For those that carry Guns and Overlanding

[Dalko43]

I don't think the majority of the US is as divided as it seems. People are just over-conditioned to think that anybody with a different opinion is the enemy. I could be 100% wrong but I'd like to believe that most people would like to work together to find solutions we all can live with. Unfortunately their voices are drowned out by a much louder minority who can't see past their own noses.

^I agree with this.

I'm a hunter and recreational shooter. I know plenty of people who are ambivalent about firearms and the 2nd amendment and I know plenty of others who can hardly tolerate the idea of armed citizenry. Many of them know of my interests and opinions and yet I have no problem hanging out with them and even having frank conversations with them. I'm very good friends with many of these people and I have no less respect for them just because their views are different from my own (I'd assume they have same attitude towards me, but I can't read people's minds).

As emotional and tense as the media reporting gets, I really don't think America is as divided as some make it out to be. I think for the most part, people just want to go about their lives without being bothered....everything else is just dinner table conversation. That's why I get a bit confused and fed up with some TV personality or politician, on either side, saying that America is at the brink of some partisan conflict...things happen, people have different opinions on it and the world moves on. I honestly think some people have an incentive to create more drama than there really is just to boost TV ratings and build their reputation.

As for the original topic of this thread, like Scott said: carry if you want to and you're comfortable with that kind of responsibility. Otherwise, don't carry. Any outdoor adventurer needs to do some risk analysis and figure out which tools make sense for a particular situation; and that kind of planning goes beyond firearms and should be employed when preparing for any kind of remote travel or outdoor trip.

 

[Trikebubble]

That took awhile to wade through, but I think I made it. To respond to the OP's query regarding carrying a firearm while in the wilderness, yes I do. Unless we are crossing into the US I always bring a short shotgun along while camping, hiking, out exploring in the back country or "overlanding". To me, it is a tool like bear spray, a first aid kit, or fire extinguisher. All of which I bring along, none of which I want to have to use, but all of which I feel more comfortable knowing I have them available in the event they may be required.
This past summer while out camping I awoke from the rooftop tent to find cougar prints on the front quarter panel of the Xterra. Kittie had come along in the evening to check us out it seems. Alpha type furry animals exist around here, and while I love the opportunity to witness wildlife on my terms, I feel more comfortable knowing that I at least have the tools to (hopefully) defend myself, wife, and dogs if no other option is available.
Up here I cannot legally carry my handgun in the wilderness, so the pragmatic option (for me anyways) is the shortest most compact shotgun I can bring along. If the option to carry a sidearm where available I'd certainly opt for that when out hiking, for weight savings alone. I have had my eye on a Ranch Hand for a bit now, that may prove to be another compact option for me down the road.


Sent from the Mountains

 

[jeep-N-montero]

That took awhile to wade through, but I think I made it. To respond to the OP's query regarding carrying a firearm while in the wilderness, yes I do. Unless we are crossing into the US I always bring a short shotgun along while camping, hiking, out exploring in the back country or "overlanding". To me, it is a tool like bear spray, a first aid kit, or fire extinguisher. All of which I bring along, none of which I want to have to use, but all of which I feel more comfortable knowing I have them available in the event they may be required.
This past summer while out camping I awoke from the rooftop tent to find cougar prints on the front quarter panel of the Xterra. Kittie had come along in the evening to check us out it seems. Alpha type furry animals exist around here, and while I love the opportunity to witness wildlife on my terms, I feel more comfortable knowing that I at least have the tools to (hopefully) defend myself, wife, and dogs if no other option is available.
Up here I cannot legally carry my handgun in the wilderness, so the pragmatic option (for me anyways) is the shortest most compact shotgun I can bring along. If the option to carry a sidearm where available I'd certainly opt for that when out hiking, for weight savings alone. I have had my eye on a Ranch Hand for a bit now, that may prove to be another compact option for me down the road.


