Advice for carrying side arm while deer hunting

[BigDon]

We have different perspectives.
I've been deep in the Jefferson wilderness and noted a cougar following me about 50 yards behind me. I just turned around, stared and yelled at it. Last week in the Mt Hood Wilderness, I knew something was shadowing me because I heard but never saw it. I've taken naps in the sun in the woods and had vultures come land to check me out, and I've come face to face with a big black sow -- lucky for me her cubs were on the other side of her from me. In the wild, it's about opportunity.
I lived half my life in an unsavory section of Detroit, Michigan. I knew and encountered dozens of people who any of us would classify as bad, evil people. When I hunt I'm as far away from the road as possible, and yet it's while out hunting that four times I've met people who exuded evil and were higher than gas too. Each time I was happy to have my side arm and the confidence because I practice with it. Two friends have had similar encounters. In the Oregon woods, there are also groups of people we call "fringers" who live at the edge of wilderness without rule of law. Two years ago I came across a devil worship site in the Saddle Mtn area of the Clatsop forest. Last week while on Mt. Hood, I came across two guys who looked like they were setting up to butcher an animal. I didn't see a carcass, but they were looking at me funny and certainly not gregarious as far as meeting someone in the middle of the wilderness. The father of a distant relative cooks meth in the Clackamas wilderness (yeah, they still do that here).
I could go on, but my point is that animals are predictable, while humans are not.
Of the people who asked me about "what side arm for cougars", none were shooters. Unless they practice, recommending a gun to them is a disservice.

I absolutely agree with your point about being stalked by a cat. That is a whole different class of problem. I've also experienced hair raising meetings with people in the woods who 'Are not like us' - and are there for totally different reasons. Walking the woods today - anywhere - un-armed - is a fool's errand as far as I'm concerned. I've learned my lessons only too well. Never again.

 

[memtb]

We have different perspectives.
I've been deep in the Jefferson wilderness and noted a cougar following me about 50 yards behind me. I just turned around, stared and yelled at it. Last week in the Mt Hood Wilderness, I knew something was shadowing me because I heard but never saw it. I've taken naps in the sun in the woods and had vultures come land to check me out, and I've come face to face with a big black sow -- lucky for me her cubs were on the other side of her from me. In the wild, it's about opportunity.
I lived half my life in an unsavory section of Detroit, Michigan. I knew and encountered dozens of people who any of us would classify as bad, evil people. When I hunt I'm as far away from the road as possible, and yet it's while out hunting that four times I've met people who exuded evil and were higher than gas too. Each time I was happy to have my side arm and the confidence because I practice with it. Two friends have had similar encounters. In the Oregon woods, there are also groups of people we call "fringers" who live at the edge of wilderness without rule of law. Two years ago I came across a devil worship site in the Saddle Mtn area of the Clatsop forest. Last week while on Mt. Hood, I came across two guys who looked like they were setting up to butcher an animal. I didn't see a carcass, but they were looking at me funny and certainly not gregarious as far as meeting someone in the middle of the wilderness. The father of a distant relative cooks meth in the Clackamas wilderness (yeah, they still do that here).
I could go on, but my point is that animals are predictable, while humans are not.
Of the people who asked me about "what side arm for cougars", none were shooters. Unless they practice, recommending a gun to them is a disservice.

If you live in Eastern Oregon….. you've just laid out an outstanding argument for Idaho to "not" consider annexing in Eastern Oregon! memtb

 

[JJMoody]

I recently bought a 10MM automatic built by Rock Island Arms for bear protection, with a 13 rd Mag. I like that set-up yours.

It was a customer's request that we build his chest rig with adjustments to ride just above a set of chest waders while salmon fishing to that cross draw setup.

 

[Turkeytider]

I think one of the most terrifying ( or should be! ) sounds one could hear while in the back country would be a bawling bear cub, especially with no sow bear readily in sight. How anyone could do anything but beat feet in the opposite direction is beyond me, I don't care what weaponry one might be carrying!

 

[marksman1941]

If you live in Eastern Oregon….. you've just laid out an outstanding argument for Idaho to "not" consider annexing in Eastern Oregon! memtb

That's fine, we don't want Idaho

But I can confirm, we've got our fair share of methheads cooking in the woods, and you run across some weird stuff.

 

[memtb]

That's fine, we don't want Idaho

But I can confirm, we've got our fair share of methheads cooking in the woods, and you run across some weird stuff.

I thought that Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington had been in conversation with the State of Idaho concerning a merger of the three.

