Shooting alone in the desert, woods, wherever.

Target shooting on public land isn't really much of an option here. Lots of public land, but not any good places to shoot. But I do hunt on public land a lot, and alone virtually all of the time. Anything of any value is with me when I'm hunting. But I do carry a handgun, usually a Glock. While I've never had any issues there is always the possibility of having someone waiting in ambush when I return to the truck. A 17 round pistol is a better option than my bolt action rifle.

I shoot/hunt alone 99% of the time. Most of my rifle shooting is on public land. I am cautious, Carry a pistol and don’t leave ammo on the table when changing targets. Bad things happen all the time, not going to let it that stop me from enjoying myself while I can. I’m more likely to die in a car accident on the way to my shooting spots than to be attacked/ambushed by people in the National forest

Barbaroja said:

...I’m more likely to die in a car accident on the way to my shooting spots than to be attacked/ambushed by people in the National forest

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Too true. You got me thinking about the shooting "accidents" around here versus the vehicular ones. The range is much safer.
That being said, I am concerned about my vehicle getting vandalized/burglarized while I'm out hunting.

mokin said:

Too true. You got me thinking about the shooting "accidents" around here versus the vehicular ones. The range is much safer.
That being said, I am concerned about my vehicle getting vandalized/burglarized while I'm out hunting.

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I’m definitely in the same boat with that. I see too much broken glass at trailheads

mokin said:

That being said, I am concerned about my vehicle getting vandalized/burglarized while I'm out hunting.

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I had a set of licence plates stolen from one of my vehicles while out hunting

.455_Hunter

This is why I ALWAYS have a loaded weapon on me when shooting- outdoors, indoors, public access, private access, it doesn't matter. If a range is "uppity" about loaded weapons, the loaded duty gun just stays concealed and doesn't get shot that trip.

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This is what I always did when I was hunting alone or at the range by myself. I had it on me at all times and was it my CCW.

jmr40 said:

Target shooting on public land isn't really much of an option here. Lots of public land, but not any good places to shoot. But I do hunt on public land a lot, and alone virtually all of the time. Anything of any value is with me when I'm hunting. But I do carry a handgun, usually a Glock. While I've never had any issues there is always the possibility of having someone waiting in ambush when I return to the truck. A 17 round pistol is a better option than my bolt action rifle.

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My Glock 19 accompanies me anytime I venture into public hunting lands. There’s just no downside to having it, so with me it goes.

Situational awareness is always a good thing, even when you think you are alone or with good company in the great outdoors. And while there may be some perceived "safety in numbers" the article linked by @.455_Hunter tells of a deranged individual duping and attacking not one or two but a group of FIVE target shooters.

I am 68 and nobody I have hunted with for the past 15 years wants to hunt anymore. I hunted alone this year, but I shot a deer opening day so only hunted one day alone.

My Glock 19 accompanies me anytime I venture into public hunting lands. There’s just no downside to having it, so with me it goes.

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Up until 2008 or 2009 GA had some non sensical carry laws that were in conflict with hunting laws. There were places, even on public land where firearms could only be carried during hunting season. And only guns legal for hunting whatever game was in season. That meant at the time 357 mag minimum during deer season. And during small game season only 22 LR. And you had to have a valid hunting license and be checked in to hunt. During the times when no game was in season, no guns at all.

Thirteen years ago today a 24 year old woman was day hiking on a section of the Appalachian trail was kidnapped and killed several days later. I have no idea whether or not she would have carried even if legal, but the case brought to light the absurdity of our laws at the time. Fortunately that has since been corrected.

Phantom 309 said:

Situational awareness is always a good thing, even when you think you are alone or with good company in the great outdoors. And while there may be some perceived "safety in numbers" the article linked by @.455_Hunter tells of a deranged individual duping and attacking not one or two but a group of FIVE target shooters.

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It's important to note this was 30 years ago and the victims were late teens / early 20's in a time and place where this sort of thing wasn't really on the radar screen.

Frulk said:

I target shoot in the desert. I’ll see you coming miles away. Seriously. There’s no way you can hide the dust plume. When I’m out there shooting is the absolute worst time to try and ambush me.

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Exactly what I had intended to write. Perhaps other deserts are different, but mine are big, flat, and dry. I suppose someone could try walking in to ambush me, but it would be an hours long project. In a car? I'm aware of you long before you're aware of me. And the idea of the bad guys hiding out while waiting for unsuspecting victims is even farther fetched. They might have to be holed up for months before anyone else came along.

Absolutely. I feel pretty sure that those victims felt perfectly safe out there and never suspected trouble until it was too late. Perhaps they even felt "invincible" since they were armed. (I'm admittedly making some assumptions here)

Im afraid that the world hasn't gotten any safer in the last 30 years, unfortunately.

I sometimes shoot alone at a private range when doing load development. I'll have a portable reloading press and other tools for the task with me. I only wear ear pro when firing. I may play a radio at low volume, but I'm always aware and keep my carry pistols (P-32 and G26) on me and concealed. If I go forward to check targets, I carry the gun(s) with me or lock them in the trunk of my car (parked nearby).

