How often do you USE the handgun you carry in the woods?

[cougar1717]

It really comes down to three questions...

1. What is the purpose of being in the woods? Working an occupation that requires being in desolate places vs working on a personal farm or land vs hunting vs walking or dayhiking vs backpacking are all different use cases. Woods carry discussion is usually discussed in the frame of leisure activities where movement and weight aren't as important. If someone actually has to work, walk long distances, or have range of motion - those are going to be determining factors.

2. What does that person expect to see? Those carrying rimfires are likely not concerned with bears. Those carrying handguns of "boat anchor" weight probably have some means of transportation, like an ATV or UTV. If the person is expecting to hunt with their firearm choice, it's much more likely they will actually use it.

3. What could a person reasonably hit the target with their firearm choice? Some can, some know they can't, and some just think they can on the internet - haha.

Most people who are in woods that they don't own or don't have a hunting lease for are not going to use their "woods carry gun" unless the situation is desperate. I've never been in a situation that was that desperate (and city/county/state/national parks typically don't like people using their OC/CC. - haha )

 

[MarshallDodge]

I'm kinda boring, 99% of the time I carry the same gun everywhere, an HK P30sk with 124+P Gold Dots. We go to the range at least once a month.

It whacks jackrabbits with authority

 

[armoredman]

There is a long-ongoing thread in "revolvers" about which revolver you carry in the woods. Looking at some of the answers, I wondered if many responders actually USE the guns they carry.

I'll start off -- I usually carry a Colt Woodsman (made in 1938) and I live in the woods -- I step out my door and I'm hunting. Squirrel season in the Ozarks runs from mid-May to the end of February, so most of the time if I see a squirrel, I can take him.

I'll usually take a squirrel every few days just mooching around, not really hunting.

Let's hear from the rest of you.

I am armed all the time, but we don't have woods out here - just desert and cactus.

 

[CajunBass]

I've killed a few pine cones and such with the 22's I carried, back when I wandered around in the woods.

Now the CO2 pistol and Red Rider BB gun I carried on my bass boat were quite often used to "repel boarders" that looked like water bugs, dragonflies and "stick monsters." You gotta watch out for things like that.

 

[crestoncowboy]

There is a long-ongoing thread in "revolvers" about which revolver you carry in the woods. Looking at some of the answers, I wondered if many responders actually USE the guns they carry.

I'll start off -- I usually carry a Colt Woodsman (made in 1938) and I live in the woods -- I step out my door and I'm hunting. Squirrel season in the Ozarks runs from mid-May to the end of February, so most of the time if I see a squirrel, I can take him.

I'll usually take a squirrel every few days just mooching around, not really hunting.

Let's hear from the rest of you.

I answered in that thread with pics of my 329 pd and my Glock 10mms. The model 20 has tens of thousands of rounds through it. The old glock finish was just tough and it looks pretty good after all that.

The 329 I actually have 2 of. One I carry and one I carry while that one is broken. Smith has fixed mine with no fuss. They don't hold up well to magnums or honestly even high volume specials so now I carry my 329 and shoot my model 29. So my 329 looks pretty worn but shot little. While the Glock is shot a lot and looks good.

The 329 has had a firing pin, a yolk,and cylinder release.

The Glock has had another Glock barrel (and I do use a kkm 6 inch some) and a mag release because mine got worn and would drop a full mag when you fired a hot round.

The 329 is just so light that I can fence or whatever all day and not notice. The model 329 is a 6 round 44 mag that weighs less than the Glock subcompact 10mm. I'm not one to baby guns.... but that's one that is a "carry a lot, shoot when you need to" gun.

 

[dobedo]

There is a long-ongoing thread in "revolvers" about which revolver you carry in the woods. Looking at some of the answers, I wondered if many responders actually USE the guns they carry.

I'll start off -- I usually carry a Colt Woodsman (made in 1938) and I live in the woods -- I step out my door and I'm hunting. Squirrel season in the Ozarks runs from mid-May to the end of February, so most of the time if I see a squirrel, I can take him.

