mr-dig-it said:
mineron said:
Long ago I had a wise old country gentlemen tell me that only a fool would go in the woods without a weapon. I have always followed his advise.
This isn't aimed at you personally ,but at some of the other replys too. First of all I am definitely not anti gun as I have hunted for over 40 years and trapped for more then 25 years. I am a year round hiker in Pennsylvania and have never felt the need to carry a gun for protection. I have hiked after dark in the woods, something I would never do in any city for fear of my life or valuables. If you are concerned about animals, there is no wild animal in Pa that will attack you. The domestic bull is more dangerous then any animal in the woods. A couple years ago on Tnet someone wrote that he always carries a gun for protection against wolves, cougers and bears. This person lived between Altoona and Johnstown. Get real, when was the last time you saw a wolf in Pa or a couger. Bears, yes. Any bear I have come across while hiking or detecting was running away from me
You can encounter one million wild animals while out hiking and 99% will run away from you. But that one time you accidentally walked between a mother bear and her cubs, or encounter that rabid, or starving animal you will wish you had something to protect yourself.
Carrying a firearm for protection does not require that you actually use it.
I personally don't carry a firearm because I don't own one at this time, I only own two rifles, and there is no way I am going to strap one on my shoulder to go metal detecting. Currently the only thing I carry is my metal detector, my little shovel, and my trowel that could double as a blade pretty easy.
Short of a lucky whack with my shovel I would be defenseless against a bear or mountain lion, which there are plenty of in Northern California. I have even seen video of a deer going on the offensive near here. We also have some pretty nasty rattle snakes, and the coyotes here are small, but can be mean.
I intend to eventually pick up a small pistol to carry while out hiking or metal detecting, but only in the wild, at other times I will probably just carry one of my knives and some pepper spray.
I am also in the process of putting together a small pack, with food, water, and first aid supplies. I have never been lost, and the chances are fairly slim, but after seeing a recent news story about a family of three here that were lost in the woods not even two miles from their car for six days, you just can't be too cautious.
Like I said the likely hood of needing a firearm may be slim, but what about that one time in a million you get caught in the middle of some life and death situation that that firearm would have gotten you out of.