Sent from the Mountains

Best to have it and not need it is a good rule to follow. When we go camping up at our usual spot our dogs are usually off leash when we are hiking around, they make enough noise to let the world know if even the smallest rodent is anywhere close and scare them off. This last summer we were up there and heard a group of coyotes coming down the mountain in a hurry around 10pm and making a lot of noise, soon as they got about 200 yards from camp they shut up all of a sudden and bolted the other direction, I figured between the scent of our 2 large dogs and humans they decided it may not be a good idea to come any closer, the next noise we heard from them was on the other side of the ridge. Pretty sure that most cougars/mtn lions will not engage 2 dogs at once unless their young may be in danger, just hope we never have to worry about that.

 

[poriggity]

I have my ccw and I carry every time I can. I can't carry at work but I carry everywhere else including camping. I also make sure to put the firearm away in a lock box once I'm in camp enjoying libations. Pretty much every group I camp with is pro gun so it's never an issue. I firmly believe in the 2nd amendment and my right to carry.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

 

[Dalko43]

Best to have it and not need it is a good rule to follow. When we go camping up at our usual spot our dogs are usually off leash when we are hiking around, they make enough noise to let the world know if even the smallest rodent is anywhere close and scare them off. This last summer we were up there and heard a group of coyotes coming down the mountain in a hurry around 10pm and making a lot of noise, soon as they got about 200 yards from camp they shut up all of a sudden and bolted the other direction, I figured between the scent of our 2 large dogs and humans they decided it may not be a good idea to come any closer, the next noise we heard from them was on the other side of the ridge. Pretty sure that most cougars/mtn lions will not engage 2 dogs at once unless their young may be in danger, just hope we never have to worry about that.

Out of curiosity what kind of dogs do you have? I've heard of cougar taking fairly big domestic dogs (think German Shepherd-size). Generally, cougar are ambush hunters and really aren't up for much of a fight unless cornered. So a barking dog is usually enough to deter them, but should the dog get caught off guard it may be a different story. Honestly, I'd be more worried about coyote then cougar when out camping...wild canine (wolves and coyotes) just don't like their domestic brethren (heck they don't even like co-existing with each other). And it's not unheard of for coyote packs to lure away dogs, even bigger ones, and then gang up on and kill them. Their intelligence and their numbers make them a formidable force of nature and anyone out in yote territory should make sure their dogs are well trained to stay close...unless you're hunting them of course.

 

[Mr.510]

I carry concealed every day so I've always got an XD45C and a reload on my person. Yes, I have extensive training and have carried daily for 25 years. I've never shot anybody but my carry gun did save my life once. Thankfully pointing a handgun at someone, or just drawing it, ends the confrontation 95% of the time. I have drawn my .45 a few times but never needed to point it at anybody or anything in the woods, the confrontation where my gun saved my life was in Seattle. When I travel into the deep woods I usually take my Saiga .308 carbine with folding stock but have never needed it. I also don't venture far from my vehicle due to a spinal injury so I've always got solid protection against dangerous animals close by. I've seen coyotes, wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, elk, moose, wild hogs, and just about every other animal that can be dangerous to humans in North America (except gators and polar bears) and most of them ran away or wandered off when they figured out a human was nearby. With the ones that didn't I got into my truck and waited for them to leave, or left myself. I hate tents with a passion and never sleep outside my vehicle. By far the most dangerous animals I've come across in the woods have been the two legged kind. I've stumbled into illegal pot grows, meth cooking camps, and some of the scariest looking illegal backwoods encampments surround by trash and filth you can imagine. I have run into sketchy people at some of these places and making it obvious I was carrying and willing to use it has gotten me out of all of them, including one where two meth heads were trying to flank me. In that case I lifted my shirt to draw and as soon as they saw the gun they raised their hands a bit and backed away. I'm sure if I'd drawn my folding knife instead they would have backed off so I don't consider my gun to have 'saved me' that day. If you ran into me in the woods you'd have no idea I'm armed, and that's the point of carrying concealed. One side 'benefit' of this versus open carry is you get to see how the people you run into treat what they perceive as a soft target. If I'd had a gun visible on my hip I have no doubt I'd have had no 'trouble' from any of the bad people I've run across, but I also wouldn't know that a few of them had truly bad intent.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Out of curiosity what kind of dogs do you have? I've heard of cougar taking fairly big domestic dogs (think German Shepherd-size). Generally, cougar are ambush hunters and really aren't up for much of a fight unless cornered. So a barking dog is usually enough to deter them, but should the dog get caught off guard it may be a different story. Honestly, I'd be more worried about coyote then cougar when out camping...wild canine (wolves and coyotes) just don't like their domestic brethren (heck they don't even like co-existing with each other). And it's not unheard of for coyote packs to lure away dogs, even bigger ones, and then gang up on and kill them. Their intelligence and their numbers make them a formidable force of nature and anyone out in yote territory should make sure their dogs are well trained to stay close...unless you're hunting them of course.

