn't hear him crank off some rounds.)

The very idea that thinking a person in camp, whether hunting, scouting, or merely enjoying the mountains and forests, sitting beside a campfire, having a beer before dinner and wearing a concealed handgun under a heavy jacket, yet never ever even putting a hand on said handgun, is a threat to Mankind is beyond any sustainable logic. In fact, in my opinion, it's downright ludicrous.

Without going farther into Whughett's nonsensical assumptions and implications, I'll only say that I am adamently against people drinking and in any way, shape, or form, mishandling or carelessly "showing" firearms while drinking, whether at camp or home.

That most assuredly was not the case in the instance of which I wrote and posted the picture. The original poster asked about "campfires and guns." I accommodated him even though I did not show the handgun I was carrying.

Just as an addendum, where I was sitting was right in the middle of wolf country, Black bear country, Mountain lion country, and coyote country, plus there had been several incidents of marijuana grows up in that area where illegal aliens paid by drug cartels grew their weed in isolated mountainous areas.

In camp, I shall still relax before my campfire, have my one beer before dinner, one beer afterward... and I'll sure as Hell remained armed.

L.W.

 

[gspn]

In camp, I shall still relax before my campfire, have my one beer before dinner, one beer afterward... and I'll sure as Hell remained armed.

L.W.

I've liked every post you've made so far. I do find it a shame that you were forced to answer a post in the manner we saw here.

There will always be some people who look at a picture and simply can't avoid compulsively passing judgment...even without a full set of facts.

In the end LeanWolf you posted a picture that is about as close to the outdoorsman's dream as one can imagine. A back country elk hunt with a good friend, a campfire, and a trusted side arm to keep the stray predator at bay.

Just ignore the folks who feel they know more about the picture than the guy who was in it. Judgment without fact is worthless conjecture.

 

[230RN]

Even before I got a CCW, I could not imagine being out in the woods without a handgun on me, beer or no beer, campfire or no campfire.

Just part of the deal.

Exceptions: Fly fishing, taking a crap, washing up, and sleeping. In the latter three cases, it was within reach, and in the first one, it was on the bank.

Next to the beer.

Terry

(For those who know I no longer drink, I used to.)

 

[Chris-bob]

Gun? Always have one. But it does feel nice to relax around the campfire knowing I am prepared and protected. Without it, something's feels missing.

 

[Tinman357]

Sounds like good times. Campfires with my grampa are one of the few good memories i have as a youngster. I do love a good campfire.

LEANWOLF: seeing you sitting there at peace like that almost makes me regret living on a boat. No campfires here. I envy you a bit. Hoist up a sip for me next time you get out there. I doubt I'll ever get a chance to tromp around out that way anytime soon.

Looks like you were having a good time.

 

[swampcrawler]

When we were highschool kids (admitidly not that many years go) a buddy and I had a very stealthy someone end up way to close for comfort when we were camping/hunting.

Sense then at least a few of us including myself are always wearing our handgun of choice around camp. Often with a couple of 12 gauges full of hornady tap or federal premium out of sight within easy reach. Not for show or story telling but for security.

Sneak up on me unarmed once, shame on me, but twice ain't gunna happen.

 

[Dr_B]

Just like the man in the photo, I often camp in the backwoods in Idaho. I always have a revolver. I always drink whisky in the evening. Its not like I'm binge drinking by the campfire and probably wasn't either.

 

[swampcrawler]

By the way.. Can anyone come up with any statistics on how many thousands (millions?) of people have been assaulted or killed while enjoying the comfort of their own home?

My home is armed. When I'm outside I'm armed. I'm unwilling to risk being put in a "if only my pistol weren't way over there" sittiation.

Not 100% sure what the above poster's problem is. GSPN, is Mr. Mattshlock perhaps a landscaper who was denied the opportunity to mow you back yard, and is hence forever begrudging against it?

 

[DC Plumber]

Leanwolf,

I'd be honored to hang out with you at that camp fire. You obviously didn't live this long by being a dumba$$ with your guns while having a drink.

Looks like you are living life to the fullest.

Nothing like living a responsible life, huh?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

WCTU?

 

[Robert]

Folks, I just pruned out a bunch of off topic, pointless, whining, bickering posts. Please try to be mature, responsible adults and focus on the topic at hand. Any more thinly veiled personal attacks, insults or general non THR behavior will land the poster in time out.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I carry all the time campfire or not

 

[scallop]

Guns and fire, friends and a beverage or two are no harm to anyone. I love the outdoors and I love guns. I am seldom without one wherever I go, but there is something special about sitting around the fire with a good "buddy" at your side.

WCTU? I am assuming womens Christian temperance union? Otherwise I am curious as to your meaning as well

 

[Sam1911]

At the risk of further derailment, yes that's the WCTU I was referring to. Carrie Nation and her evil cronies.

 

[skoro]

Great photo, Leanwolf.

Like you, I enjoy a cold one at the campfire as the sun goes down.

 

[Leanwolf]

Thanks for the compliments, gents. Glad you liked the picture. To remain on topic, "Guns & Campfires," here is another, about two weeks later than the first picture I posted and in a different area. This time I was hunting and not scouting.

I had hunted elk during the morning, no luck, no sightings or tracks, so moved to a different drainage to try the afternoon hunt. Being hungry, I stopped for lunch at a small non-established campsite beside a creek. You can see a portion of the creek to the right, behind the old stump. Not another soul was around, just the wind, some chipmunks, a couple of Magpies and "camp robber" 'jays. (BTW, that is a Coke on top of my ice chest. )

For the curious, that is my old Remington 700, .308 Win., mfg'd 1980. Not too many elk around that will stand up to that .308 with a 165 grains Nosler Partition put in the right place.



Anymore "campfires & guns" pictures out there?

L.W.

 

[Dontkillbill]

My glock would melt I better bring my 1911

 

[gspn]

OK LeanWolf...you're getting a big lead on everyone with the cool elk hunting pics! Here is one from a fishing trip last year...small one man camp out on the river...at the base of beautiful waterfall that lulls you to sleep at night. I usually take the Glock 36 on those trips...it's light and if it gets wet it's not too big a deal.



camp by scarfam, on Flickr



falls up close by scarfam, on Flickr


falls with boat by scarfam, on Flickr

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

You are a husband, a father, and an American citizen. You should be armed EVERYWHERE.

 

[Leanwolf]

GSPN, fine pictures of your camp fire and gear. By the way, that waterfall picture reminds me of where I grew up in north central Arkansas. Looks like a couple of places I used to camp and hunt where a creek ran over the bluff into the White River. Good times long gone. Still beautiful country though.

L.W.

 

[gspn]

GSPN, fine pictures of your camp fire and gear. By the way, that waterfall picture reminds me of where I grew up in north central Arkansas. Looks like a couple of places I used to camp and hunt where a creek ran over the bluff into the White River. Good times long gone. Still beautiful country though.

L.W.

That part of AR is gorgeous and I wish I could get there more often. Those pics were taken on the TN River...not too far away from your old stomping grounds...just smaller hills!

 

[9mmfan]

gspn, how do you like that BioLife CampStove? Seems like a nifty idea.