Do You Carry Any Sort Of Protection?

1.8k · May 11, 2006

Curious, has anyone tried carrying a B.A. jar of honey while in bear country? That way, when you stumble upon a bear, you can leave the honey and run like a gazelle ...

May 11, 2006

When Geocaching with my Dad he always carries a good Leatherman. Recently he has grown to enjoy using a folding Folstaff hiking/wading pole to assist in assending/decending steep grades and steading himself crossing difficult areas. If deemed it necessary he also invite the 'Chief' along, only 38 but he is capable to assist if needed.

Edited May 11, 2006 by suzibub

6.4k · May 11, 2006

The thread is called 'what kind of protection do you carry' not 'how big is your gun' I forgot to put in that thread that I carry pepper spray, as my answer as to what I carry. Guns aren't the only form of protection. Gun violence? If you're not at a stooting range, violence is the only thing that can come from carrying a gun. If a person who's carrying a gun is carrying it without intent on shooting someone, why carry it? Makes me glad that I live in Canada, theres still guns here, but not everyone and their dog has one.

A gun in your pocket is as violent as pepperspray in your pocket.

That's like saying having a fire extinguisher causes fires, or having an airbag in your car causes accidents.

Back to the topic... I just picked up this pair of really nice CZ52s:

(crappy cell phone pic, sorry)

One for me, and one for my wife. If your still not sure where I stand, follow the links in my sig.

Edited May 11, 2006 by Mopar

3k · May 11, 2006

apparently elaborating on your answer is not accepted. <_<

Edited May 12, 2006 by fox-and-the-hound

1.8k · May 11, 2006

If your still not sure where I stand, follow the links in my sig.

Dude, your screen name is Mopar ... we know exactly where you stand. Kinda like my neighbor, NASCAR Bob. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know where he stands on most issues. <_<

2k · May 11, 2006

I carry a Leki trekking pole. I figure the pointy end of that stick should discourage most evil doers. The stick has a bell on the end of it to let Yogi and his friends know I am there. I would be more concerned about mountain lions. When we are caching in back country we all carry, but the real truth is that is because when we get to an area that is appropriate we blow up pine cones and such. I carry a Springfield XD9 to get rid of those evil pine cones. Yeah I know it is an expensive way to kill a pine cone. <_<

May 11, 2006

Sure, it weighs over 22 pounds and is a bit bulky, but it gets the job done: I have never been abducted while carrying this device.

If you had been abducted how would you know?

Omigosh! Now that you say that, I do remember that I have had a lot of "lost time" experiences and mysterious "blackouts" the past few months, and I keep having memories of lying on a cold stainless steel table, and a gray face with big eyes hovering over me with surgical tools.... Could it be? Eeek!

I suggest you go to a different pub in the future...

May 11, 2006

I take something like this

or

24.79_9mm.jpg which is my personal favorite, and in my boot,,,

that is my exact gun

Edited May 11, 2006 by codeman3

1.8k · May 11, 2006

that is my exact gun

We call those 'belly busters'. They are only good for up close and personal communication ...

1.5k · May 12, 2006

We call those 'belly busters'. They are only good for up close and personal communication ...

Personally, I prefer to carry "AT&T" style... the ability to "reach out and touch someone" from a *long distance* away.

<_<

May 12, 2006

For those who carry peperspray for bear a friend from Alaska once asked me if I knew how to tell the difference between Black Bear scat and Brown Bear scat. Black Bear is dark and has berries in it. Brown Bear has plaid cloth and smells like pepper. <_<

I have a little .32 Tomcat that is very convenient to carry. There have been sighting of cougar around here. I will start carrying my .45 even though I think the sightings are a combination of house cat and imagination. There have not been cougar in MI for over 100 years. Still better safe than sorry.

1.4k · May 12, 2006

Nice choice. . Sigh, so tempted to go off topic on a nice rambling regarding Sigarms, Sigh

Never leave home without a nice Benchmade. Personal protection is not a problem for me, I just choose not to travel with one.