One is a Vizsla/Redbone Coonhound mix and the other is a Vizsla/Golden Lab mix, both are very smart and listen well off leash.

 

[CaseyB]

This was a nice read. In the winter planning stages of a trip i have locked in my head. Have been researching all aspects. My thought this morning was, should i bring a firearm?
I'll revisit the idea when the time comes closer but I'm leaning towards no.

My biggest concern would be having it stolen.

Hypothetical - I'm in the middle of nowhere, setup a base camp, decide to take the husky for a ride. Only to come back to a vehicle busted into and my personal property stolen. I could move on with most things missing/stolen. I wouldn't feel cool moving on with a stolen piece out and about.

As emotional and tense as the media reporting gets, I really don't think America is as divided as some make it out to be. I think for the most part, people just want to go about their lives without being bothered....everything else is just dinner table conversation. That's why I get a bit confused and fed up with some TV personality or politician, on either side, saying that America is at the brink of some partisan conflict...things happen, people have different opinions on it and the world moves on. I honestly think some people have an incentive to create more drama than there really is just to boost TV ratings and build their reputation.

I believe it has more to do with: we're easier to control as a divided society.

 

[Dalko43]

My biggest concern would be having it stolen.

Hypothetical - I'm in the middle of nowhere, setup a base camp, decide to take the husky for a ride. Only to come back to a vehicle busted into and my personal property stolen. I could move on with most things missing/stolen. I wouldn't feel cool moving on with a stolen piece out and about.

That's a valid concern to bring up. My take on that issue is this: if you're bringing a firearm with you on a trip, make sure you have control and awareness of it at all times. If you plan on leaving your vehicle for extended periods of time (for hikes, swims, trips, ect.) then I would plan on carrying a firearm that is small and light enough to take with you without being a burden. If you don't plan on carrying the firearm with you, then I would question whether or not it is worth bringing in the first place. Locking a firearm in a vehicle carries some amount of risk; in some areas that risk is much higher than in others.

Just like the military preaches, the weapon should be treated as a personal responsibility; the person carrying it should know how to use it, maintain it, troubleshoot it and should always keep positive control of it.

I believe it has more to do with: we're easier to control as a divided society.

While that may be a motive for all the bitterness and divisiveness we see on TV and in the media, I really don't think society is as divided as some would like us to believe. I run into people of all walks of life frequently and I've never come to blows or gotten into a heated argument with anyone despite the fact that we have differing views on supposedly "nation-dividing" topics. I think most of society is content to live and let live.

 

[dlh62c]

Regarding vehicle security in remote areas, game cameras can be used to keep an eye on the camp while your gone. They won't stop someone, but you might be able to ID someone and get your stuff back.

Security film can be applied to windows to make smash and grab harder.

