When you go hiking or backpacking do you carry a gun?
March 7th, 2010 | by admin |I live in California, is it legal? What do you carry? Iv got a 38 special +p will that stop a bear?
I guess that I will represent the opposite – and undoubtly unpopular, even if more realistic – view point on this. I grew up around guns, have owned guns (don’t right now), have gone hunting and believe in people’s right to own guns.
I still go hunting on occasion, but I DO NOT carry a gun while hiking or backpacking and I have spent entire weeks at a time backpacking in wilderness areas, National Parks and other back country (including bear country). In fact, it is illegal to carry a gun in most National Parks and Monuments.
Unless they are threatened, their offspring are threatened, or they have become desensitized to humans, most wildlife, including bears (other than grizzlies) are afraid of humans will try to run away or – at worst – bluff. The odds of you being killed or seriously injured by an animal are very remote… probably in the 1 in a million region – certainly less than winning the state lottery.
One might say, ‘Sure, but why even take that chance?’. What people don’t take into account is the odds of accidentally hurting yourself or companion with your own gun (accidental misfire, whatever). The number of people hurt in gun accidents in the back country is MUCH larger than the number of people that are hurt by wildlife. Everybody thinks that they are very safe with guns and it can’t happen to them, but as Cheney’s accident demostrates, even careful people with years of experience can still have gun accidents and the odds – while very low – are still much higher than a bear attack.
I think that this exaggarated fear of wild life, is partly due to perception. If someone is attacked by a bear (or other wild animal) it is going to make state and probably national news while gun accidents are rarely reported in the media at all. Likewise, there is a machismo factor. Probably all male gun owners (myself included) have day dreamed about heroically defeating bears, criminals, terrorists whatever. Nobody ever fantasizes about accidentally shooting themselves or killing a friend.
More important however than comparing the tiny odds of animal attack vs gun accident is the whole mindframe of it. For me, I go hiking and backpacking to get away from work, from people, from traffic, from the city. I know that a serious fall, sprain, dehydration or hypothermia are far far more likely to hurt me than anything else and I prepare for those things. Knowledgeable about the real dangers, I go into the wood feeling comfortable and in tune with my surroundings and come back refreshed. If I was ever so afraid and scared in the outdoors that I felt compelled to carry a gun in order to feel secure, I would probably not even go any more.
Yes, there are some places in this world where it is probably safer to carry a gun and I don’t mean this as a critique of people that take guns while hiking and backpacking (I have several friends that do). It is a personal choice and not that big of a deal either way. But if you are going to take one, also take the responsibility to put the bravado aside and be honest about the real chances of various danger scenarios. If you go backpacking and place carrying a gun over, say getting a first aid/CPR cert, than you have bigger things to worry about than bears.
16 Responses to “When you go hiking or backpacking do you carry a gun?”
By beave on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
40 SEMI-AUTO
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By Sky on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
i carry pepper spray
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By poisoneva on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I live in South Beach, Miami and I carry a SigSauer 9mm P226 in my purse!
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By gummybear1772 on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I don’t think it’s a bad idea – don’t live in CA though. You should check with the police in the area you want to go. A member of my family always carries his but he’s got a concealed weapons permit so you need to check it out so you don’t get in trouble
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By Cayman_tac on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I ALWAYS carry a 9mm & a small 6-shot .380 semi-automatic. I live in Texas and hold Concealed Handgun License offered through the Texas Department of Public Safety that I aquired after taking a course, submitting my course certificate along with two copies of my fingerprints and going through FBI, State and Local background checks. I don’t know if this program is offered in California but I would check online with your official state website to find out. By the way, your .38 will more than likely NOT stop a bear, but will probably anger it more than anything. Happy Hiking!
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By michael looooou on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
Always a cell phone…PeAcE
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By az_bnb on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
We usually carry a 22 pistol. But it really depends on where we hike. A crowded hike probably wouldn’t warrant a gun but then there are a lot of crazy people in the woods.
Just a few years ago a retired math teacher shot & killed a man on a trail up in Northern Arizona on a trail my hiking buddy & I frequent.
The retired teacher is in jail, don’t know when he’ll be getting out!
So I guess the answer is – yes, but you must be very, very careful!
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By leclairro on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I always carry a firearm when hiking, not for animals, just the freaking nutty people out there. Depending on on the equipment and pack I’m using, I carry either my colt 1911 .45 or a short barrel (for all you dumb bastards out there note I said SHORT barrel, not sawed off, sawed off is illeagal) with a pistol grip on it. Oh, and I don’t think I’d try a .38 even in +P on a bear, that just sounds like like a recipe for a really pissed bear
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By preacher55 on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
When hiking or packing, I always carry my Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag. with 71/2" barrel, loaded with 250gr. Black Talons. I also carry a Para Ordinance P-12 .45cal. for self defense around town. I HATE suprises! This is in Pa. & I have a concealed weapon permit, don’t know about Cal. .38 Special is a little light for bear, but good shot placement makes up for many errors.
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By johnseneric on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
No I don’t and I have hiked in places like Montana, alone, and at night. However, when I think back, maybe I was naive not to carry one, your chances of ever needing one are 1 in a million but the older I get and the more aware I become of all the different ways that you can die, I think I would carry one if it was warranted, say hiking in California on the Pacific Crest Trail. So, I understand our need for firearms at home and in the woods but I think that carrying a concealed weapon is a negative trend in this country because people become prone to using a firearm to solve their problems in situations where you can just walk away or call the police. I don’t think, in general, it is a good idea for people to take the law into their own hands. We are setting a bad example for our children, and we are seeing the results on the 6 o’ clock news- e.g. Columbine.