I'll usually take a squirrel every few days just mooching around, not really hunting.

Let's hear from the rest of you.

I carry my .500 S&W when big game hunting and I shoot it monthly through the year.

 

[GTS Dean]

I try to get out and practice handguns about quarterly. I bring every one I own and put a MINIMUM of 12-15 rounds thru each of them. I've had my iron-sight Redhawk for 40 years and it's sent thousands of rounds downrange.

 

[drk1]

Good question! In 1976 I hiked from Estes Park to Billings with a pack that included no firearms. Never even thought about needing one. Carried a pocket knife, a sheath knife and a small ax. Today I won't leave the house to check the mail box a hundred feet from the door without a handgun or shotgun and I live medium size midwestern city. I'm not certain what the term "use" means, but I could not get my mail safely without a firearm, so I "use" it to get my mail. The two-footed, urban predators have pretty much determined my daily routine. I also take care of a patch of about 10 acres of woods and have had visitors attacked by coyotes while walking in these woods. I see the tracks (just like all the drug debris and booze containers from the urban predators) and I can hear them when I'm out in that little patch of woods. So between the natural predators and urban predators, I try to keep one hand on whatever I'm carrying when I'm outdoors. Does make steering the tractor a litlle difficult; need to rig up some sort of a scabbard for the shotgun, ar or ak! Thanks again for the question.

 

[WisBorn]

I carry wherever I legally can. It is for personal protection. Biggest threat is two legged. I up the energy for the woods carry. If I'm in the western states were big bears live I carry bigger.
A 38 or 9mm works for SD, but so does a 10mm or 44.

 

[Rodfac]

I carry most days on our land...but the real need is pretty slim. Ground hogs mostly, but for the most part, it's thistle tops, dirt clods and the like. Rod

 

[old fart]

When I go into the woods, I always carry my 9mm auto. Even if i am deer hunting with my shotgun with slugs or squirrel hunting with my 22lr. It is also my daily carry as well, being on a fixed income, I can't afford to buy a lot of guns so thats it for me. Oh well i forgot I also carry my Bond Arms 9mm as well that my wife got me, but I don't count it as it's a last line of defense weapon when everytghing else has run out of ammo.

 

[md7]

I’ve used my woods handgun 5 times in the woods. (1911 in 45ACP)

Once to put down a deer that was struck by a vehicle and dragged himself a few hundred yards in the woods. He was a pitiful, haggard mess too.

Once to help a buck that was shot a little forward and high to die more quickly when I got to him.

Once to kill a rattler I nearly stepped on, and another time when my feet were stuck in thick, gooey mud in close proximity to a moccasin. And lastly a shot at a boar I crossed paths with. I missed the boar.

My primary concern is encountering two legged critters with bad intentions. That’s the most concerning reason for me.

We live in a rural area, and I spend a great deal of time in the woods or working property. I prefer having that 1911 with me.

 

[bubbaturbo]

I'm retired and I'm out in the woods a lot in the spring and fall. I always have a handgun and rifle with me. The rifle is either a centerfire bolt if I'm hog hunting or a 22 LR if I'm just messing around. I've mostly settled on a Glock 23 40SW for the handgun but I've used a lot of others in the past. I've used a .357 Sig a couple of times to finish off a hog. I used to carry just a 22 LR pistol for shooting sticks and spinning targets until all of the hogs showed up. I don't know when the last time I shot my latest woods pistol in the woods was. I have shot it indoors at a range within the last couple of months.

 

[StrykerByte.45]

For me its the same gun I CCW, I just change the ammo.

 

[BushMaster-15]

When I hunt as a general rule I do so with a Rifle . However on occasion have hunted with MY pistols but that's planned and has Noting to do with MY carry pistol . IF walking into the woods I either lug MY Ruger 7.5" or MY S&W model 29 4" ,regardless NEVER without one or the other .
Iron with authority is required where we reside , especially if one's walking into the woods . MANY dangerous critters abound and one may not get a second chance too walk again ,if ill prepared . Not far from us a woman a Ranger no less ,became Grizzly meat walking in the woods without protection a few weeks ago * . About 4 months back I'm fishing 250 yd. from the house and Moose Mama along with Jr. decide they're crossing in MY fishing path .