 

[PPCLI_Jim]

Up here in Canadaland getting a CCW is as difficult as getting Hilary elected. So what i did is get one of these a Keltec Sub 2000 in 9mm (also available in 40 S&W) uses a Glock mag able to hold 10 rounds in the mag, and weighs 4.5 lbs. It folds to just over 18 inches and is considered a long gun that is non restricted :Wow1:. With its small size and light weight I can put it in a backpack and lock it in there and its now not concealed its secured! That is a very big difference when it comes to firearms. if I'm planning a trip WAYYYYYY up north I will be taking a standard long gun either in 12g or in hmmm 7.62x39 SKS or a 30-06 Savage its really a toss up I like being able to quickly load a firearm with a magazine and use it just that quick. I also have installed a safe In my Trooper so I can legally bring my pistol with me if I declare I am going to a range.

 

[joelbert]

Another thing to consider on this discussion is camping during normal camping season (campground mostly full, campground host, LE circulating around on some basis) and camping in the off season where you might be the only person around. With fewer witnesses around, a person who has bad intent has less discouragement from acting. Also, if it were to come to something, you are really on your own in terms of being able to support yourself. Recently camped in a remote campground with one other camper on site when I arrived. Once they left, I certainly felt better with the ability to support myself.

They had difficulty starting their vehicle and once they left, if I were to have the same issue, I would have been in for either a long hike or waiting for someone to flag down somewhere....

 

[cowboybirder]

cowboybirder

Like Christophe, I have never had a less than positive encounter while camping in any situation. Although the likely hood of a lethal encounter in the wilderness happening is rather low, I refuse to be a victim the one time it does happen. and if my time in the wild becomes a survival situation I have a means of procuring food.


2014 JKUR (soon with an Ursa Minor J30 and lots of AEV goodies)

 

[IZSM]

On Carrying in the Wilderness

Our families are life long shooting, hunting, camping and wilderness enthusiests. I as well as my wife are proficient with all of our personal weapons. That said, although I've never encountered any individuals over the past 40 plus years in the wilderness that gave me much in the way of 'pause'. Last May 2016 my wife and I were traveling through northern Utah heading toward Nevada, we had on a whim chosen to take the road less traveled. We found a spec of a town on the map and chose to head in that direction. It was a nice little place, that sort of 'out west small town' kind of vibe. People were friendly, we ate a little cafe. Just before we decided to leave, we stopped at the ONLY gas station in town. Two rugged looking guys in an old white pickup pulled up on the other side of the pump, their truck bed was filled with 'hunting/camping' gear, a couple of cross-bows were visible. A rifle hanging in the back window. One of the 'gentlemen' took a very long look at our expidition trailer, made a comment to his buddy about how handy that would be in the woods. The other 'gentleman' made a rather obnoxious comment about my wife. About that time, our tank full we decided to leave without returning comment. On our way out of town, they began to follow us, so we turned 6 or 7 times in an attempt to 'lose' them. When we thought they were off our 6, we headed toward Nevada, honestly a little above the speed limit. About 15 miles out of town, we see them agian on our 6, coming hard. This was a two way, zero turn road. We were driving a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, lifted for extreme off road, pulling an expidition trailer...we weren't going to out run anyone. There was no cell service, despite that we attempted to make a 911 call. We were almost 18 miles out when we decided to stop and face whatever these 'gentlemen' had in mind. We pulled fully off the road, turned slightly toward the oncoming vehicle, both of us were carrying, although until that point the pistols had been in lock boxes under the seats. As they approached they rapidly reduced their speed pulled off the road behind us, got out of their truck, save now there were 4 of them. We made it a point to make sure we weren't interested in conversation, that we weren't suffering from a broken down vehicle, that the best course of action for them would be to leave us alone. They chose the latter, amidst a hail of foul language and finger gestures. In the end, we had no real idea what they wanted, but there was a feeling, its one everyone is familiar with when a fight is brewing, we did everything in our power to avoid it and fortunately we did. That said, we always carry and I was extremely thankful for two things that afternoon in May, 1. we were carrying and ready and most importantly 2. we weren't forced to do anything.

Go outside, visit nature, enjoy the amazing grandure...be safe, be prepared have fun.
IZSM

 

[The Artisan]

IZ,
That right there is something out of a movie, glad you guys are OK. Makes you want to just stay in RV parks.
Kevin