Shooting alone in the desert, woods, wherever.

[Dirty Bob]

I wouldn't discourage hiking! Most of the weirdos and scary types I've seen have been close to the trailhead, and the only confrontation I've had while backpacking was with some yahoos in a Baja Bug, driving where they shouldn't and try to intimidate us...until they discovered it was a larger group than they expected.

If they have to walk a long distance, they get seem to get weeded out pretty quick. I've never run into scary people more than half a mile from a road.

 

[.308 Norma]

Most of the weirdos and scary types I've seen have been close to the trailhead

Exactly. That's why we never felt like we needed deadbolt locks on our tent door when my wife and I were spending the night 20 miles into the Idaho wilderness.
Joking aside, we did worry about our truck that we left at the trailheads on week-long backpacking trips. We never had a problem, but we did worry about it sometimes.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Aside from the obvious responses (please try to not be obvious) regarding the safety, responsibility or intelligence of shooting by one's self on public land - I thought it would be worthwhile to post this up should it be news to anyone else.

In was talking to an L.E. type this week about shooting out in the desert alone and how I did not like doing it and make it a point to pop the couple-few rounds I find myself in need of doing and then shuffling off in quick fashion.

This happens about once or slightly less a year for me. Just needs to be done but is NEVER recreational. 10 rounds or less telling me everything that I need to know at the time.

In any case, he related two incidents which came up in briefings and is tracking down the particulars for me.

In each case it shook out basically like this: A couple of miscreants are caught miscreantin' in one way or other and end up being actively or passively in possession of firearms belonging to individuals found dead in the desert - here in Arizona.

It was believed at least two individuals were killed while shooting and then all in their possession were stolen to include vehicles and home keys to allow further burglarization.

Todd.

The most obvious and operative word in your entire post is "Arizona." nuff said.

I went backpacking alone in the Organ Pipe Cactus NM in the Sonora Desert. When I applied for the permit, the park ranger tried very hard to dissuade me. Undaunted, I took my permit and went to the trailhead, where I met a NPS Police officer. (Ranger with a gun and arrest authority) Who, upon telling me about how people disappear in the desert and police later find their ID being used by smugglers, I opted to camp in the campground.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I wouldn't discourage hiking! Most of the weirdos and scary types I've seen have been close to the trailhead, and the only confrontation I've had while backpacking was with some yahoos in a Baja Bug, driving where they shouldn't and try to intimidate us...until they discovered it was a larger group than they expected.

If they have to walk a long distance, they get seem to get weeded out pretty quick. I've never run into scary people more than half a mile from a road.

Exactly. That's why we never felt like we needed deadbolt locks on our tent door when my wife and I were spending the night 20 miles into the Idaho wilderness.
Joking aside, we did worry about our truck that we left at the trailheads on week-long backpacking trips. We never had a problem, but we did worry about it sometimes.

These are my experiences and observations, too. Nevertheless, I am always uneasy hunting/camping alone. I spend many nights sleeping in the back of my truck at a trail head near roads in remote areas. I prefer that to back country camping in some areas due to bear activity.

Then again, I worry about everything. One of my bigger concerns is just being accidentally shot by a careless hunter a mile away.

 

[Howland937]

they have to walk a long distance, they get seem to get weeded out pretty quick. I've never run into scary people more than half a mile from a road.

Probably won't run into many shooters that far from the road unless they've either got mules or a very small arsenal

 

[4v50 Gary]

I can open a window and begin blasting. But I don't. Dog gets scared if she hears gunfire that is close.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

The most obvious and operative word in your entire post is "Arizona." nuff said.

I went backpacking alone in the Organ Pipe Cactus NM in the Senora Desert. When I applied for the permit, the park ranger tried very hard to dissuade me. Undaunted, I took my permit and went to the trailhead, where I met a NPS Police officer. (Ranger with a gun and arrest authority) Who, upon telling me about how people disappear in the desert and police later find their ID being used by smugglers, I opted to camp in the campground.

Hell, I took part in a charity walk the length of the Appalachian trail a couple years back. I took the northernmost start point and oddly chose to not bring a firearm.

Every single person that found out that I was unarmed looked at me with a mix of astonishment and sympathy.

Only after I returned did I find out that that area of Maine (hell, most of Maine) is a swirling vortex of missing people and unidentified bodies.

Todd.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Hell, I took part in a charity walk the length of the Appalachian trail a couple years back. I took the northernmost start point and oddly chose to not bring a firearm.

Every single person that found out that I was unarmed looked at me with a mix of astonishment and sympathy.

Only after I returned did I find out that that area of Maine (hell, most of Maine) is a swirling vortex of missing people and unidentified bodies.

Todd.

Maines a fun state. Friendly folks and good food.

but behind the lobster rolls and smiles, lies a dark secret...

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Hell, I took part in a charity walk the length of the Appalachian trail a couple years back. I took the northernmost start point and oddly chose to not bring a firearm.

Every single person that found out that I was unarmed looked at me with a mix of astonishment and sympathy.

Only after I returned did I find out that that area of Maine (hell, most of Maine) is a swirling vortex of missing people and unidentified bodies.

Todd.

I'm actually surprised to hear this. Before I moved to AK, I was working on section hiking the AT. I've been a fan of the AT since I was a Boy Scout. I'm aware of the two women killed in or near Shenendoah NP, but Ive never heard anything about foul play in Maine.

I've also never heard of anyone hiking, especially through-hiking, the AT with a firearm. That adds weight to your pack plus, some of those states are decidedly antigun. How do you carry your gun into town for resupply without breaking some concealed carry law?

 

[Bottom Gun]

I’m out by myself about 75% of the time but I always carry a sidearm, even when target shooting. We aren’t very far from the border and there are bad actors coming across the line from time to time. I’ve had a few chance meetings with these visitors. Only on one occasion did I have to draw my sidearm but was able to avoid using it.
My cousin has had more problems with bad guys on hiking trails in Virginia than I have had here near an international border.

I’m more concerned with critters when I‘m out in the bush. We’re fairly remote so we have our share of wild animals. I’ve had numerous close encounters with black bears. So many that I changed my carry load from Gold Dots to Lehigh Defense copper solids. The bears concern me most. Some are very bold.
We also have quite a few mountain lions, an occasional Grey Wolf and the Game & Fish actually captured two jaguar in the area not too long ago.

I never know what I’m likely to see when I‘m out. That’s part of the adventure. However, you need to be aware that whatever happens, you need to deal with it by yourself. That’s when a good sidearm can allow you a choice. . . . .

 

[Dirty Bob]

My only encounter with dangerous wildlife is one of my fondest memories.

Way back in high school, in California, I took a backpacking class in PE. The end of semester trip was Point Reyes Nat'l. Seashore. It was the first night, and group of us were cooking the steaks we'd brought for the first night, 'cause it was dried food after that.

We looked up at top of the cliff, about 30? feet above us, and there, lit in the firelight, was a large mountain lion. We could see the head, shoulders, and front paws as it watched us. We felt no fear, as there were several of us bipedal critters, and we had a fire going. The lion would have had a tough time coming after us. A single human with a quiet little backpacking stove might have been in real trouble. The cat left after a few minutes. I guess the smell of the meat drew it to find out what the bipeds were doing on the beach.

Fun times. Shortly after that, however, a friend from high school was found in Pt Reyes, victim of a serial killer, as we slowly found out when more victims were discovered. I never set foot in that beautiful place again. I've seen snakes in the wild places, of course, and bears at a distance, but the only "animals" I really worry about here in the southern US are the ones that walk on two legs.