Concealed carry question when in rural areas with potentially dangerous wildlife

I’m at the other end of the state on the Redneck Riviera. Worst wildlife we have is the state bird - the mosquito.

I typically wander the palmetto scrub boonies with my 4” GP100.
The other boonies - the beaches - just bug spray and a wide-brimmed hat. The tourists/snowbirds are your biggest threats there.
 
If an area has been thoroughly settled for several hundred years, there won't be lots of large dangerous predators roaming around.

Mosquitoes and stray dogs and humans are the most dangerous critters you'll need to be concerned about.
 
CraigC said:
Honestly, a bottle of permethrin is probably your best protection. ;)

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Thank the Lord for small favors but we have none here. I didn't discover them until our children were grown and my wife and I spent 2 weeks fishing at Breckenridge, TX. We came home with little red, itchy spots on our lower legs thinking they would heal up and go away. I had many more as I was wearing Levis while she wore shorts quite a bit. After several days I complained about the bites not healing to my mother that was born and spent some of her early life in the middle part of Texas. That is when I learned about chiggers. We drove into town and asked our druggist, a gal born and raised here, about what to use to get rid of them She was just as clueless as we were and her book told her nothing either. We decided they would have to be smothered and decided finger nail polish might do it. It did and I never went fishing in Texas against without a bottle of clear fingernail polish. Later I discovered Chigger Rid in the bait shops that is barber's collodion and was twice as expensive as nail polish. I suppose it also works but stuck I with nail polish.

I quit shooting snakes when I became an adult. They are responsible for keeping little critters like mice and rats under control and make a cat look inept at catching them. I have only had one rattlesnake attempt to bite me and I couldn't really blame him. He as a little bitty rascal and I was standing on him when I discoverd him. He was working really hard at biting but my redwing work boot was too tough for him.
 
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I probably would carry my Model 29 in place of my 9MM Glock. If I expected to incounter snakes I might load a couple of shot cartridges in the cylinder.
 
doubleh said:
Thank the Lord for small favors but we have none here. I didn't discover them until our children were grown and my wife and I spent 2 weeks fishing at Breckenridge, TX. We came home with little red, itchy spots on our lower legs thinking they would heal up and go away. I had many more as I was wearing Levis while she wore shorts quite a bit. After several days I complained about the bites not healing to my mother that was born and spent some of her early life in the middle part of Texas. That is when I learned about chiggers. We drove into town and asked our druggist, a gal born and raised here, about what to use to get rid of them She was just as clueless as we were and her book told her nothing either. We decided they would have to be smothered and decided finger nail polish might do it. It did and I never went fishing in Texas against without a bottle of clear fingernail polish. Later I discovered Chigger Rid in the bait shops that is barber's collodion and was twice as expensive as nail polish. I suppose it also works but stuck I with nail polish.

I quit shooting snakes when I became an adult. They are responsible for keeping little critters like mice and rats under control and make a cat look inept at catching them. I have only had one rattlesnake attempt to bite me and I couldn't really blame him. He as a little bitty rascal and I was standing on him when I discoverd him. He was working really hard at biting but my redwing work boot was too tough for him.
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Chiggers are horrible. Once it gets warm, they're a party in the pants anytime you venture off the asphalt around here. Treating your clothes with Permethrin works great though. Gets the ticks too. Then all you have to worry about is the skeeters toting you off. I've already seen them around this year, a least a month early.
 
Tallball said:
Mosquitoes and stray dogs and humans are the most dangerous critters you'll need to be concerned about.
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Yep, and the dogs around these parts don't even have to be "stray" for me to be concerned about them. As I've mentioned before on THR, I have a "layered" defense to deal with the large, farm and ranch dogs when I'm on my exercise walks down to Marsh Creek and back. Some of those dogs will run a hundred yards down someone's driveway just to confront me for "trespassing" on what they figure are "their" sections of a public road!
My "layered defense" for farm and ranch dogs is thus: first, I carry a great big hiking staff, second, I have my other hand on a canister of pepper spray, and lastly, I carry my regular EDC gun - usually a Glock G19 these days.
"Layered defense" or not though, the truth is, I've never had to do anything more than yell "STOP!" and show my big hiking staff (by tapping it on the asphalt) to confrontational dogs that don't know where their owner's property lines are. Once the dogs have seen my big stick, they've always just skidded to a stop, then stood there and moaned in frustration as I walked on by - still tapping my hiking staff on the asphalt with every other step.
Several years ago, a County Sheriff's Deputy was driving down the road while I was out for my hike, and when he saw me, he slowed, rolled down his window, and asked, "Is that staff for walking, or for dogs?" "Yes." I said. And he just laughed and drove away. :D
BTW, when I'm on my exercise hikes, sometimes the gun I'm carrying is concealed (like when I'm wearing a long vest or jacket), sometimes it's not. Concealed carry is legal here with or without a license or permit, and I think open carry has been legal here since before my dad was born. :thumbup:
 
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Gurley, AL. Puts you very close to the Cavern Cove gun range in Woodville. They do a lot of Rimfire Challenge and Cowboy there, you might want to swing by one day. And then, a little known treasure of Northern Alabama is the Tennessee River, which has more miles in AL than in TN. (or so it seems) Read up on it to get some ideas. Some beautiful lakes and lots of good places to eat. Check out between Scottsboro and Guntersville. Highly recommend The Docks just south of Scottsboro in the Goosepond Colony. Afternoon picture eating on the veranda there last year.