Yes, it can be dangerous out there. I lost a cousin to a suspected serial killer (she vanished without a trace while traveling alone, by car, in Calif.), and a friend of mine was killed by this piece of garbage. If you go shooting alone, you need to be aware and alert at all times.

As others have mentioned, electronic earmuffs, situational awareness and having a concealed pistol. I rarely shoot at ranges as I shoot big bores and use bullet traps, hard to use on a organized range. I like to recycle my lead, don't like putting 300,400 grain bullets down range and not getting to recast them again. So I have a couple of ranges set up on timberland and if my wife doesn't go, I usually go by myself. I spend a lot of time in the woods by myself due to my job so I'm pretty comfortable there. Be a boy scout, be prepared.

These stories are sad. Not feeling safe when outdoors is tragic. I have the great good fortune to hunt on large tracts of prairie (2-4 sq miles) always alone. I cannot imagine a more peaceful and safe place to be. Hunting prairie dogs, coyotes, and doves when in season, I travel with 5-6 guns, including 4-5 rifles, 2-3 pistols, and a shotgun or two. I usually travel with a sleeping bag and figured I could sleep in the back of my vehicle if the need did arise. With a cooler full of food and water, I have no qualms about sleeping under the stars. I used to hunt with my brother but problems of old age have kept him at home and I'll hunt as long as I possibly can. And with no one else to hunt with, I'm fine alone.

Not the OP’s scenario but related; there are numerous public boat ramps along the Arkansas and Saline rivers where ne’er-do-wells occasionally congregate. I can recall hearing or reading of three boat ramp robberies, none recent. One incident was different in that the elderly gent launching his boat shot his would be robber. I love stories with happy endings.
In the past five years Arkansas is either open carry or don’t care if you carry, depending. I have noticed a number of people carrying.

I usually alone if I'm out----primary long gun and holstered pistol--always

If I'm target shooting---the rifle comes with me inspecting targets-------out hunting--I'd say good luck with that--------and there is nothing of value left in the truck, always.

I get a little paranoid when shooting on public land.

Always have my G22 on my side.

When I head out to change targets I LOCK the guns into my trucks tool box. ( really purchased it to hold guns)

I shoot a few rounds and look around. I think it's overkill but can't help it.

Phantom 309 said:

Perhaps they even felt "invincible" since they were armed. (I'm admittedly making some assumptions here)

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More likely just normal young Americans out target shooting with .22s and maybe a shotgun. They had no reason to think the man was not LE like he indicated- simpler times.

Another thing to consider is an injury to yourself whether it is a fall or accidental discharge and wounding yourself one just never knows. Just last week I had a 22lr round suffer a case head separation. It showered my face and glasses with powder. Had I not been wearing glasses or had it been a larger caliber God knows what could have happened.

''This is why I ALWAYS have a loaded weapon on me when shooting- outdoors, indoors, public access, private access, it doesn't matter. If a range...''

Been there did that. Well, not THAT dramatic! But I always tell an accompanying shooter, why I am carrying a loaded pistol down to the targets. Then it happened, up came Daryl on his 4wheeler, hey U guys can't be here (private property -not his) and proceeded to tell us he would stuff our rifle barrels ...somewhere.

Sheriff got him to sing a different tune.

Property owner was happy because, Daryl Ickt (er, Derelict LoL) moved after that, thank goodness.

Oh BTW that was a property other then I lived at, me and new shooter met up there with permission, Mayberry RFD, very few neighbors, etc. BE VIGILANT, as I have said before...evil will show up wherever -whenever..IT does.

My sons and I shoot on 'public' land a lot. In a National Forest. An uncontrolled shooting area. None of us go up there alone(no cell coverage either BTW), and when we shoot, and it comes to reloading magazines..we make it a point to not have all the guns empty at the same time. Always have something loaded. Might be paranoid but.......

Grew up going out in the middle of nowhere to shoot, it hasn't been until the last twelve years that I go to a range since I moved, oddly where I am now is less built up and more empty land but nowhere to shoot unless you go to a range. Growing up I would go into the everglades you can go miles upon miles into it on certain dirt roads. But with swamp all around the only way someone could come up on you was on the dirt road.

I never felt unsafe but times when I ran into someone or they drove past on the dirt road I kept my eye out. After the two murderers Platt and Matix I was more careful, I was 200 yards away from that shootout that day, I never heard the gunfire but remember every law enforcement car from every known agency in Dade county screaming past my workplace that day.

Just got to be careful, I went out many times alone back in the day before cell phones, fact is something could happen it is a risk. To me it seems the chances that a criminal would go miles off the beaten path to steal a gun or car is unlikely when it is easier to do in civilization but ya never know.

Shooting alone in the desert, woods, wherever.

Our culture has devolved into a whiny nanny mentality that expects authoritarian protection from every danger in life. Each day life is full of risks, assess and prepare for them. Thankfully Lewis & Clark along with other Pioneers understood this or we'd still be huddled around little forts along the East coast.