May 12, 2006

For those who carry peperspray for bear a friend from Alaska once asked me if I knew how to tell the difference between Black Bear scat and Brown Bear scat. Black Bear is dark and has berries in it. Brown Bear has plaid cloth and smells like pepper.

I have a little .32 Tomcat that is very convenient to carry. There have been sighting of cougar around here. I will start carrying my .45 even though I think the sightings are a combination of house cat and imagination. There have not been cougar in MI for over 100 years. Still better safe than sorry.

I'm curious what part of your from? I'm from Northern MI and I can tell you that Yes cougars do exist in MI. Late last fall there was one hit by a car up here in Northern MI. I've talked with someone eles who was being paced by a cougar while hiking in the Leelanau Peninsula. He turned and looked eye to eye for what he thought to be an hour, but was only a few minutes. He made himself look as big as he could, kept the hiking stick handy and never looked away from the cougar. The cougar looked at him and made a few big cat growls and ran off through the woods. I think if you were ever confronted by a cougar, you would definetly know it's not the everyday house cat. I hiked this same trail last Labor Day with my dog and we ran across some critter, but never actually saw what it was. Whatever it was took off running through the woods. My German Shepherds hair stood straight up and she let out the meanest bark/growl that I've ever heard her make. Here's a website about our MI feline friends Cougars in Michigan EDIT: I forgot to mention we have a large number of black bears that are spotted all the time. Most of the time they will just run away from us unless of course you startle them or come between the mom and cubs. Then they become aggressive. They've even made their way into the local towns and had to be moved back to the country.

With that said, I have not started to carry yet, but I do have a .45ACP. I've done a lot of shooting over the years and just recently applied for my concealed permit. Does that mean I'll carry all the time? Probably not, but it does give me the option if I so choose when I feel it's needed. The majority of the time my primary protection is my geodog.

Edited May 12, 2006 by CSI:CacheSceneInvestigators

24.7k · May 12, 2006

OMG!!!! I think I might change to a different hobby after reading some stuff like this. All the cachers out there carrying guns. Thats crazy! Think about it, shoot a full sized bear, it better be a big enough gun, or you're going to get ripped to shreds, and the same with any large size animal. Shooting at other people? Thats crazy too. I don't want to be out looking for some cache and have someone shoot me. That was one of the things I liked (past tense) about getting out of town to go geocaching. Now I guess theres nowhere to escape gun violence.

Your funny! I want you to move in with me and my family. That way if we ever suffer a home invastion you can run around in circles screaming "OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!" and that will provide my family the distraction needed to sneak out the back door. <_<

Seriously the goal of most people is to provide for our families and have a little fun. Part of that responsibility is coping with lifes adversity be it an angry bear or human bent on harm. There are many ways to protect yourself. All of them take dedication and training. All of them have limitations and you should not have unrealistic expectations. Also no matter what tool you use the first one and the one that works best is your brain. You haven’t given enough credit in that department to those who said they carry a gun.

To a T, I would bet you a can of pepper spray that each person who admitted they carry in this thread would also admit that their first course of action is to avoid the situation to begin with. Further than in a confrontation situation shooting someone is the last thing they would want to do. I’ll even spot you that that they employ simple methods that keep them out of harms way. Things like caching in groups, trusting their sixth sense about danger, looking people in the eye and acknowledging them and so on. In other words they employ the brain first. The gun, like pepper spray is a last resort. Who in their right mind wants to be in that kind of situation to begin with?

If I were caching with you I would not think I was as risk of being Pepper sprayed because “violence is the only thing that can come out of carrying something that can inflict, pain, torture and harm” or “the fact that if you don’t intend on pepper spraying someone why carry it”. I would hope for the same courtesy from you.

One last comment. Ignoring anything else, if I were stuck in the mountains due to a rogue snowstorm and could not get out, with a e gun I may get lucky and shoot a rabbit to have something to eat. I’m not sure I could do as much with the pepper spray.

