Carrying a handgun while archery hunting

[Bob33]

Alot of you know my background and this is a serious question as to Ill only be archery hunting and this in fact will also be y first year out, hunting period... If you were in my shoes, unable to handle a sidear what would you do? I just want to hear what others have to say about it.

Dont even give it a thought. There were times when we couldent either, Some did anyway but most did not. Did not even stop to consider going out without. The hunt goes on! 

You can die easier sitting on the couch eating potato chips getting fat and having a heart attack.

Yep.

If my options were to hunt without a handgun or stay home I know which I would choose.

[dscubame]

I just don't get all the paranoia about being in the woods without a firearm or weapon.  You folks that have such paranoia god help you if your lost after dark I imagine the mental game that kicks in will destroy you long before any animal that is way more afraid of you in reality.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Alot of you know my background and this is a serious question as to Ill only be archery hunting and this in fact will also be y first year out, hunting period... If you were in my shoes, unable to handle a sidear what would you do? I just want to hear what others have to say about it.

Dont even give it a thought. There were times when we couldent either, Some did anyway but most did not. Did not even stop to consider going out without. The hunt goes on! 

You can die easier sitting on the couch eating potato chips getting fat and having a heart attack.

So, your advice to a felon is to carry while hunting? The chance of him getting checked by a gamie or other LE is much higher than the general population. I don't know about you, but I get checked every couple of years. All due respects, but your advice is terrible.

The way you interoperate that is terrible.  You need to read a bit more careful. Lol
I told him to hunt and dont worry about having a gun.

[pianoman9701]

Alot of you know my background and this is a serious question as to Ill only be archery hunting and this in fact will also be y first year out, hunting period... If you were in my shoes, unable to handle a sidear what would you do? I just want to hear what others have to say about it.

Dont even give it a thought. There were times when we couldent either, Some did anyway but most did not. Did not even stop to consider going out without. The hunt goes on! 

You can die easier sitting on the couch eating potato chips getting fat and having a heart attack.

So, your advice to a felon is to carry while hunting? The chance of him getting checked by a gamie or other LE is much higher than the general population. I don't know about you, but I get checked every couple of years. All due respects, but your advice is terrible.

The way you interoperate that is terrible.  You need to read a bit more careful. Lol
I told him to hunt and dont worry about having a gun.

Sorry that I misread your post. 

[headshot5]

Yep never fret.  If you do have an encounter either you will die epicly, or you will have a sweet story afterwards.  Really though, I spend 90% of my time in the woods without anything bigger than a pocket knife.  I have never had an encounter I couldn't handle.  Just be smart about it.

Edit:  Where I hunt there are meth heads, bears, and cougars.  I think wolves would be a different story and my opinion would need to re-evaluated at the point where I get into wolves while hunting.   

[CedarPants]

I just don't get all the paranoia about being in the woods city without a firearm or weapon.

I changed your statement a bit, Obama loves it 

I understand your sentiment and agree to an extent, but then again it's not up to you or I to judge WHY someone wants to carry a gun.  They can because it's their right.  End of story. 

[h20hunter]

You want to know one of the reasons I carry while bow hunting........


brace yourself.......


I like having a gun on my hip.....just because.

[stevemiller]

I think along the way in this thread people got this all wrong no one on here is affraid to go hunting without a firearm.that being said since we can and there is the element in this world we do. 

[pianoman9701]

I just don't get all the paranoia about being in the woods without a firearm or weapon.  You folks that have such paranoia god help you if your lost after dark I imagine the mental game that kicks in will destroy you long before any animal that is way more afraid of you in reality.

A few years ago I did a cleanup on Weyerhaeuser land north of St. Helens for some Master Hunter hours. In one day, we came across two meth lab dump sites. That never happened before and hasn't happened since, but it made me stop and think about what would happen to me if I came across these guys while they were in the process. I've been carrying while hunting ever since. I'm not worried about bears and cougars at all. Never have been. Tweekers? That's another story.

[washelkhunter]

What are the facts?

Bears are here, and wdfw warns of possible griz encounters in the cascades.
Cougars are here.
Wolves are here.
Wolverines are making a comeback.
Moose are here and can be very agressive as can elk and deer.
Rabid animal encounters, bobcat, coyote, raccoon etc.
Wild dog packs - possibly the most dangerous chance encounter.

Meth cookers and pot growers ARE in the NF and almost all are illegals - certainly the most dangerous threat to health and safety. They should be shot on sight imo.
Radical islamists are here and using the NF for training and have been instructed to start catastrophic wildfires. Think the last two years in colorado.
Criminals and crazies are living in the NF and preying on people and their property.
Animal rights activists are now engaged in deliberate action to disrupt hunting seasons in the field and issuing death threats to hunters in face to face encounters!
Folks have been challenged/threatened after harvesting an animal for possession of the carcass.
Outfitters and their guides and clients have deliberately harassed others in the field while they basically surround a trophy bull for days until its killed.

God forbid but I may have to put pianoman out of his misery should he become incapacitated in the back country this year.
Stay healthy my friend. 

These are possibilities we know to be true among many others, be prepared.

[pianoman9701]

You'd pull me out of the woods and you know it. I'm just afraid the quartering won't sit well with me, that's all. 

[dscubame]

I just don't get all the paranoia about being in the woods city without a firearm or weapon.

I changed your statement a bit, Obama loves it 

I understand your sentiment and agree to an extent, but then again it's not up to you or I to judge WHY someone wants to carry a gun.  They can because it's their right.  End of story. 

Your modification makes more sense I agree.  I actually think about carrying my LCP or Glock in town and don't think once about it when going in the woods.  Good point.

[washelkhunter]

Being a battle hardened surgical tech its not getting you out thats worrisome, its the stench!

[bracer40]

Dang,

After reading the posts on this thread it occurred to me I should have been much more fearful for the past 40 years out in the woods. Nearly always walking alone in the dark to and from stands, camping alone.....and always with no sidearm.

And to think, I used to believe I was more at risk in my drive to and from the field.............

[nocklehead]

Radical islamists are here and using the NF for training and have been instructed to start catastrophic wildfires. Think the last two years in colorado.

  LOL

Ok lets see a picture PLEASE next time you run across an Al-Cia-da camp around Peaches Ridge or Colville.....lol