Is carrying a side arm necessary?

[PlateauNDN]

Safety reasons, some of the situations I've been in over the years would've probably turned ugly if not for the appearance of it on my leg.

[rtspring]

Mine is 99 percent always with me, hunting 100 percent of the time.. 

[hrd2fnd]

Today I still feel safer in the woods without a gun than I do going to the grocery store.  And statically I believe we are.  But, why not carry if you got it?  My luck is 80% bad and 15% indifferent so I'm bound to find trouble at some point in life   When that happens Id rather go down with a fight!

                                                                           

[mfswallace]

I have never used my handgun for defense,but when calling bears out of season for practice and a rush, I have pulled it while yelling at a bear to back off,that being said the ol better to have it rule I always standby

No indictment on this "practice" but if you had to use it and killed a bear I wonder if it is considered poaching

Any leo's care to shed some light to this kind of a scenario?

I cant do it anymore but Im sure I would be in trouble if I did shoot one toying with them,I have found that growling at them is bad juju lol I might add if I did get in trouble in that situation I would expect a ticket......

I'm curious because I've gotten to close to a big sow and her cubs a while taking pictures and at 20rds  I pulled my side arm while slowly backing away and telling her I was just leaving. Not exactly the same thing but I know it was my fault and wondered if I would get in trouble  if I had to pull the trigger.

[dscubame]

This would be a great Poll question and I would vote no.  In many places I find myself however I would not want to be without my bear spray.

[Mudman]

I dont.  People are more of a concern than animals.  I do carry bear spray in some areas.  Had run ins with bear and cougar that were unsettling but a gun probably would have just caused trouble.  Trying to explain why you felt threatened to a Leo after shooting an animal isnt my idea of a good experience.  I read an article few years ago about Yellowstone Park Rangers and their use of bear spray.  Many many times its been used with no fatal attacks.  Risk of being ran over from fleeing blind animal does happen.  Also it is easy to not miss with spray when charged.  It also teaches the animal to fear people.  Guns result in death, failure-miss-wound and angry more severe attacks are possible.  Warning shots can teach animals to not fear and of course the dinner bell effect.  Its a choice, whatever makes you feel safe.  Knowledge of animal behavior also a very overlooked safety tool.

[JimmyHoffa]

I don't know Mudman.  When a neighbor worked at Olympic NP he had to use bear spray on a goat.  The goat killed a guy a couple weeks later.

[RadSav]

My wife got to find out that bear spray has a reverse effect on whacked out drug addicts.  Just seemed to make him more mad and determined.  Sounds like the "...failure-miss-wound and angry more severe attacks are possible" narrative can be used for gun or bear spray.  Although if you really have to save your life what the heck is wrong with death.  Better his than yours!

If I have to pull a gun I'm not doing it to scare off an attacker man or animal.  If I pull it I intend to use it.  At that point I don't see where worrying about wounding is part of the discussion.  At that point it's life or death, both his and mine!

[Bob33]

My wife got to find out that bear spray has a reverse effect on whacked out drug addicts.  Just seemed to make him more mad and determined.  Sounds like the "...failure-miss-wound and angry more severe attacks are possible" narrative can be used for gun or bear spray.  Although if you really have to save your life what the heck is wrong with death.  Better his than yours!

There are multiple instances of (usually drug crazed) humans being shot more than 20 times and surviving.

On bears, spray is statistically more likely to stop a charge than a firearm.

[seth30]

Sets what happened?

I was bear hunting out in GMU 437 when a guy got in my bubble, and kept asking me over and over if I worked for the timber company.  I told him no repeatably and that I was bear hunting.  After he closed the gap from 12 inches to where I could feel his breath on my face I put my hand on the 357.  He backed off and walked back the way he came from.  I was shaking from the incident and still don't know what the deal was to this day.  I assume a eco terroist or pot grower

[Mudman]

I don't know Mudman.  When a neighbor worked at Olympic NP he had to use bear spray on a goat.  The goat killed a guy a couple weeks later.

Ya I can see that being an issue.  Goats most stubborn animal.  I remember that on the news, if its the same one?  Rad was that bear or pepper spray?  Any Leo will tell ya tweakers often dont seem bothered and keep tweaking!  Crazy. Im not against it by no means.  I do think if you are carrying it should be 357 or larger.  Ive seen what a 45 does to a bear with 2 poor shots at 40ft and I wasnt impressed.  Didnt even brake bone?  Ammo?  I was helping him recover wounded bear.  The last bullet which also was a poor shot, 4th hit, resulted in a 30ft charge.

[Jarhead Chase]

I had some wolves following me last year while carrying out my deer in North Idaho. I fired 2 shots from my sidearm into the air and they backed off.

[RadSav]

My wife got to find out that bear spray has a reverse effect on whacked out drug addicts.  Just seemed to make him more mad and determined.  Sounds like the "...failure-miss-wound and angry more severe attacks are possible" narrative can be used for gun or bear spray.  Although if you really have to save your life what the heck is wrong with death.  Better his than yours!

There are multiple instances of (usually drug crazed) humans being shot more than 20 times and surviving.

On bears, spray is statistically more likely to stop a charge than a firearm.

Outside the NE I'm not much concerned with four legged threats.  And even up there I'm probably safer without a gun in the woods than I am driving there in my car.


I do not see 40' as a threat situation with animals.  Unless a person has a gun I don't really see 40' as a threat with human encounters either.  At that point they are a potential threat worthy of being prepared, but not yet a self defense engagement range.  In Canada we get bluff charged by black bear on a semi regular basis.  More fun than terrifying.  Each time has been getting between a boar and a cub he was planning on eating.  He didn't want to attack us anymore than I wanted to shoot him.

My self defense history is all wounded bear related:
3 yards = double tap under chin with .45 - Oregon
Point blank = One shot to the head with .444 Marlin - Oregon
4-5 yards = One shot to the head with .45 - Washington

At under five yards I think I'll take my chances with a gun and leave the pepper spray for someone else.

[JimmyHoffa]

My wife got to find out that bear spray has a reverse effect on whacked out drug addicts.  Just seemed to make him more mad and determined.  Sounds like the "...failure-miss-wound and angry more severe attacks are possible" narrative can be used for gun or bear spray.  Although if you really have to save your life what the heck is wrong with death.  Better his than yours!

There are multiple instances of (usually drug crazed) humans being shot more than 20 times and surviving.

On bears, spray is statistically more likely to stop a charge than a firearm.

I remember reading this a while back.  If I remember correctly (what are the chances of that  ), the survey picked every firearm bear encounter and every spray encounter.  I think a bear spray usage encounter is straightforward enough--bear charges human, human sprays with actual bear spray (not human level pepper spray).  For the firearms, it was stuff like a guy wounded a bear.  Then went to the bushes to find said bear.  Then the bear jumped out and got him before he could get a second shot.  Or things like using a .223 or a 9 mm and having a bear encounter.  Quite a few guys I knew in Alaska used .243 for their deer rifles and didn't carry a sidearm--Ketchikan area, I'm not sure I could've done that.  Guess I'd like to see the .300 Win Mag and up comparison to bear spray.

[Torrent50]

The shortest answer I can give is "It's not necessary until it is."