Concealed carry question when in rural areas with potentially dangerous wildlife

[TomJ]

My knowledge of dealing with potentially dangerous wildlife is limited as I grew up in Chicago and never had to deal with it. We moved to a rural area of SE Wisconsin 4 years ago, but there's few if any venomous snakes, bears, etc. to speak of here. We go on a family vacation every year, and are renting a farmhouse for a week outside Huntsville, Alabama in June. We of course don't plan on putting ourselves in the position of having to deal with dangerous wildlife, but I'm looking for suggestions as far as what to carry given the range of wildlife in the area in addition to defense against 2 legged threats. I'll most likely carry a compact M&P 2.0 45. Is it a bad idea to load it with 2 rounds of CCI shot shells followed with 255 grain +P hardcast ammo? If not, what would you suggest?

 

[Pat Riot]

If you’re a fair shot I would just load it like you normally would for 2 legged varmints. If you have a snake situation if you miss the first time, fire repeatedly as needed.

 

[CraigC]

Carry what you normally carry. No bears in Huntsville. Throw in some snake shot if you like, June is good snake weather down here.

 

[entropy]

If you carry a revolver, you might have time to index the cylinder to your snake shot.

 

[TomJ]

Carry what you normally carry. No bears in Huntsville. Throw in some snake shot if you like, June is good snake weather down here.

I've never been to Alabama and am not familiar with it. We're staying in Gurley. To confirm bears are not an issue there? My carry gun is a EDC X9S, and I'd prefer to carry that if bears aren't anything to be concerned with.

 

[Muddydogs]

Can you legally kill snakes? Are you going to shoot a snake that is within striking distance of your family or is any snake you see dead? I've found it easier to move away from a snake then draw and fire as most the time a snake is warning you to get away. If it's going to strike it will be over before you can do anything.

 

[TomJ]

Can you legally kill snakes? Are you going to shoot a snake that is within striking distance of your family or is any snake you see dead? I've found it easier to move away from a snake then draw and fire as most the time a snake is warning you to get away. If it's going to strike it will be over before you can do anything.

I won't kill a snake or any other animal unless it poses an immediate threat to myself or another person. If we do see wildlife which is a threat we leave the area and let them be. While I'm not fond of snakes I won't shoot them just because they're there.

 

[CraigC]

I've never been to Alabama and am not familiar with it. We're staying in Gurley. To confirm bears are not an issue there? My carry gun is a EDC X9S, and I'd prefer to carry that if bears aren't anything to be concerned with.

If there are, they're really, really sneaky. I'm about 2hrs north of Huntsville.

 

[.38 Special]

I have far more experience with rattlesnakes than I'd prefer, but have never needed to shoot one. In my experience, you either spot them early on, when they are easily avoidable, or you spot them when you're right on top of them and jump ten feet straight up. By the time your eyes roll back down out of your head, you've either been bitten or you haven't, but either way, the need for gunfire has already passed.

Now, I have nothing against people shooting them for whatever reason - I hunt and eat them myself - and will also note that my experience with them is all out west. It's entirely possible that eastern snakes behave much differently. From where I sit, though, there's no reason to alter your carry habits on account of snakes - and most handgun shotshells are almost completely useless against larger animals, people included.

 

[Rule3]

If you carry a revolver, you might have time to index the cylinder to your snake shot.

?? What??

 

[Rule3]

My knowledge of dealing with potentially dangerous wildlife is limited as I grew up in Chicago and never had to deal with it. We moved to a rural area of SE Wisconsin 4 years ago, but there's few if any venomous snakes, bears, etc. to speak of here. We go on a family vacation every year, and are renting a farmhouse for a week outside Huntsville, Alabama in June. We of course don't plan on putting ourselves in the position of having to deal with dangerous wildlife, but I'm looking for suggestions as far as what to carry given the range of wildlife in the area in addition to defense against 2 legged threats. I'll most likely carry a compact M&P 2.0 45. Is it a bad idea to load it with 2 rounds of CCI shot shells followed with 255 grain +P hardcast ammo? If not, what would you suggest?

