It would be challenging to hit an attacker of any variety in a stressful situation, for sure. However, if a cat, wolf, or human attacker is about right on top of you, it would be much easier. If the attacker isn't right on top of you, you better not be trying to hit them anyway.
concealed carry
- Thread starter POLARISDAN
- Start date
It would be challenging to hit an attacker of any variety in a stressful situation, for sure. However, if a cat, wolf, or human attacker is about right on top of you, it would be much easier. If the attacker isn't right on top of you, you better not be trying to hit them anyway.
I dont have a CCL anymore but should probably get one again because I spend a lot of time out trout fishing in the middle of nowhere.
I didn't renew my CCL 20 years ago because I was put in a situation where I could have used deadly force but didn't. I know that sounds strange but it was a strange situation. I used my head and other resources.
When my neighbor arrived, a retired State cop, and I pulled my Colt Cobra out of my waist and set it down on the seat of his truck even he was totally stressed about what went down.
I didn't renew my CCL 20 years ago because I was put in a situation where I could have used deadly force but didn't. I know that sounds strange but it was a strange situation. I used my head and other resources.
When my neighbor arrived, a retired State cop, and I pulled my Colt Cobra out of my waist and set it down on the seat of his truck even he was totally stressed about what went down.
Look up night sights and you might change your mind. I use to feel the same way and these sights are easy to see at night. If there is any night light from the sky, I know I will be more than capable to take on what is the threat. Now I won't argue with you on the quickness of a cat or wolf lurking in the woods. By my intention would never to be "just shoot into the woods". The threat would have to be close and imminent.
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Guest
I will take my chances out on the lonesome trail. I have never heard of a live snowmobiler ever attacked or eaten by any wild animal. Maybe if somebody already froze to death some critter came along and gnawed off a leg but not a live person. You have a better chance of seeing BigFoot than being attacked by some ferocious beast out on a snowmobile trail. As far as 2 legged encounters out on a snowmobile trail what are you going to do? Shoot somebody because he ran over your ski??? CC and snowmobiling do not go together. This is little bit a sign of the times. Rather than communicate or try to reason or talk your way out of a bad situation it has gotten easier to just have a gun. All a gun will do is escalate an already bad situation.
also keep in mind folks that OPEN carry is legal in a LOT of places, so, for those that want to carry in the great outdoors due to worries about animals and such, many times that is fully legal without a conceal carry permit/lic needed
so could be a option for those that don;'t wish to take all the steps needed to get a permit in some places, as not all states again are the same on requirements for what it takes to get a conceal carry lic/permit
some require almost nothing but a background check and a fee, some require testing with the gun you plan to carry and are ONLY valid with the weapon you plan to use, some allow any weapon and so on!
bottom line is, if you want to, and have a clean record and of good mental status, you should be allowed to, and if you don't or are not allowed to own a gun, you shouldn;t
so could be a option for those that don;'t wish to take all the steps needed to get a permit in some places, as not all states again are the same on requirements for what it takes to get a conceal carry lic/permit
some require almost nothing but a background check and a fee, some require testing with the gun you plan to carry and are ONLY valid with the weapon you plan to use, some allow any weapon and so on!
bottom line is, if you want to, and have a clean record and of good mental status, you should be allowed to, and if you don't or are not allowed to own a gun, you shouldn;t
Exactly the opposite, per the legal ramifications for the person carrying the gun if they choose to escalate a bad situation.
All true! Agree!
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X 2! Agree on all!
My riding bud and I have for many years now enjoy riding long trips in Ontario, Canada. Much more out in the bush/wilderness than in the states. Have witnessed all forms of wildlife, and never once came in need of a firearm. I discussed this issue with a OFSC district official 2 years ago. He had not ever seen, or knew about any snowmobiler needing a firearm for protection. He also explained, that if you are caught with a handgun in Canada, you will be well protected from ANY KIND of harm for a quite long period of time as you will be locked up behind bars. Also, you will never enter Canada again legally. On that trip, we seen a cat the size that I had no idea existed! We were in the wilderness below Timmins heading for Chapleu. The snow was so deep in that area, the wolves had a hard time, the cat was in no hurry, and had no problem what so ever navigating thru the deep snow.
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personally when riding sleds, its never really been a worry about wildlife , for why I choose to carry, I have known several folks that were robbed at trail intersections , or back at truck/trailer when loading up!