To answer the OP, I tend to cache in groups. It's just more fun that way but it's also a deterrent.

Edited May 12, 2006 by Renegade Knight

May 12, 2006

My username should answer that question. <_<

May 12, 2006

Is there any sort of protection one can use for snakes? I am not really afraid of ticks, bees, or things of that sort... the only thing I really fear here in Central Georgia is running into rattlesnake or mocosin (spelling?). Maybe just watch out? Or two layers of jeans or something?

There are small derringers available with interchangeable barrels that you can mix calibers.

May 12, 2006

I usually carry my Beretta .32 with me. I'm always working in the outdoors and usually carry it in my back pocket.

However, North American Arms makes a nifty little 4 shot pistol that folds up like a pocket knife and clips to your pocket. Check it out if you're shopping around.

(FYI, I'm CHL licensed and NEVER enforce it unless the lives of my family or myself is threatened.)

TheBecks

May 12, 2006

I've never carried while caching, then again I've only got 9 caches under my belt. I would however like to get a CCW license and carry my Sig P229... but thats not likely to happen in Southern California.

I do have issue with what was mentioned earlier though, regarding questionable areas and the necessity for carrying. I will never go do a geocache in a questionable area without several people. Of course our daily lives may take us to bad parts of town for other reasons than caching.

Living in San Diego, we have a large population of illegal immigrants that live in the local canyons, which also happens to be where the largest population of caches are. I've encountered illegals in the past walking in the canyons, and a quick hello is all that has been exchanged, however there are a percentage that put the "illegal" in illegal alien (beyond breaking immigration laws)... If I see a illegal immigrant or homeless camp ahead of me, I'll find a way around it.

EDIT:

Oh and I forgot to say, if you ever carry a firearm... be prepared to use it, whether against a person or a cougar... make sure you are trained and mentally prepared to double tap to the center of mass. But for me, caching is a way to get away from the everyday grind, and if I feel that I NEED to carry a firearm in defense of humans who want to do me harm, I need to find another hobby.

Edited May 12, 2006 by ph4tcharlie

May 12, 2006

For those who carry peperspray for bear a friend from Alaska once asked me if I knew how to tell the difference between Black Bear scat and Brown Bear scat. Black Bear is dark and has berries in it. Brown Bear has plaid cloth and smells like pepper.

I have a little .32 Tomcat that is very convenient to carry. There have been sighting of cougar around here. I will start carrying my .45 even though I think the sightings are a combination of house cat and imagination. There have not been cougar in MI for over 100 years. Still better safe than sorry.

I'm curious what part of your from? I'm from Northern MI and I can tell you that Yes cougars do exist in MI. Late last fall there was one hit by a car up here in Northern MI. I've talked with someone eles who was being paced by a cougar while hiking in the Leelanau Peninsula. He turned and looked eye to eye for what he thought to be an hour, but was only a few minutes. He made himself look as big as he could, kept the hiking stick handy and never looked away from the cougar. The cougar looked at him and made a few big cat growls and ran off through the woods. I think if you were ever confronted by a cougar, you would definetly know it's not the everyday house cat. I hiked this same trail last Labor Day with my dog and we ran across some critter, but never actually saw what it was. Whatever it was took off running through the woods. My German Shepherds hair stood straight up and she let out the meanest bark/growl that I've ever heard her make. Here's a website about our MI feline friends Cougars in Michigan EDIT: I forgot to mention we have a large number of black bears that are spotted all the time. Most of the time they will just run away from us unless of course you startle them or come between the mom and cubs. Then they become aggressive. They've even made their way into the local towns and had to be moved back to the country.

With that said, I have not started to carry yet, but I do have a .45ACP. I've done a lot of shooting over the years and just recently applied for my concealed permit. Does that mean I'll carry all the time? Probably not, but it does give me the option if I so choose when I feel it's needed. The majority of the time my primary protection is my geodog.

