Say you are camping/hunting in the wilderness

[Doug.38PR]

Say you are sitting in your camp with two friends one night out in the wilderness of say Colorado or Wyoming or maybe even East Texas. You have have a revolver on your hip for personal defense (primarily charging animals but....considering where I am going with this thread) and are sitting there drinking hot cocoa laughing over this or that when some stranger walks up into your camp. He has a rifle of some kind and a thick winter coat on. What do you do? What do you look for? How do react?

NOTE: some places (like national parks) don't allow you to carry handguns...some people do it anyway out of common sense . Consider both circumstances, handgun on hip or not (do you keep your Remington 700 close by? Subtly load one in the chamber?)

Both your party and the stranger are isolated from the rest of the world miles from civilization.

I remember about a year ago that oriental man (think he was from Vietnam or Cambodia. Somewhere in Southeast Asia) gunned down that hunting party in Wisconsin. Then there is the fictional movie Deliverance in which two inbred white trash goons hold up two campers with a shotgun and rape one of them (a scene in which my dad declared "This is why you should ALWAYS carry a pistol when you go camping. You don't know what weirdo is going to walk up in your camp.")

 

[444]

I am not really sure where you are going with this.
I have had this happen to me.
I usually hunt way off the beaten track, by myself (dog of course). I have been sitting in my camp at night and had people come up. The first few times I was amazed that anyone else is out there. But I didn't do anything special. I talked to them and in one case they put me right onto the deer and I got one the next morning. Most of the time in Nevada it is the Basque sheep hearders that you run into out in the middle of no where. The last time I was hunting I was wearing a 9mm handgun in a shoulder holster under my coat. I never took it off (or changed clothes) the whole time I was there (12 days). When people came up to my camp I was already armed and so I didn't do anything different than any other time.

You need to be aware at all times. Even when you are out in the open country where mountain lions and all that live, I still think your greatest threat is man. There are many cases of violent crime taking place in remote areas. Several years ago there was a serial killer operating out of a national park, I think Yellowstone. Crime isn't confined to the cities.
I pretty much carry a handgun any time I am not at work (within reason) including ALL the time I am out in the back country. If nothing else it gives you a chance to wear your nice guns and holsters.

If you are from the city, you may think it is a big deal to see someone walking around armed.
It isn't.
People in areas like that are usually armed. If I was sitting at a campfire in a remote part of Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana etc and someone walked up to my camp with a rifle I wouldn't think anything about it. If they were wearing a handgun I wouldn't think anything about it. If they had a rifle in the back window of their truck or on the dashboard or on the seat I wouldn't think anything about it.
I suppose if they walked up to my camp pointing the rifle at me or they walked up to the camp with a handgun in their hand (not holstered) then I might think something was up.

 

[RiverwinoIA]

the hunting party in wisconsin was shot because they confronted the nutcase in a rather aggresive manner, which set him off.

I would be as nice as possible, while trying to keep my revolver concealed to him (while it was in my hand). I certianly wouldnt start the gunfight, i would just be ready to react if he raises his rifle (hopefully a bolt action).

 

[oregonshooter]

I'd offer him some coffee, wouldn't be drinking ko-ko, (city kids! ) so coffee it would be.

 

[Trisha]

Be calm, be courteous, and be patient. Observe.

If there was violent intent, you'd already be dead (stationary target by light source). Psychotic violence, drug-induced or otherwise?

Calm and aware gives you whatever chance present to win.

We laugh at the flatlanders who move up to the mountains and call 911, reporting someone carrying a firearm walking in the general direction to, or from the forest. Get a grip. Much less the terrified ones who report one of the many Class III owners running one (or more) of their SMG's.

Long-term residents up here know automatically that it's the resident women who are the dangerous ones, not the men. Not even the tourist hunters deserve a second look as long as they're observing the 4 Rules.

YMMV

 

[B.D. Turner]

The above post is right. If he was going to kill you there would be no story or what if's

 

[buck00]

In a situation like this, your brain is the best weapon for defense. Communicate with the man, make strong eye contract, ask him what he is up to, where is coming from, maybe offer him a Dr. Pepper- see how he reacts. Read his body language and facial expressions. Is he tense? Does he make eye contact with your or are his eyes darting around nervously? Does he appear to be drunk?

Get to your feet during this, don't stay seated and leave him in a superior position. If he has a rifle (slinged) you might want to move to conversation distance (5 feet) as it would make it harder to suddenly unshoulder the rifle and aim it at you.

The ability to read people is a huge advantage.

Of course, as you do all this, make sure your pistol is ready to come out within .08 seconds if need be.

