There are so many threads about what to carry in the woods when hiking, hunting, cycling, etc. to protect oneself against predatory animals. I would love to hear some accounts of having to defend against animal attacks and what sidearm if any was used.
Predator vs. Sidearm
- Thread starter Dambugg
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Hilarious,
It just seems like a lot of people talk about having a sidearm in case a bear/cougar/yetti attacks so I was wondering if anyone had ever been attacked. Most of my child hood was spent in the woods and the closest I ever came to being attacked was a rattlesnake struck at me while I was riding my dirtbike. I never saw it till it was mid strike and it missed me and the bike.
It just seems like a lot of people talk about having a sidearm in case a bear/cougar/yetti attacks so I was wondering if anyone had ever been attacked. Most of my child hood was spent in the woods and the closest I ever came to being attacked was a rattlesnake struck at me while I was riding my dirtbike. I never saw it till it was mid strike and it missed me and the bike.
When I was about 12 I was in the national forest that borders most of my land in northern Wisconsin. I was with a friend walking around with a backpack full of food, water a few lighters and a tarp. We were going to make a fort. We also had a compass because if we got lost all we would have to do is head south to our lake, then follow the shoreline home. Long story short we noticed some people following us for about 25 minutes. We both shot at them and ran to the lake and waded the shoreline home. I don't really know who they were or what they wanted but it could have been worse if I wasn't armed.
Birdmang said:
So, you just up and shot willy nilly at people and admit you had NO idea who they were or what they wanted? They followed you for a whole 25 minutes? How do you know they were following you? Were you on a marked trail? You said you were in a NATIONAL FOREST. Um, other people are allowed to be there, you know...
You're lucky, boy...had that been me, you've be receiving your fair share of "incoming" as well.
wheelgunslinger
Member
...and there I was...
I had a couple of young male bears playing with one another (like 13 year old boys wrestling) make their way to where I was once.
I climbed a tree and got out of their way.
I was restoring a log cabin and was in the upper level destacking the dry stacked chimney when a copperhead came out of it all aggravated. I backed up to give him room and he kept coming at me, so I blasted him behind the head with my Bisley Vaquero loaded with homebrew xtp loads. His head went flying and it vaporized his neck for about 2 inches or so.
Worst trouble was with two redneck guys trespassing while deer hunting. I'm not going into detail on that because I'm just not. Having a sidearm probably saved me from getting beat up or shot in the middle of nowhere.
Never had any trouble really when out hiking or backpacking on established trails. I did have a Moose circle me on the AT once, but he left me alone.
The increasing amount of abductions, murders, and such on established trails has made me think more and bring my warrior mindset with me instead of taking a vacation from it when out in nature.
I had a couple of young male bears playing with one another (like 13 year old boys wrestling) make their way to where I was once.
I climbed a tree and got out of their way.
I was restoring a log cabin and was in the upper level destacking the dry stacked chimney when a copperhead came out of it all aggravated. I backed up to give him room and he kept coming at me, so I blasted him behind the head with my Bisley Vaquero loaded with homebrew xtp loads. His head went flying and it vaporized his neck for about 2 inches or so.
Worst trouble was with two redneck guys trespassing while deer hunting. I'm not going into detail on that because I'm just not. Having a sidearm probably saved me from getting beat up or shot in the middle of nowhere.
Never had any trouble really when out hiking or backpacking on established trails. I did have a Moose circle me on the AT once, but he left me alone.
The increasing amount of abductions, murders, and such on established trails has made me think more and bring my warrior mindset with me instead of taking a vacation from it when out in nature.
Fish_Scientist
Member
An acquaintance of mine, who used to be a backcountry outfitter in a SW Montana wilderness, was attacked by a grizzly bear during a guided trip. Both his client and himself were mauled quite severely. While the grizzly was--quite literally--chewing on the girl's face, my acquaintance was able to put one .270 round into the bear's back. The bear then turned on him and began chewing on his legs. This, however,left his arms free to remove a .44 magnum revolver from his holster. The bear took all six rounds to the head and neck but was still able to run off for over a mile before it finally expired.
A .270 round in the midsection and six .44 magnum rounds to the head and neck before the grizzly ran off. That's what it took. Both his client and my acquaintance survived. She has massive scars where reconstructive surgery repaired her jaw and oculars and plastic surgery repaired her soft tissue. He is missing muscle tissue from his calves, scars running from his mid-thighs to his ankles on both legs, and has a prosthetic knee cap on his left leg.
No, I do not know what brand revolver or load the gentleman was using.
Steven
A .270 round in the midsection and six .44 magnum rounds to the head and neck before the grizzly ran off. That's what it took. Both his client and my acquaintance survived. She has massive scars where reconstructive surgery repaired her jaw and oculars and plastic surgery repaired her soft tissue. He is missing muscle tissue from his calves, scars running from his mid-thighs to his ankles on both legs, and has a prosthetic knee cap on his left leg.
No, I do not know what brand revolver or load the gentleman was using.
Steven
maskedman504
Member
That is a scary story.
It reminds me of something I read on these boards about the difference between wild animals and people.
Put a hook in my lip and you could lead me around on a string, put a hook in the lip of a fish and he will fight you til he rips it out or is exhausted.
A bear amped up on adrenaline and bloodlust is nothing I ever want to encounter.
It reminds me of something I read on these boards about the difference between wild animals and people.
Put a hook in my lip and you could lead me around on a string, put a hook in the lip of a fish and he will fight you til he rips it out or is exhausted.
A bear amped up on adrenaline and bloodlust is nothing I ever want to encounter.
CoRoMo
Member
When I was recently challenged to do so, I put together a few stories of hikers, hunters, campers, etc. who were forced to kill attacking bears.