Well said. I was going to post some of the points you made CSI, but you beat me too it! :tired:

May 12, 2006

where are you guys caching that you need firearms?!?! i live in new york city, and even we dont go caching with guns...

Metro Detroit. Need I say more?

May 12, 2006

I carry a Leki trekking pole. I figure the pointy end of that stick should discourage most evil doers. The stick has a bell on the end of it to let Yogi and his friends know I am there. I would be more concerned about mountain lions. When we are caching in back country we all carry, but the real truth is that is because when we get to an area that is appropriate we blow up pine cones and such. I carry a Springfield XD9 to get rid of those evil pine cones. Yeah I know it is an expensive way to kill a pine cone.

XD9...Nice piece! My old lady loves hers! Carries it on every cache hunt.

4.8k · May 12, 2006

I often carry my friends (not literally, they just come along) or my dog (sometimes literally, she gets weird about stairs at times). <_<

May 12, 2006

Due to the ever-growing threat of abduction by space aliens, or of having our brains reprogrammed by them while out in the wilderness, I wear a full-body aluminized suit with an aluminum foil helmet (all to protect me from their mind-control rays and death rays), and I carry an Acme Model TB0953 Space Alien Detector and Repulsion Device as well. Sure, it weighs over 22 pounds and is a bit bulky, but it gets the job done: I have never been abducted while carrying this device.

True story. The Alewife and I were enjoying a pint on a sidewalk seating area of a brewpub in Ann Arbor. Trying to cross the street: a young man of about 14 years wearing a foil helmet. Ah, only in Ann Arbor do the young folks have the smarts to protect themselves from alien abduction!

OM freakin G!!!! I think I might change to a different hobby after reading some stuff like this. All the cachers out there carrying guns. Thats freakin crazy! Think about it, shoot a full sized bear, it better be a big enough gun, or you're going to get ripped to shreds, and the same with any large size animal. Shooting at other people? Thats crazy too. I don't want to be out looking for some cache and have dome dumbass shoot me. That was one of the things I liked (past tense) about getting out of town to go geocaching. Now I guess theres nowhere to escape gun violence.

Woo Hoo, only 32 posts until the gun/no gun debate started!

The alewife and I are interested in getting our permits here in MI. If anyone can suggest a good class/trainer, please e-mail me through my profile. We have never carried while hiking or caching but a recent encounter with two young men with hammers and questionable intentions (while hiking) has made us consider this as a viable option. I was happy to have a snarling, hackle raised lab-x next to us (that made the two gentlemen re-assess their position).

Cheers!

4HoundsBrewing

I know of a great 1 day class ran by the NRA which includes range time, cheap too! Problem for you is that it's in Monroe. E-mail me if you are interested in details.

Sorry that this post is a bit off topic, but I can't send out on my e-mail...only recieve. Should be up tomorrow. I now return you to your regularily scheduled topic. :tired:

5.9k · May 12, 2006

Nice choice. . Sigh, so tempted to go off topic on a nice rambling regarding Sigarms, Sigh

Never leave home without a nice Benchmade. Personal protection is not a problem for me, I just choose not to travel with one.

Benchmade? You mean like this auto?

Edited May 12, 2006 by Criminal

May 12, 2006

Ok, so the 155mm Howitzer is overkill <_<

These work quite well for me:

and

and as others have mentioned, nothin' like a good head on your shoulders.

Z

edit spelling.

Edited May 12, 2006 by CO-Zman

3k · May 12, 2006

I don't have a firearm. But I did have a close encounter, actually 2 close encounters in the same weekend. I had no time to think, so I armed myself with a brand new flashlight and shot him right between the eyes. I'd like to think that is was made him move off, but I think it was the tub of food the campers across the road left out overnight. (it took four logs to log the bear encounter/tournament)

Other times I just cache with Mopar and GeoHo.