A means of getting the more conservative parts of Oregon/Washington away from the far left, left coast parts of the states and combine/merge with Idaho for better living conditions! memtb

 

[Brushcutter]

We have different perspectives.
I've been deep in the Jefferson wilderness and noted a cougar following me about 50 yards behind me. I just turned around, stared and yelled at it. Last week in the Mt Hood Wilderness, I knew something was shadowing me because I heard but never saw it. I've taken naps in the sun in the woods and had vultures come land to check me out, and I've come face to face with a big black sow -- lucky for me her cubs were on the other side of her from me. In the wild, it's about opportunity.
I lived half my life in an unsavory section of Detroit, Michigan. I knew and encountered dozens of people who any of us would classify as bad, evil people. When I hunt I'm as far away from the road as possible, and yet it's while out hunting that four times I've met people who exuded evil and were higher than gas too. Each time I was happy to have my side arm and the confidence because I practice with it. Two friends have had similar encounters. In the Oregon woods, there are also groups of people we call "fringers" who live at the edge of wilderness without rule of law. Two years ago I came across a devil worship site in the Saddle Mtn area of the Clatsop forest. Last week while on Mt. Hood, I came across two guys who looked like they were setting up to butcher an animal. I didn't see a carcass, but they were looking at me funny and certainly not gregarious as far as meeting someone in the middle of the wilderness. The father of a distant relative cooks meth in the Clackamas wilderness (yeah, they still do that here).
I could go on, but my point is that animals are predictable, while humans are not.
Of the people who asked me about "what side arm for cougars", none were shooters. Unless they practice, recommending a gun to them is a disservice.

I also have a similar, and different perspective and experience. I grew up and hunted in the Willamette Valley. Lived and hunted Central and Eastern Oregon for 20 years. And the south coast for 20 years. In the 70's we would carry 22 pistols mainly for signaling while hunting. 1 for location, 2 for animal down, 3 for emergency/lost. I first handgun hunted deer in 1979. We had to validate the tag for handgun only back then. I used 44 mag. Contender, and 357 max. Blackhawk. The only time I actually worried about an animal was while I was recovering from a wreck and hobbling down a dirt road in the woods at home. I followed Cougar tracks in the dust for a while, really neat! Coming back a few minutes later, there were fresh cat tracks on the other side of mine. Not so neat. I'd have been easy prey and unarmed then. I don't though, ever recall coming across the scary type of people though. I do usually take a light pistol when my wife and I go on our regular walks. 38 special or 9mm since our place and the timberland around it is very steep and brushy. Just last week we had some unwanted excitement. Coming back down the dirt road, our Australian shepherd ran into the brush uphill of us. Right away we heard a fight, easy to Id Blue's snarling. Then the other voice, a very low one. My wife yelled and started toward them. I quickly grabbed her arm and told to stay there! I had the gun. Since it was still hunting season, (but steep hiking) I had my 357 max. Handi rifle. (Yeah, I was very aware of it being a single shot) With 2 feet and 1 hand, I scrambled up the cut-bank till I was stopped by the wall of brush. All I could think of while holding myself by a branch with the left hand was to raise the rifle to the sky and let that one shot loose. Everything went silent for a long few seconds. Then out of the brush comes Blue, right to Mom, "did my job Mom, chased that bear away."
On the way back home, I thought more about the difference between trail protection and "easy". I went to the gun room and picked out a 38 special, put it on a belt with holster, ammo, and a small machete, and took it to my wife with the suggestion that she always take it on walks, at least when I'm not along. And we'll take it out back to the range real soon to practice. ( to my surprise, she agreed! ) I also determined to take a gun that's up to the real possibilities, the stainless S&W 686+ 7 shot .357 that I actually got for my "trail gun ". Or in hunting season, then at least a carbine. Otherwise the 44 mag Super Blackhawk or Taurus 454 Cassul. ( Sorry, didn't mean to make this a book.) Doug

 

[loboman7x57]

I live in Northern Lower Michigan and going to deer camp in our Upper Peninsula for a few weeks. Not grizzlie country but we do have wolves and cougars. I decided to carry my S&W Shield 10mm. I do have my CPL so I'm legal. Looking for advice regarding best carry practices and holster recommendations. I did a quick search and didn't find any relative threads regarding this info. Thanks in advance and God bless!

I'm in Michigan too, although I rarely hunt the UP I do fish steelhead there in the spring. I'm not too worried about the wolves but the increasing number of cougars concerns me. I usually carry a 9mm or 45 acp fishing. i have a iwb holster that works really well in my left armpit clipped to my waders. Hunting I carry a Rock Island railed single stack 10 mm with a Streamlight tlr-1 in a Blackhawk Omnivore on a wide heavy Amish made belt over whatever my outerwear is. the holster will work with most any semiauto with that light installed. It retains the weapon by the light. I am surprised at how secure it feels and how easy it is to draw with a little practice.