I can tell you I was once out in middle of no where, on a trail and got in the middle of a wolf pack, had them in front of me ON trail and behind me, and they didn;t like it, had them all worked up, ears pinned back and you could see them thinking ,a s they were Not sure what they were going to do with me(I was also riding with a girl who never rode a sled before that day)
SO< I would never say, you may NEVER need a gun due to wildlife either,
after some long minutes, the one's behind me decided to break off into some super deep snow, and soon the others up front did the same and things went without issue's
but it was sure a pucker factor moment there!
again, carrying is a personal choose, its NOT wrong to do so if you take the time and make the effort to be safe about it
nor is there anything wrong with folks that DON"T wish to carry
I never get why some seem upset when others carry, when done right, you'd never ever know one was carrying, unless they told you, which honestly, unless in a forum or conversation about carry, shouldn;t even be brought up
the point of conceal carry is so others DON"T know your carrying
and IMO< there is nothing wrong with wishing to carry, and have something JUST In case, and hope you never need it
but it does happen that SOME do need it
and for those that do, its better to have it ! 100% of the time
I know when I had to, I was glad I had it!
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I'll add this too, look at how many things in life we all have and use, buy carry wear, that odds are we will also never use, but IN CASE< there there for protections
like helmets on sleds> air backs in cars, seat belts, health insurance and other things, and don't mean to say there the same as a fun, but in some ways they are, there material items or policy's, for WHAT IF"S
as the old saying again, better have and never need
than need and NOT have!
how much protection you want, is your choice!
Interceptor
Member
Many many good points mentioned to think about. Being a retired officer I nearly always carry concealed in town and while traveling. On the trail, not much at all. The reason being in the " middle of nowhere" , where is someone threatening me going to go? Only so many trails and roads around for an escape route.
I saw 2 wolves on the trail back to Searchmont from Halfway when I was limping back my old Fusion with broken springs. I can't remember ever being that scared. First one I saw was right next to me on the trail. I was riding slow with the sled issue but I instinctively hit the throttle and when I looked up there was one in front of me. It started to run in front of me, following my headlight. I couldn't believe how big it was or how fast it could run. It eventually jumped off the trail - seemed like miles later but probably not that long. I'm not sure what I could have had on me to protect myself - things looked like small horses. Not a gun owner and you can't have them up there anyway. I thought about getting some bear spray or something to keep in the windshield bag.
I've had the same as that several times, and all they want to do is get away. Wife and I had a group of them jump out on Laird rd once just east of Bob Lake rd. They ran ahead of us a ways, then jumped into the bush. Running FR's one day NW of Sidnaw we had stopped for her to squat, when ready to leave one came towards us on the FR. When it noticed us, scram it was gone.
I'm no expert on bear spray(have sold a few hundred cases of it however , but was for warm weather use only)
but I would make sure if you buy some, that it cannot freeze on you, or be carried some place warm
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and keep in min d if in the middle of NO where and things go REALLY bad, a gun can also be used as a signal for help!
its a LONG time known deal what 3 shots mean, and a gun shot can be heard a LONG ways , over many other things!
Juyst saying, NOT pushing guns here!, food for thought more like!
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Guest
I would think you would run out of shells long before anybody located you. And right then a pack of timbers would come. Just kidding. If I became stranded out in the woods because of mechanical failure or some encounter with a fixed object rendered my sled inoperable I would build a big smokey fire. This would keep me warm as well as scare off wild animals and also signal my position. In daylight hours anyway. If there is smoke where there is no reason to be smoke sooner or later somebody will come looking.
That's good to hear - hope you're right!
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That's good to look for too. I don't know how much good it would be anyway, unless you kept it in a handy place. Not the worst idea to keep something on you to scare something or someone away. Remember those 2 killers in Northern Canada earlier this year?
well just remember some times, things happen and you are NOT able to build a fire, and make smoke
an example I will add if this,
many yrs ago, riding alone, on a MX bike, I had a bad crack in middle of NO where(13 yrs old at time)
screwed up my back, couldn;t move myself to even get to mu bike to shut it off
but my hands and arms works but coudn;t pull myself with them
I laid there for 6+ hours till dumb luck someone else drove by and found me
NOT sayting a gun would have sped things up on finding me, as hopelessly most times folks don;t go looking for someone till a bunch of time passes!
BUT had dark come and I was still GONE, and or I HEARD people, a GUN shot in the dark, all the more SO< that signals HELP needed
will carry pretty darn far and COULD help get folks in the right direction to find you faster!
I will not count on building a fire when your injured as a way to be saved
add in not everyone carries a lighter or flammable things ON THEM
as again, if you cannot get to your sled for fuel or supplies to LIGHT a fire,
could be a long cold night or worse!
and I will, add this too
afire does NOT always keep away wildlife
I can burn things in my yard and have deer and bears and foxes standing next to it
have camped in remote places (AK and others) and had wildlife show up to look at things
again, NOT saying fire doesn;t help, buts its NO 100% deal for sure
all depends om HOW Hungry a animal is, or curious ! IMO
be bleeding and well, the NOSE is what finds them food you know?
That's the problem. You never know when or where it's going to happen. The last shooting in CA happened in 18 seconds. No time to call 911 much less anyone get there to help you. I will carry!! I hope to God I never have to use it. To the OP Train and shoot a lot. Muscle memory is key to being able to shoot in a tense situation. Still won't be as good but your body will know what to do automatically.
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