Here is some info on snakes and bears, Don't worry to much, Just carry your 45.

Venomous Snakes | Outdoor Alabama

Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

www.outdooralabama.com

Bear-y Curious: Are There Bears in Alabama?

Are there bears in Alabama? It’s a question that has been asked time and time again – are there bears in Alabama? And the answer is yes, there certainly are!…

natureandwildlife.tv

 

[entropy]

?? What??

With a rattler, at least. Some of the other types down there, maybe not so much.

 

[Pat Riot]

I lived in Alabama for a while as a kid and I think the biggest problem you might encounter is an AC unit dying on a hot muggy day…don’t shoot it though. Call the owner right away

 

[Roverguy]

Red ants. That’s your worry. Nasty.

 

[Jim Watson]

I used to be a regular at Cavern Cove, SASS, IDPA, USPSA, between Gurley and Scottsboro.
No bears, catamounts, or other sizeable predators seen or reported.

No snakes seen but definitely reported.
Question is, will .45 shotshells cycle your automatic to get you down to the antipersonnel loads in a hurry?

 

[TomJ]

I used to be a regular at Cavern Cove, SASS, IDPA, USPSA, between Gurley and Scottsboro.
No bears, catamounts, or other sizeable predators seen or reported.

No snakes seen but definitely reported.
Question is, will .45 shotshells cycle your automatic to get you down to the antipersonnel loads in a hurry?

Given that bears aren't an issue, I'm going to bring my regular carry gun, an EDC X9S. I have tested it with the shot shells I'm going to use and will test it again before we go. I'll do the same thing I mentioned, loading 2 shot shells followed by regular ammunition.

 

[Pat Riot]

Given that bears aren't an issue, I'm going to bring my regular carry gun, an EDC X9S. I have tested it with the shot shells I'm going to use and will test it again before we go. I'll do the same thing I mentioned, loading 2 shot shells followed by regular ammunition.

I’m curious. Do the shotshells cycle the action to load the next round?

 

[WisBorn]

I would worry mainly about 2 legged snakes more than the venomous ones. The hardcast would work on the black bears and 2 legged critters. I would recommend carrying a magazine of SD loads and WD loads.

 

[TomJ]

I’m curious. Do the shotshells cycle the action to load the next round?

They do, but obviously should be tested to make sure they work in your gun.

 

[MikeInOr]

The wildlife that kills more people than any other is the mosquito!

Personally I would skip the snake shot and the hard cast and just carry some good JHP's. My hiking gun is a XD mod 2 3.3" in .45 acp with +P got dots. Nothing fancy but very effective.

 

[.308 Norma]

I’m curious. Do the shotshells cycle the action to load the next round?

Don't know about all 45 ACPs, but shotshells (at least store-bought shotshells) will cycle the action of my Smith 1911.

 

[Pat Riot]

They do, but obviously should be tested to make sure they work in your gun.

Don't know about all 45 ACPs, but shotshells (at least store-bought shotshells) will cycle the action of my Smith 1911.

Interesting. Thank you both.

 

[WisBorn]

I think that everyone should have a pocket shotgun

 

[bdickens]

If you carry a revolver, you might have time to index the cylinder to your snake shot.

Or you could just move away from it....

 

[bearcreek]

Is it a bad idea to load it with 2 rounds of CCI shot shells followed with 255 grain +P hardcast ammo?

Yes, it is. You should carry what you normally carry. Snakes are really the only "dangerous" animal you might encounter around Hunstville, and if you leave them alone you'll be fine. The chances of you being in a situation where you have time to use a gun on a snake but didn't have time to simply let it slither away are so infinitesimally small as to not really be worth considering. You've got as much chance of seeing a bear in SE Wisconsin as you do in Alabama and don't need to worry about them in either place.