May 12, 2006

Man, and all I have is a handful of stabbing weapons

A family member of mine is in law enforcement. During some of their initial training, an edged weapon specialist was brought into class to show them how deadly something as simple as a steak knife could be in a situation. The look of shock on my family member's face as they were relating the story about how easily this instructor "killed" them was enough for me. I respect the seriousness of any edged weapon.

CSI, you beat me to the point. There are indeed cougars in Michigan. Reports I have seen indicate their presence in the NW lower peninsula as well as the far west upper peninsula (dats da Superior State for dem dat don't know nuttin').

Spzzmoose, I will e-mail you. Monroe is a bit far but they may be able to clue me into something closer.

Cheers!

4HoundsBrewing

3.9k · May 12, 2006

...Seriously the goal of most people is to provide for our families and have a little fun. Part of that responsibility is coping with lifes adversity be it an angry bear or human bent on harm. There are many ways to protect yourself. All of them take dedication and training. All of them have limitations and you should not have unrealistic expectations. Also no matter what tool you use the first one and the one that works best is your brain. You haven’t given enough credit in that department to those who said they carry a gun.

To a T, I would bet you a can of pepper spray that each person who admitted they carry in this thread would also admit that their first course of action is to avoid the situation to begin with. Further than in a confrontation situation shooting someone is the last thing they would want to do. I’ll even spot you that that they employ simple methods that keep them out of harms way. Things like caching in groups, trusting their sixth sense about danger, looking people in the eye and acknowledging them and so on. In other words they employ the brain first. The gun, like pepper spray is a last resort. Who in their right mind wants to be in that kind of situation to begin with?

If I were caching with you I would not think I was as risk of being Pepper sprayed because “violence is the only thing that can come out of carrying something that can inflict, pain, torture and harm” or “the fact that if you don’t intend on pepper spraying someone why carry it”. I would hope for the same courtesy from you.

One last comment. Ignoring anything else, if I were stuck in the mountains due to a rogue snowstorm and could not get out, with a e gun I may get lucky and shoot a rabbit to have something to eat. I’m not sure I could do as much with the pepper spray.

To answer the OP, I tend to cache in groups. It's just more fun that way but it's also a deterrent.

Renegade, thank you for a reasonable and well-reasoned and calm response to the poster. I agree with your sentiments. I personally do not ever pack a weapon when I am caching, not even when I am in the backcountry in Idaho and Wyoming, but I do not mind if others do, and I much appreciate your balanced perspective. I visit the Jackson, WY area at least once or twice a year because I have close friends there, and love the countryside. One of my friends in that area is a backcountry guide, and she only carries a harmonica with her for protection when we are out in the wildenerness, and I am very comfortable with that. On the other hand, another friend of mine from that area, whenever she is in the woods, she carries -- at the very least -- two very large handguns. I am also very comfortable with that and have no problems being around her when she is carrying. To me, it is merely individual choice, and there is no need to drag a lot of drama, fear and judgement into the picture, as some past posters have tried to do.

May 12, 2006

Man, and all I have is a handful of stabbing weapons

A family member of mine is in law enforcement. During some of their initial training, an edged weapon specialist was brought into class to show them how deadly something as simple as a steak knife could be in a situation. The look of shock on my family member's face as they were relating the story about how easily this instructor "killed" them was enough for me. I respect the seriousness of any edged weapon.

CSI, you beat me to the point. There are indeed cougars in Michigan. Reports I have seen indicate their presence in the NW lower peninsula as well as the far west upper peninsula (dats da Superior State for dem dat don't know nuttin').

Spzzmoose, I will e-mail you. Monroe is a bit far but they may be able to clue me into something closer.

Cheers!

4HoundsBrewing

Someone properly trained to use an edged weapon can be deadly from 20' (and that's without throwing).

Best way to be up close and personal....

1.8k · May 12, 2006

If you really want to feel secure, try carrying this around ... a potato cannon.