It’s not just law abiding citizens that carry guns, and that just increases the level of violence on the streets. Just ask any cop. We don’t need kids carrying guns and that is exactly what is happening-pandora’s box.
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By acenumm1 on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
It depends on where your going. Some national parks prohibit them. Check these sites for more help.
http://www.fws.gov/offices/statelinks.html
http://www.nps.gov/
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By sascoaz on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I guess that I will represent the opposite – and undoubtly unpopular, even if more realistic – view point on this. I grew up around guns, have owned guns (don’t right now), have gone hunting and believe in people’s right to own guns.
I still go hunting on occasion, but I DO NOT carry a gun while hiking or backpacking and I have spent entire weeks at a time backpacking in wilderness areas, National Parks and other back country (including bear country). In fact, it is illegal to carry a gun in most National Parks and Monuments.
Unless they are threatened, their offspring are threatened, or they have become desensitized to humans, most wildlife, including bears (other than grizzlies) are afraid of humans will try to run away or – at worst – bluff. The odds of you being killed or seriously injured by an animal are very remote… probably in the 1 in a million region – certainly less than winning the state lottery.
One might say, ‘Sure, but why even take that chance?’. What people don’t take into account is the odds of accidentally hurting yourself or companion with your own gun (accidental misfire, whatever). The number of people hurt in gun accidents in the back country is MUCH larger than the number of people that are hurt by wildlife. Everybody thinks that they are very safe with guns and it can’t happen to them, but as Cheney’s accident demostrates, even careful people with years of experience can still have gun accidents and the odds – while very low – are still much higher than a bear attack.
I think that this exaggarated fear of wild life, is partly due to perception. If someone is attacked by a bear (or other wild animal) it is going to make state and probably national news while gun accidents are rarely reported in the media at all. Likewise, there is a machismo factor. Probably all male gun owners (myself included) have day dreamed about heroically defeating bears, criminals, terrorists whatever. Nobody ever fantasizes about accidentally shooting themselves or killing a friend.
More important however than comparing the tiny odds of animal attack vs gun accident is the whole mindframe of it. For me, I go hiking and backpacking to get away from work, from people, from traffic, from the city. I know that a serious fall, sprain, dehydration or hypothermia are far far more likely to hurt me than anything else and I prepare for those things. Knowledgeable about the real dangers, I go into the wood feeling comfortable and in tune with my surroundings and come back refreshed. If I was ever so afraid and scared in the outdoors that I felt compelled to carry a gun in order to feel secure, I would probably not even go any more.
Yes, there are some places in this world where it is probably safer to carry a gun and I don’t mean this as a critique of people that take guns while hiking and backpacking (I have several friends that do). It is a personal choice and not that big of a deal either way. But if you are going to take one, also take the responsibility to put the bravado aside and be honest about the real chances of various danger scenarios. If you go backpacking and place carrying a gun over, say getting a first aid/CPR cert, than you have bigger things to worry about than bears.
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Long time backpacker and hiker
By medic8613 on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
I never carry a firearm out in the woods unless I am hunting. There is no reason at all to carry a weapon in the woods unless you are hunting. Bear mace is more effective than a 38 special round. A 38 special MAY slow the bear down, but the bear mace will stop the bear in it’s tracks. I have been doing wilderness trips
since I was 12 and have never been in a situation where I needed or felt like I may need a gun or bear mace for that matter.
Most people getting hurt or killed by bears or other wild life are getting killed because they did something wrong. As long as you are not stupid most animals won’t attack you. Using a gun of a handgun caliber (short of a Desert Eagle) will only make the bear angry and could exacerbate the situation.
Now I love guns and believe people have the right to own them, but they have no place in backpacking. The number of things that can go wrong when people carry guns around in the woods far outweighs the number of things the gun could actually be used for. Worry about the important stuff like making sure you know where you are goin, how to get there, first aid, and equipment. Get some bear mace at an EMS or REI if you really feel scared about bears.
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By Nikki F on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
NEVER…
the only kind of wildlife you really need to worry about are grizzlies… and the last time i checked, they’re not around the sierras anymore… don’t worry.. if you run into a mountain lion or a black bear you can easily scare it off….
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By jojo21 on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
In my area I used to pack a .22 lr revolver for snakes but I only shot the ones that were too close or tried to bite me(actually only ever had to shoot one snake while hiking, went for my parents small dog that was with me well she did piss the thing off). In the woods they’re ok near home there dead. Just depends on where your hiking and if you can legally carry. I’ve always been more concerned with 2 legged predators than the 4 legged kind. Here lately since I carry all the time I legally can if I’m out hiking I’m normally packing just because it’s my normal mode/habit to carry but it’s not something I do specially for hiking.
Dad did have a run in with a rabid raccoon though one time trekking through the wooded parts of the property, but the .22 got it before it got him.
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By night_train_running on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply
You need a gun for Humans not Animals.Throw it something to eat,then run like hell.I would never shoot something because it was hungry.Get out of it territory,your a trespasser.
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