 

[marksman1941]

I thought that Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington had been in conversation with the State of Idaho concerning a merger of the three.

A means of getting the more conservative parts of Oregon/Washington away from the far left, left coast parts of the states and combine/merge with Idaho for better living conditions! memtb

There's been "talks" for decades of southern oregon merging with Northern California, or eastern oregon merging with Idaho. We don't like being tied into Portland politics, hence the continual conversation of trying to leave. But it'll never happen.

I lived in Idaho for several years, and the level of religious cultism there is off the charts. Even considering the politics I'd rather be in oregon than Idaho.

 

[Flatbow]

There's been "talks" for decades of southern oregon merging with Northern California, or eastern oregon merging with Idaho. We don't like being tied into Portland politics, hence the continual conversation of trying to leave. But it'll never happen.

I lived in Idaho for several years, and the level of religious cultism there is off the charts. Even considering the politics I'd rather be in oregon than Idaho.

AMEN brother!! :

 

[southpa]

We have different perspectives.
I've been deep in the Jefferson wilderness and noted a cougar following me about 50 yards behind me. I just turned around, stared and yelled at it. Last week in the Mt Hood Wilderness, I knew something was shadowing me because I heard but never saw it. I've taken naps in the sun in the woods and had vultures come land to check me out, and I've come face to face with a big black sow -- lucky for me her cubs were on the other side of her from me. In the wild, it's about opportunity.
I lived half my life in an unsavory section of Detroit, Michigan. I knew and encountered dozens of people who any of us would classify as bad, evil people. When I hunt I'm as far away from the road as possible, and yet it's while out hunting that four times I've met people who exuded evil and were higher than gas too. Each time I was happy to have my side arm and the confidence because I practice with it. Two friends have had similar encounters. In the Oregon woods, there are also groups of people we call "fringers" who live at the edge of wilderness without rule of law. Two years ago I came across a devil worship site in the Saddle Mtn area of the Clatsop forest. Last week while on Mt. Hood, I came across two guys who looked like they were setting up to butcher an animal. I didn't see a carcass, but they were looking at me funny and certainly not gregarious as far as meeting someone in the middle of the wilderness. The father of a distant relative cooks meth in the Clackamas wilderness (yeah, they still do that here).
I could go on, but my point is that animals are predictable, while humans are not.
Of the people who asked me about "what side arm for cougars", none were shooters. Unless they practice, recommending a gun to them is a disservice.

Respectfully, It's not perspective it's reality. As i stated, I don't hunt where people go. Never had an issue nobody I know has ever had an issue where a pistol would have saved them from another person while hunting. I'd actually be willing to bet that there's more people who need a pistol for protection (while hunting) against wildlife than those who have ever needed one for protection against another person.

 

[memtb]

Respectfully, It's not perspective it's reality. As i stated, I don't hunt where people go. Never had an issue nobody I know has ever had an issue where a pistol would have saved them from another person while hunting. I'd actually be willing to bet that there's more people who need a pistol for protection (while hunting) against wildlife than those who have ever needed one for protection against another person.

Not everyone is blessed with remote hunting opportunities! And even remote it can happen!

Look what just happened to the guy in Montana! I'm not saying a handgun would've saved him…..but maybe! memtb

 

[southpa]

Not everyone is blessed with remote hunting opportunities! And even remote it can happen!

Look what just happened to the guy in Montana! I'm not saying a handgun would've saved him…..but maybe! memtb

Absolutely, and I agree. No doubt there is always a possibility. Like I said, don't bring a knife to a gunfight and when you're out in the wild keep your S.A. up cuz it likely won't be a human that's gonna attack you

 

[P7M13]

Respectfully, It's not perspective it's reality. As i stated, I don't hunt where people go. Never had an issue nobody I know has ever had an issue where a pistol would have saved them from another person while hunting. I'd actually be willing to bet that there's more people who need a pistol for protection (while hunting) against wildlife than those who have ever needed one for protection against another person.

I think we're in agreement, but looking at it from different sides of the fence. I bring my pistol in case of people, but wouldn't hesitate to use it on an attacking animal.
Whether humans or predators, situational awareness is going to make the difference between survival or a SAR team dispatch.
I expect at least two of the grizzly attacks over the last couple of years may have had a different outcome if the pistol had been in the individual's hand rather than in their pack.
I have one experience where I believe me having a pistol prevented a problem with two legged critters. In one of my encounters, it was me and my girlfriend cooking dinner while at camp after a day of elk hunting. Two guys come into our camp, walk right up to our fire and looking around our camp. They were both on something, and kept eyeing my holstered CZ. My GF was gifted at defusing confrontations, though nothing escalated here. After the two left, she says, "let's move camp."