May 12, 2006

As all topics like this, and there's one every week or so, better to have one with you and not need it than to need one and not have it.

May 12, 2006

I usually carry my Beretta .32 with me. I'm always working in the outdoors and usually carry it in my back pocket.

TheBecks

I have a Beretta Tomcat .32 I carry in my pocket I like it very much it fits my needs when riding ATV"S on back roads I also cary atleast one extra magazine with me for each of my guns

Edited May 12, 2006 by codeman3

1.8k · May 12, 2006

I usually carry my Beretta .32 with me. I'm always working in the outdoors and usually carry it in my back pocket.

However, North American Arms makes a nifty little 4 shot pistol that folds up like a pocket knife and clips to your pocket. Check it out if you're shopping around.

(FYI, I'm CHL licensed and NEVER enforce it unless the lives of my family or myself is threatened.)

TheBecks

I have a Beretta Tomcat .32 I carry in my pocket I like it very much it fits my needs when riding ATV"S on back roads I also cary atleast one extra magazine with me for each of my guns

I strapped an inexpensive holster to my ATV for my .22 LR semi-auto Baretta belly buster. The only bad thing is sometimes I forget the gun is in the holster when I'm washing the ATV ...

May 12, 2006

I strapped an inexpensive holster to my ATV for my .22 LR semi-auto Baretta belly buster. The only bad thing is sometimes I forget the gun is in the holster when I'm washing the ATV ...

Woah, not good. ... I carry a .22LR Browning with an extra clip. I'm looking for something smaller. That Browning is heavy for a .22

Edited May 12, 2006 by Yamahammer

5.7k · May 12, 2006

Two things. A walking stick and Mrs. Team Cotati. Do not mess with The Team !!

May 12, 2006

Is there any sort of protection one can use for snakes? I am not really afraid of ticks, bees, or things of that sort... the only thing I really fear here in Central Georgia is running into rattlesnake or mocosin (spelling?). Maybe just watch out? Or two layers of jeans or something?

A pair of high-top leather boots will give you some protection, but the best way to avoid snakebite is to watch where you step. A snake is not going to chase you down and bite you ... you have to step on one or otherwise put yourself close enough for it to strike. A firearm is only useful for killing a snake you see first, and that snake is not a threat to you.

FWIW, CharlieP

2k · May 12, 2006

I keep looking at the first pistol that Codeman3 shows on his response, but I don't see the wheels. That has to be a real pain to carry. That reminds me of a couple of 50 cal revolvers that I saw at the local sporting good store that had the hardware for a sling. They looked something like his revolver.

6.4k · May 12, 2006

Woah, not good. ... I carry a .22LR Browning with an extra clip. I'm looking for something smaller. That Browning is heavy for a .22

Take a look at Kel-Tecs.

Here's a pic of my wife's P32:

It's about 9oz loaded with .32 Corbons.

If ya want slightly bigger (in size and round) look at the Kel-Tec P3AT which is pretty much the same gun only slightly larger in .380.

No, it's not gonna drop a grizzly, nor are you going be hitting the 10 ring at 25yrds very often, but for personal protection (which is the topic of this thread) it's light, easy to conceal, and very effective for self-defense.

Edited May 12, 2006 by Mopar

1.5k · May 12, 2006

Yamahammer-If you're looking for a .22, try looking at the Walther P22 3.4", or for something with a little more power the cz75 compact (9mm), both very small, light and reliable.

Edited May 12, 2006 by Hula Bum

May 12, 2006

Bug repellent is a must. Hiking stick for the non-urban caches. Kel-Tec 9mm semi-auto handgun with CCW permit.

If I deploy to Iraq again, the list will be: Body Armor, Kevlar helmet and M-4 5.56mm carbine or M249 Squad Automatic Rifle.

May 12, 2006

I live in Michigan and am licensed to carry a concealed pistol. I keep one in the truck but seldom carry it. There are some areas where I consider it prudent to carry ( wilderness areas and metro urban areas at night.) My weapon of choice is a Para Ordnance 45. 6shot, 3 inch barrel.

