bring pistol side arm when elk hunting???

[skynyr]

I'll bet some of 'em would love to cite anybody for any reason they could.

[huntnphool]

Also kinda wonder how many game officers would cite someone for it, particularly in the more crime ridden areas.

I'm willing to bet that most game officers feel its ridiculous as well and unless you are being an ass to them probably wouldn't write you. Same with police officers, most are pretty good guys just like you and I and are just doing their job, they appreciate it when you are courteous and professional until someones an ass to them, then you just have it coming.

[skynyr]

I think your probably right, most of them are likely okay guys.

[cohoho]

You hit it on top the head, most Law enforcement guys will not become an ass until put into that situation or the person they are confronting has a very nervous or suspicious thing about them.  If you don't believe this then go and do a volunteer ride around with you local agency and see the crap they put up with from smart ass, loud mouths, plain old crap people.  The other 90 percent they deal with are excellent, very courteous, and lastly appreciative.  Yea- there might be a bad apple in the group of them but 99% of the time the person they are questioning has something or did something to cause a reaction.  The last thing a officer wants is a confrontation....  Period....  His job is on the line all the time... And everyone that gets arrested is Innocent... Right....

The last thing I want to add is the folks that have had issues with Law Enforcement and Gamies, are you the same ones that have issues with folks on this board, neighbors, family members, coworkers.....etc....  And those bad experiances were they really created by the LEO guy???

[WonkyWapiti]

Well said Huntnphool and Cohoho.  Attitude really accounts for how most encounters with law enforcement will turnout.  However don't expect every cop to just become Mr. Happy if you are being nice.  One of the many pre attack indicators taught to police includes someone being overly nice or helpful.  I call this the Eddy Hascal behavior.  Having said that, there are a few in any profession that can be knuckleheads and take things to the extreme.  I know some guys that would write their own mother for speeding 2 miles over the limit. 

[ICEMAN]

Agree with the comments. But, regarding citations, especially traffic..., the best way to avoid being labelled a profiler is to apply the law evenly, and that means doing the same thing each time. For instance, many officers will pick a speed that they will always write a citation for. You drive thru and hit the magic number, say "6" over the posted limit, and you are going home with a ticket, nice or not. This keeps officers out of hot water...no discrimination here....everyone gets the ticket...

[Gobble]

I've told you guys on here before that my wifes uncle is a gammie. I told him that we carry in the field because the area we used to hunt was infested with cougar and bear. He said in his 20 plus years he has only written 1 or 2 citations for it.  I can remember one hunt where we hiked a mile from one road to the next and during that hunt we saw 3 bear and 1 cougar. I came face to face with a sow and cub at 5 ft and my buddy had to shoot the cougar who came within 5 yards from him after he fired a warning shot at it to scare it off. This was the second year he was stalked by it.

[MountainWalk]

I don't think you guys are wrong, but I have never felt compelled to carry a pistol while rifle or bow hunting. I don't think the law should be changed either. To me, if you need a pistol, rifle hunt.

[SilkWWU]

I don't think you guys are wrong, but I have never felt compelled to carry a pistol while rifle or bow hunting. I don't think the law should be changed either. To me, if you need a pistol, rifle hunt.

You might change your mind after you get a cougar stalking you when you only have a bow...

[MountainWalk]

I'm sure many cougars have watched/followed me while archery hunting. If one jumps on my back, well too bad so sorry for me. I'd much rather try to get him off of me than risk blowing my damn head off or something like that. Still don't think I would change my mind.

[Thwack]

Hi. I am a police officer and just wanted to comment that attitude does go a long way. It won't always get you a warning if you are blatantly committing an infraction. I don't personally write speeding tickets until 11-12 mph over but have occasionally written for less. When the subject you contact adamantly denies any wrongdoing when the violation happened right in front of me, or starts out cursing and stating I have no right to harrass them it is pretty obvious a verbal warning is not going to change their behavior. In short, I try to determine if a verbal warning is enough to deter future violations. If not, enforcement is required.

[Bscman]

I'm sure many cougars have watched/followed me while archery hunting. If one jumps on my back, well too bad so sorry for me. I'd much rather try to get him off of me than risk blowing my damn head off or something like that. Still don't think I would change my mind.

Wait until the day you actually *SEE* that cougar stalking you...and you see the muscle groups flex and contract, the fierce gaze, and his slow, methodical movements. The hair will stand up on the back of your neck and you'll immediately wish you had something more than a bow.

Or wait until the day you've made a rough camp way out in the middle of no where, some time after darness fell...and the guys coming in under the cover of darkness to work their grow operation and stumble across you a  few hundred yards from *their* camp. How do you think they're going to react?

To me, a sidearm is a tool...just like spare matches or a rain jacket...
I still carry those things with me--even when I don't feel like I need them...because you never can be too sure when you WILL need them.
(But like I said earlier, I still obey the NONSENSICAL law that says I can't carry while archery hunting)

If you don't get too far off the beaten path (road hunter), or you don't spend a large number of days outdoors in predator country, it might seem a little insane to carry a sidearm...but to me, it sure  makes a heck of a lot of sense. It only takes one or two experiences to change your ways.

I'd rather complain about the extra weight on my hip, than have 2 seconds of regret in dire circumstances because I DIDN'T have it.
Call my over-prepared, call me paranoid, or call me chickenshat...but I'm pleased knowing there is one less "what-if" that I need to worry about because I am prepared.

[Aperson]

well, when i go hunting, i'm probably gonna bring the biggest knife i can with me(or one of my swords, or spear).

[MountainWalk]

Thats ok Bscman, I can't tell you your wrong, for sure.
I'm ok with CCW permit holders packing legally.

[Houndhunter]

ive been under a tree with a lion above me alone and no gun or any weapon, 20min for the group to get there. but lucky for me i had a bunch of hounds at my back