To keep it on topic, just your EDC is fine. Nothing in the woods up there particularly threatening.

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alfsauve said:
Gurley, AL. Puts you very close to the Cavern Cove gun range in Woodville. They do a lot of Rimfire Challenge and Cowboy there, you might want to swing by one day. And then, a little known treasure of Northern Alabama is the Tennessee River, which has more miles in AL than in TN. (or so it seems) Read up on it to get some ideas. Some beautiful lakes and lots of good places to eat. Check out between Scottsboro and Guntersville. Highly recommend The Docks just south of Scottsboro in the Goosepond Colony. Afternoon picture eating on the veranda there last year.

To keep it on topic, just your EDC is fine. Nothing in the woods up there particularly threatening.

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Thanks for the suggestions. It looks beautiful there, and we'll definitely check them out. I won't have the chance to do any shooting while there as I'll be with both my sons, my daughter in law and three grandkids, 4 years old and under. We want to make sure to include the grandkids in whatever we do.
 
I don't know about Alabama but here in the mountains of SW Virginia the biggest critter threat is usually rabies related. Anything healthy, including bears, usually run away at first sight. Sick animals however, usually rabid, will act different showing no fear of humans. The most common are raccoons and skunks, along with feral dogs and cats but I believe any mammal can carry rabies. Usually you'll see them wandering aimlessly however I did have a raccoon in my back yard once come after me. It happened so fast I doubt I could have hit him with the 22 pistol I was carrying but a booted kick turned him and he was later dispatched with a rifle as he continued to rove the back yard.
As others have said we generally consider insects, especially ticks, as a greater health risk.
 
Unless the snake is a hoop snake chasing after you I would just leave them be. You just do not want to be mess'n with dem hoop snakes. The vast majority of snakes you are going to see are harmless and beneficial. Probably the most dangerous critter you might meet in Alabama are the indigenous rednecks. But rather than shooting the poor things, sharing a beer with them and spitting your chaw on the ground and talking guns and deer hunting and 4X4s and they usually become quite amenable to good times. Sometimes, however, to be accepted by them, you gotta get into a tussle with one, then share your beer while both of you are nursing a bloody nose or some scuffed up areas. It is all good.

I have been bitten by a copperhead pit viper while running cross country, kinda hurt. Spent a near a week in the hospital, probably nowadays they would have sent me home with a bandaid. A couple of years ago a copperhead tried to hold my wrench for me while I was under my Jeep, I shooed him off, he came back insistent he help out so I shot him with a .410. I was not being in a neighborly mood. But mostly I just leave them be.
 
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First off, there is nothing in the southeast that a 45 ACP can't address. That probably goes for most of the lower 48. Snakes are best handled by walking around them, unless it is a poisonous snake hanging around your house, chicken coop, etc. The overwhelming majority of snakes are harmless to humans anyway. FWIW, in the woods I generally carry a 45, or a 10mm if I am trying to hunt with a handgun. The wildlife you will most likely have problems with can be handled with repellant, insecticide, flyswatter, or boot. I live in the country in NW Florida, Alabama is literally right down the road from me- that's where I go to buy Copenhagen cause its cheaper. Contrary to the popular narrative, its not like jurasic park or something like that down here.
 
If you see one of these coming your way with it's stinger pointed in your direction you best be to runn'n. These things eat .45 ACP for breakfast, not even a .45-70 will deflect their stinger from your flesh. You in a heap of trouble if you have the attention of a red wasp. You are so done for :eek:.

 
Tallball said:
Mosquitoes and stray dogs and humans are the most dangerous critters you'll need to be concerned about.
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Not a fan of ticks myself. But I'm a big fan of the strongest possible DEET. And handguns are useless to defend against the biting flies in Northern/Upper Michigan in the late summer...

Not a fan of shotshells in a handgun. No reason to shoot at snakes, unless you're unobservant and don't know how to walk around outdoors.

Prior to my most recent surgeries, I've hiked a ton in the Cascades, Olympics and the parks in Arizona and Northern/Upper Michigan.

Probably seen more cougars in person than most here. Good luck deploying a handgun in defense of a cougar attack (well, unless it's Tuesday Ladies Night at your local bar, those older gals are a bit slower and less stealthy than the mountain lion variety).