I have never carried while geocaching because the places where I've cached are pretty civilised. I do cache with a 5 foot oak hiking staff with a steel point. It has many uses including, dog repellent, snake medicine, and it really helps the balance on steep hillsides and crossing streams. It would also be useful if you felt threatened by a human animal. For those of you with military training, think of it as a rifle with a bayonet. Your locsl Karate dojo can give you a demonstration of stick fighting that really open your eyes.

If you are going to carry any type of weapon GET THE PROPER TRAINING. That includes mental conditioning,threat recognition and avoidance, and practice, practice, practice.

Remember, the best solution to any fight is to avoid it in the first place.

May 12, 2006

Ok, to stay on topic, I always have my Spiderco and my leatherman -- need the pliers for cactus spines, mostly. Sometimes I'll have a Sig P232 or a Sig P228.

But the bear encounter links remind of two occassions...

One was in Shenandoah NP many years ago during Thanksgiving, it was unusually warm and foggy and I was solo. That bear followed me 2 miles back to my car from my hastily broken campsite.

Second was on Indian Nation land in Arizona at Hawley Lake campground. Seemed a lot of bears started digging through the camp ring left by the previous campers just five or six feet outside our tent. I kept praying our dog wouldn't start barking (she didn't). There were SO MANY bear pies outside our tent in the morning we had to move to another site.

Neither of those places allow firearms (I wouldn't have used one anyway) -- but I kept my head.

Edited May 12, 2006 by az_pistolero

1.9k · May 12, 2006

Been a little tough on the uphill climbs Good thing I gotta couple of strappin' sons to help out.

Your M198 sure has some kick!

I don't own a gun but I was out caching with several of my friends caching in Eastern WA, where we have rattle snakes, so I asked one of them to bring a gun, and he brings a 22. rifle. I was expecting a pistol!

May 12, 2006

I carry a thick and stout solid oak staff, that i handmade and coated with 20 coats of handrubbed tung oil and steel wool finish. Tough enough to break a legbone or knee cap, long enough to use with both hands as a fighting staff, and a dadgum fine walking staff too.

I always carry a Leatherman and a nice sharp fixed blade knife.

May 13, 2006

My wife and I both carry concealed Glock 17's with 30 rounds each. 29 in the magazines and 1 in the chamber. Before we started to carry a couple months ago we were in Houston at a theatre, about an hour after we left there was a shooting. Now we carry everywhere we go. My wife doesn't always like to follow me through the woods when the cache is off a trail. She likes to sit and wait for me to come back with the goodies. And if there is ever a problem with somebody she has 30 surprises for them and I'm coming up fast with 30 surprises of my own. This might sound extreme to some people, but you have to be able to help yourself when you are 2 or 3 miles out in the woods

3.9k · May 13, 2006

Is there any sort of protection one can use for snakes? I am not really afraid of ticks, bees, or things of that sort... the only thing I really fear here in Central Georgia is running into rattlesnake or mocosin (spelling?). Maybe just watch out? Or two layers of jeans or something?

A pair of high-top leather boots will give you some protection, but the best way to avoid snakebite is to watch where you step. A snake is not going to chase you down and bite you ... you have to step on one or otherwise put yourself close enough for it to strike. A firearm is only useful for killing a snake you see first, and that snake is not a threat to you.

FWIW, CharlieP

Very well said! A firearm is never protection against snakebite, as, unlike some bears and cats, a venemous snake has no interest in stalkng you or hunting you down. All you need to do to avoid snakebite from a venemous snake is to notice it (if it very close by) and give it a bit of berth. And, for protection from possible venemous snakebite, if you are really concerned about the possibility, well, high thick boots or snakebite-proof chaps or gaiters will usually do the trick (unless you put your hand in front of a rattlesnake's face, that is...) And, luckily, many North American pit vipers (i.e., rattlesnakes, copperheads, water mocassins) actually do not inject venom when administering a defensive bite.