Here's the post where I linked to those stories:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5826614&postcount=35
The thread that contains that is also a good example of a predator (grizzly) that was killed when a member here was hiking and had to defend himself when the bear charged.
Here's the post where I linked to those stories:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5826614&postcount=35
The thread that contains that is also a good example of a predator (grizzly) that was killed when a member here was hiking and had to defend himself when the bear charged.
9MMare
Member
As an ex-park ranger and current hiker and trail rider, I have come across most things in the wild. I've never had cause to fear a cougar or black bear....been within 30 feet of a cougar...we looked at each other for awhile, then I walked away.
In no instance did I ever feel the need for a gun. Grizzlies and moose are really the only thing I'd worry about in the lower 48. I'm very careful in moose territory and always conscientious in grizz country.
Also never had a need to kill a snake....you can always go around a rattler...they have right to live in the wild too.
In no instance did I ever feel the need for a gun. Grizzlies and moose are really the only thing I'd worry about in the lower 48. I'm very careful in moose territory and always conscientious in grizz country.
Also never had a need to kill a snake....you can always go around a rattler...they have right to live in the wild too.
ByAnyMeans
Member
I have moved to Northeast Pennsylvania and when I go hiking which is often I carry my Glock 26 and as usual go between a 10 or 15 round mag as concealment allows. I load the pipe with a round of CCI ratshot for snakes and the rest are my normal load of 147 gr HST. I also carry a can of bear mace, forget the name but a good one is preferable to cheap ones.
The bear spray has always been recommended to me by hunters as opposed to anything but a large magnum caliber which I don't own. Ratshot is for the snakes. The HST is for coyotes, dog packs, and the most likely need to use it, humans.
I know many people who tell me "I've been in the woods forever and never needed a gun" as a way to convince me I don't need protection in the woods. I thank them for their advice and pray they continue to never need anything but classify them with those that say I don't need a handgun at the mall. They make their own decisions for them and theirs and I'll make mine. Although if you use your brain as your main weapon and you will most likely never need any of it.
The bear spray has always been recommended to me by hunters as opposed to anything but a large magnum caliber which I don't own. Ratshot is for the snakes. The HST is for coyotes, dog packs, and the most likely need to use it, humans.
I know many people who tell me "I've been in the woods forever and never needed a gun" as a way to convince me I don't need protection in the woods. I thank them for their advice and pray they continue to never need anything but classify them with those that say I don't need a handgun at the mall. They make their own decisions for them and theirs and I'll make mine. Although if you use your brain as your main weapon and you will most likely never need any of it.
Shooting a bear in the head is a bad idea. They look big, but the skull box is surprisingly small, and very thick and hard. Very hard to hit, and then the bullets mostly glance off. One is much better off shooting for vital organs in the bear's body. Headshots just don't work with bears.
Fish_Scientist
Member
ironcode said:
I'm not sure if he had an option. At the time, the bear was chewing on his legs. In retrospect, I'm sure that he would rather have not had to deal with the bear at all, but in this instance, shooting the bear in the head and neck was really all he could do.
Steven
Suicide*Ride
Member
If I was ever dumb enough to be found dead in Grizzly country, there'd be an empty 44mag in my paw.... w/ teeth marks on it!!
It's hard to get off a good shot when you're being eaten!!
SR
It's hard to get off a good shot when you're being eaten!!
SR
Cosmoline
Member
The four D's come into play with charging moose. Duck, dodge, dip, dive. And run. Mostly they're very amiable though. And you'd never get away with shooting one up here.
As far as brown bears, there are a lot of DLP shootings up here. Mostly with long arms, but sometimes handguns. They almost never get reported outside of Alaska, or even in the state, unless there was something odd about them. The fellow who shot four in a row when they were busting into his cabin made the news, in part because he killed the mama bear illegally to start with.
Or the time a few years ago when a fisherman stopped a sow brownie with a 9x19! A freak shot broke her shoulder and she spun back before the guy with the shotgun finished her off.
As far as brown bears, there are a lot of DLP shootings up here. Mostly with long arms, but sometimes handguns. They almost never get reported outside of Alaska, or even in the state, unless there was something odd about them. The fellow who shot four in a row when they were busting into his cabin made the news, in part because he killed the mama bear illegally to start with.
Or the time a few years ago when a fisherman stopped a sow brownie with a 9x19! A freak shot broke her shoulder and she spun back before the guy with the shotgun finished her off.
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Andrew Wyatt
Member
the AGM 122 sidearm is an antiradiation missile, but it's the same airframe as the aim 9. you might be able to use it against a predator. lemmie know if it works.
GodGuns&Guitars
Member
Got charged once by a cow moose on the Kenia. You don't realize how big they are until they are coming after you and boy can they move fast. I put a 44 mag round in the peat moss that spattered her in the face. Then my buddy and I ran like hell back to camp. Wasn't funny then, but we laugh about it now.
NMGonzo
Member
357 snubby AND my .44 5 1/2 comes to the woods with me
Last resort is outrun my GF
Last resort is outrun my GF
Wow, some remarkable stories there. Bears are tough.
44Mag not sufficient for a bear's skull? Really, even with FMJ?
9MMare
Member
This is a solid answer.^^ Now that I have a firearm (& one reason I got it was for HUMAN predators in backcountry areas) I will carry it while out hiking etc.
But as a ranger I found that people are much more likely to use the excuse of encountering an animal to kill it. They are less careful about avoiding them and then rather than retreat, shoot.
The WILDS are home to those animals. They are not criminals, they belong there. It's our job to avoid them.
People would be less inclined to shoot wildlife if they had the same legal (lawsuit) consequences attached.
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