I stepped back into small tree cover and let them be . When you're standing eye level with and adult Moose ; You realize you're NOT as large as you thought !!.

* Of ALL people she should have known better . Speaks volumes for today's inept education and low expectation hiring policies !.

​

 

[borrowedtime69]

I carry a ruger 22/45 while small game hunting or coyote hunting just to have a second way to take game. It's an accurate pistol that I've taken game with over the years.
When I was able to hunt in the CO Rockies I carried either a Ruger P85 or later a Glock 9mm with 147 grain flat nose ammo, in case of bear as I only had a Savage in .223 .

 

[Hasaf]

If I am hiking with friends, very frequently. The first and the second person to hit a random piece of trash are not the ones packing it out.

 

[Balrog]

I shot a 4' Eastern Diamondback with my Ruger Vaquero last weekend. First time I have used it in over a year, when I killed a cottonmouth.

 

[Terry G]

I usually carry two. The great CZ P-09 and either a TX22 or Sig P233. One in case, one to plink with. (With suppressor.)

 

[drobs]

Pants on gun on, is my rule.

Why carry a handgun in the woods? Because it's always on your person. That can come in handy with meth heads and Mountain Lions, Coyotes, Wolves, and Feral Hogs.

This guy was hiking in the woods in Utah, unarmed. We have Mountain Lions here in Missouri. I've seen one near my main property. A neighbor at my lake house has seen multiple.

Viral video shows cougar stalking Utah hiker in terrifying 6-minute encounter - FULL VIDEO | ABC7

A man's terrifying encounter with a cougar on a hiking trail in Utah has gone viral after he managed to record a six-minute video of the incident.Full story:...

www.youtube.com

Coyotes really don't scare me but...
https://globalnews.ca/news/8889869/southwest-edmonton-coyotes-attack]

Wolves - not much of a worry in Missouri but more prevalent in other states.

Wolves killed Alaska teacher in 2010, state says

Candice Berner was attacked and killed in March 2010 by two or more wolves while jogging near the village of Chignik Lake on the Alaska Peninsula, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

www.adn.com

Wild Boar - this Texas woman stepped out of her and was attacked by wild hogs.

Feral Hogs Attack and Kill a Woman in Texas (Published 2019)

Christine Rollins, 59, was feet away from the front door when she was killed. It was only the fifth documented fatal wild hog attack in the country since 1825.

www.nytimes.com

A neighbor down the road from me killed massive wild boar last year. Thankfully they are not immediately around me.

 

[someguy2800]

Very infrequently. When I was younger I would shoot stuff just because I can. I'd rather watch the squirrels and rabbits and grouse than shoot them anymore. I always say the only time I've ever used a handgun in defense was when I shot a skunk that had its business end pointed at my dog's face when we were tromping around in the slough one day. I shoot quite a few chipmonks and red squirrels around the house as they cause endless mischief eating holes in my stuff and filling them with acorns. I have shot 3 deer with a 357 magnum revolver while deer hunting.

 

[Rodfac]

I'll add to my previous post to the effect that on my woods/meadows walks, at 77 years old, I daily use the opportunity for practice and practice is what I engage in no matter what I'm carrying. My daily carry choices, here on our farm, vary considerably , but the overall ration is 2 or 3/1 in favor with one of my carry pieces vs. one of my nostalgic types; single action revolver and the like. Carry: one of the Sigs or a Smith DA revolver fill the 'carry piece' category.

No matter, I take the opportunity to run through a full magazine or cylinder full. Distances vary from 6-8 feet to 200+ yards and targets likewise from thistle tops/milkweed pods to strategically placed ancient propane cylinders.