May 13, 2006

We have mountain lions in the Black Hills of South Dakota and one day I came across two! Since then I have carried pepper spray.

May 13, 2006

I've never carried while caching, then again I've only got 9 caches under my belt. I would however like to get a CCW license and carry my Sig P229... but thats not likely to happen in Southern California.

I do have issue with what was mentioned earlier though, regarding questionable areas and the necessity for carrying. I will never go do a geocache in a questionable area without several people. Of course our daily lives may take us to bad parts of town for other reasons than caching.

I suppose my question would be: What determines a shady location? If there are creeps around? Here where I live in Indiana...yeah.

I used to fish in a real rough area with my buddy, and he insisted that we keep both of his 9mms in our tackleboxes, but we never had to flesh them.

I sympathize with those who carry for bears/cougers. Would it be effective to fire in the air to scare a bear off? I think a smaller caliber would just make the bear angry.

Have there been many stories about people being accosted (or worse) while chaching, or is this just a general fear that it may start? It could be no worse than jogging at night.

6.4k · May 13, 2006

I sympathize with those who carry for bears/cougers. Would it be effective to fire in the air to scare a bear off? I think a smaller caliber would just make the bear angry.

In a recent bear attack in TN, the bear was scared off by 2 shots from a .380 pistol (a fairly small round), but unfortunately that was after the bear had mauled a woman and a 2yr old boy, and killed a 6yr old girl.

Have there been many stories about people being accosted (or worse) while chaching, or is this just a general fear that it may start? It could be no worse than jogging at night.

People are attacked by animals (2 and 4 legged) along trails, in parks, and on streets everyday. Some are cachers, some aren't.

Edited May 13, 2006 by Mopar

May 13, 2006

I'm curious what part of your from? I'm from Northern MI and I can tell you that Yes cougars do exist in MI. Late last fall there was one hit by a car up here in Northern MI. I've talked with someone eles who was being paced by a cougar while hiking in the Leelanau Peninsula. He turned and looked eye to eye for what he thought to be an hour, but was only a few minutes. He made himself look as big as he could, kept the hiking stick handy and never looked away from the cougar. The cougar looked at him and made a few big cat growls and ran off through the woods. I think if you were ever confronted by a cougar, you would definetly know it's not the everyday house cat. I hiked this same trail last Labor Day with my dog and we ran across some critter, but never actually saw what it was. Whatever it was took off running through the woods. My German Shepherds hair stood straight up and she let out the meanest bark/growl that I've ever heard her make. Here's a website about our MI feline friends Cougars in Michigan EDIT: I forgot to mention we have a large number of black bears that are spotted all the time. Most of the time they will just run away from us unless of course you startle them or come between the mom and cubs. Then they become aggressive. They've even made their way into the local towns and had to be moved back to the country.

With that said, I have not started to carry yet, but I do have a .45ACP. I've done a lot of shooting over the years and just recently applied for my concealed permit. Does that mean I'll carry all the time? Probably not, but it does give me the option if I so choose when I feel it's needed. The majority of the time my primary protection is my geodog.

I guess I should qualify I am from south part of the LP. I have hunted in the north part of the LP and never seen a cougar. Right now it is big in the local news that cougars have been sighted. I am still skeptical but I did not know that anyone had spotted them in the nort of the LP so maybe some migrated this far south.

I have had a CCW for about 4 years now. We are all talking about carrying while caching but there is a problem here that has not been discussed. Even if you have a CCW it is against DNR rules in Michigan to carry in a state park. It is my belief this is a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $500. I bet most states have this restriction due to poaching. Now if it is during hunting season and you have a license and are in a area that allows hunting then you are OK.

To check your state laws see http://www.packing.org

Edited to fix link.

Edited May 14, 2006 by Team Torque

Do You Carry Any Sort Of Protection?

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