Never so much concerned about bear (black bear being the primary species in areas I frequent) but I've seen a lot, up close and personal. Have encountered a couple irritable mountain goats; they're no joke, one killed a curious hiker in the Olympics a few years back.

When hunting, my handgun is a 9mm (I'm already carrying at a minimum a .30-06 rifle), but when hiking, typically a .357 with hard cast 180 grain flat points or a .45 ACP with 230 grain +P JHPs. And a stout walking stick.

This seems to be a topic that a lot of folks simply way over-think....
 
.308 Norma said:
Yep, and the dogs around these parts don't even have to be "stray" for me to be concerned about them. As I've mentioned before on THR, I have a "layered" defense to deal with the large, farm and ranch dogs when I'm on my exercise walks down to Marsh Creek and back. Some of those dogs will run a hundred yards down someone's driveway just to confront me for "trespassing" on what they figure are "their" sections of a public road!
My "layered defense" for farm and ranch dogs is thus: first, I carry a great big hiking staff, second, I have my other hand on a canister of pepper spray, and lastly, I carry my regular EDC gun - usually a Glock G19 these days.
"Layered defense" or not though, the truth is, I've never had to do anything more than yell "STOP!" and show my big hiking staff (by tapping it on the asphalt) to confrontational dogs that don't know where their owner's property lines are. Once the dogs have seen my big stick, they've always just skidded to a stop, then stood there and moaned in frustration as I walked on by - still tapping my hiking staff on the asphalt with every other step.
Several years ago, a County Sheriff's Deputy was driving down the road while I was out for my hike, and when he saw me, he slowed, rolled down his window, and asked, "Is that staff for walking, or for dogs?" "Yes." I said. And he just laughed and drove away. :D
BTW, when I'm on my exercise hikes, sometimes the gun I'm carrying is concealed (like when I'm wearing a long vest or jacket), sometimes it's not. Concealed carry is legal here with or without a license or permit, and I think open carry has been legal here since before my dad was born. :thumbup:
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I live on the outskirts of a small town. There are lots of stray dogs running around, and "yard dogs" that got loose.

When I'm walking my large pit mixes, I'm under their personal protection. Everyone else walking or on a bicycle can be in for a rough time.

Walking sticks and pepper spray are highly recommended.

Dogs kill about 40 Americans annually. Bears kill about one.
 
CraigC said:
Chiggers are horrible. Once it gets warm, they're a party in the pants anytime you venture off the asphalt around here. Treating your clothes with Permethrin works great though. Gets the ticks too. Then all you have to worry about is the skeeters toting you off. I've already seen them around this year, a least a month early.
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I worked with a person from Louisiana. His chigger and tick repellent was sprinkling a little diesel fuel around the cuffs of his pant's legs. We have ticks here but they don't seem to like human blood. I have never had one get on me and know no one else that has. They prefer dogs and other animals. I used to have a weenie dog and they loved him. One of the collar gadgets would keep them off but he hated the collars and would manage to get them off in just a couple of days so it was a fight with ticks as long as he lived.

We do have skeeters if it rains. Due to either extreme or exceptional drouth for the last 3 years I have seen none. Our gunclub range occupies part of the old WW II B-17 pilot training base north of Hobbs, NM and has a low spot that in the concrete that turns into a small lake when it rains that takes quite sometime to evaporate and you don't want to go close to it or you be swarmed by mosquitos. The rest rooms are very close to it so you approach them carefully from the south to keep from getting skeeter bit.
 
Don't waste time trying to shoot a venomous snake, just move away. 90% of snake bite cases arise when someone was messing with the snake.
 
You say you grew up in Chicago?
From what I remember about that town, there were more aggressive and dangerous animals there than you will likely cross paths with in the south.

I live in rural central Texas and also had a large piece of wooded property in East Texas that I had to take care of. I have see lots of different wildlife and always carried my EDC but never had to use it. Most critters would rather avoid you as much as you would like to avoid them.
My biggest concern in the East Texas property was stumbling across a wild momma hog with here litter of piglets.
 
Rule3 said:
Here is some info on snakes and bears, Don't worry to much, Just carry your 45.;)

www.outdooralabama.com

Venomous Snakes | Outdoor Alabama

Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
www.outdooralabama.com www.outdooralabama.com

natureandwildlife.tv

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 natureandwildlife.tv
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All 6 of those snakes are nasty bad boys, but I would rank copperhead and cottonmouths as the most aggressive
 
There's a saying here in the South, that every outdoors will either stick you, sting you or bite you; from various brush to insects, to critters - enjoy your vacation!
 
jmohme said:
You say you grew up in Chicago?
From what I remember about that town, there were more aggressive and dangerous animals there than you will likely cross paths with in the south.
Click to expand...

We had lots of the two legged variety, which is one of the main reasons we no longer live there.
 
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