A 12 ga shotgun hull at 5 yds is a good practice target for a rarely seen moccasin or copperhead. But in 35 years, the score is: none of the moc's but two coppers. Farther out, those old propane tanks or railroad tie plates are always a challenge....speedy-controlled pairs inside 30-40 yards vs. slow and steady at 100 yds plus. And the instantaneous "PLINK" feed back is heartening to hear.

There are some others: lately, with the walnuts falling like hail along my fence lines, they can be challenging and a lot of fun too. While not as spectacular as charcoal briquettes when hit, they're even cheaper.

So the topic of woods walks and carry pieces can be viewed from several perspectives: mine are pretty much recreational in nature, but the short and long range shooting I do, almost daily, is good training for more serious times. And hell, it's a lot of fun and the mileage you log, will put a smile on your cardiologist's face.

Lastly, living 7 miles from the chimney smoke of our nearby village, neither of the two trespassers I've encountered had bad intentions, nor were they aware of my concealed OWB carry protocol, or my daily, armed, woods walk routine. And the comforting weight on my right hip, has, over the years, allowed me to approach & talk with strangers with a confidence I might otherwise, lack.

Hope your woods/meadow walks are as restorative as mine have been for well over 60 years, and that they provide you with the scents and sounds, and the low stress practice that in other times, may serve you well. Best regards, Rod

 

[buck460XVR]

I consider that if I'm carrying a weapon, I am "using" it. The availability to use it when and if I need/want to is the key. I hunt deer with revolvers as my primary weapon. I dispatch fur-bearers/nuisance pests in my traps with a handgun. I will take shots at woodchucks that stand and look at me too long and will shoot a round or two into the ground to scare off the numerous neighbor dogs that think my property is their hunting land. Ain't a fan of squirrel meat, so they get a pass. Besides, the grand-kids like to hunt them more than I do. God forbid I need it for SD from wild animals or two legged predators, at least I'll have it on me and know how to use it. The rest is just moot.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Wild Boar - this Texas woman stepped out of her and was attacked by wild hogs.

Actually, nobody knows what happened to this woman. Nobody heard any screams. There is no video. There are no witnesses. The woman was killed by hogs, but whether they attacked her or scavenged her is up for debate. They found a body of a caretaker between her car and the door of the house where she was going to help the elderly as was her job. She was found with a blunt force injury to the head (consistent with a fall) and then lots of bite marks from different sizes of hogs. She died from bleeding out.

Virtually all of the "attack" videos and news accounts regarding hogs are hogs that have been pursued by dogs, wounded, corners, or otherwise the human tried to go hands-on with the animal before it was dead and the animal simply defended itself. There are exceptions, of course, but they are quite rare.

As it currently stands, you are more likely to be attacked by just about any other vertebrate here than by feral hogs in the US unless you are hunting them. Bambi attacks more people and kills more people than feral hogs outside of those trying to hunt Bambi.

With that said, any wildlife is potentially dangerous.

 

[doubleh]

I have lived my entire life on the south plains. No woods, only mesquite bushes, prickly pear, a little catclaw, and bear grass to contend with on the east edge where I grew up. Add some cholla now and then on the western edge where I now reside and that is it. Back in my younger years after moving here I spent many an hour tromping the sand dunes beneath the cap rock with a single six revolver on my hip pest hunting and it was used frequently. In the dunes is scrub mesquite, shinney oak, sagebrush, and bear grass but any type of cactus is scarce. I saw hardly anyone and if I did they were in a work vehicle and going to fix something dealing with the oil field. Today my old stomping grounds are mostly played out for oil and I travel the roads in a jeep hardly ever seeing another vehicle, except in dove and quail season. I usually have a 22 handgun of some kind along, even the old single six sometimes. Usually a 223 Contender rifle or a 357 Rossi 357 are along for the ride. I have never encountered a self defense situation in my life and seldom shoot at anything now. Our years long drouth has reduced the varmint numbers drastically and I am leaving any I see for seed. Most of my shooting is done with a long zoom bridge camera.