 

[Cosmoline]

He has a rifle of some kind and a thick winter coat on. What do you do? What do you look for? How do react?

As long as he's not pointing the rifle at me, I greet him. Assuming that patch of forest isn't my private property, he has as much right to be there as I do. If he's after my gold claim--that's another matter.

 

[Nio]

I'd invite him to sit by the fire.

Of course, he probably wouldn't. When I'm out in the woods, *I* am the weirdo.

Nio

 

[Doug.38PR]

Well, not all villains have the obvious look and manner in which you can see their intent early and are able to respond. Many have a way about them that appears non-hostile and even polite to lead you into a false sense of security or to subtly and gradually intimidate you into their control. I don't mean scare you, but buy themselves just enough time by distracting you or to get your mind on something else before they make their move on you.

Obviously the first response isn't pull your gun, or rifle as the case may be, and take aim. But neither should it be to let your guard down once he says hello and approaches with the first impression of being a lonely hunter looking for hot cocoa and good company.

Yes, most folk's in the country are more laid back and are a lot more hospitable. Far less likely to come across some weirdo. While I live in the big city of Houston, I spend very little time there. 80% of my life and job is outside Houston in more rural small towns and counties working with such people (something I really enjoy. Get to experience the real Bible Belt)

But, at the same time parks and wildlife areas have had occasional trouble with riff raff or some psycho wandering the country. In fact, I believe Big Bend national park has had A LOT of trouble with illegals and drug smugglers in their park terrorizing and even killing campers and even park rangers.

Cosmoline, your picture of Fred C. Dobbs (Bogart) with is rifle reminds me of a two other scenes in that same movie where this very thread subject comes up. Three Mexican meztitos walk up their camp at night with wheat sickles. Then that Texan from Dallas (Cody) follows one of them back to camp. Paranoid and rude Bogart wants him over by the fire to keep an eye on him

 

[Keith Wheeler]

I'd invite him to sit by the fire.

Of course, he probably wouldn't. When I'm out in the woods, *I* am the weirdo.

Yeah. I've been in a similar situation, hunting/camping on a friend's family land near "common" ground (along a major river). Had a couple of good ol' boys come wandering buy. They had old beat-up lever action rifles, I had a stainless steel folding stock Mini-14.

All were polite.

 

[isp2605]

Don't worry. Nobody is going to make you squeal like a pig.

 

[TallPine]

I wouldn't think much of it. I'm always armed out in the woods and expect everyone else to be also. If they're not, then it's their own dang fault

I was out on a wildfire incident a month or so back, when a guy (one of the nieghbors of the property where the fire was) came walking up with a semi-auto in a shoulder holster. Nobody said a thing about it.

I did have an incident when I was camping one time ... a couple guys stop by during the day while I was at my campsite. They were asking about bears (they were hunting, they said) and I told them there were bears all over the place up there so they shouldn't have trouble finding one or two. Then they asked if I was alone, and I started getting real nervous and wouldn't answer them (my gun was under my wool shirt out of sight at that time). Then they claimed they just wanted to be sure there wasnt someone walking around out in the woods where they would be hunting. Nice clean cut guys and probably no problem, but these days you never know about people ...

Funny - another time (labor day weekend) at the same campsite a couple of FS guys came by on 4-wheelers and asked if we were having any problems. I thought that was a little weird considering I had never even seen a FS person in that area before, and told him we had only seen one other vehicle all weekend. I saw him notice my Vaquero on my hip - he didn't say anything about that but I guess he figured we could take care of ourselves I spent the rest of the campout wondering if the FS guys were just bored and trying to make up something to do, or if they knew/thought that there was someone running around up there that might cause trouble.

 

[GEM]

If they have a werid kid with them playing the banjo - then hide the bacon grease - or maybe get it out -

Greet them politely with your usual tactical alertness. If it's private land, might gently tell them the way to the road. Call the law on the cell phone if you are suspicious.

When it the woods, we usually have Surefires, etc. Might light them up and then say Oops. That signifies alertness and discombulates them.

 

[pete f]

If its just you, offer coffee, keep your eyes peeled. If there are more than one of you, casually have one get up and make it so you are not side by side, the split up thing prevents the one from covering you both. When we go, usually all of us have some kind of arms on or very near.

WE usually go canoe camping, someone just walks up, that would really really be odd. We do on occasion have lost or really unprepared canoeists show up or holler to us from the lake, asking either directions or assistance. A lot of the time, this is all a matter of telling them they missed a portage, that they are at campsite x on lake Number 9. Sometimes it is newbies who A) dumped a canoe and lost everything, B) dumped a canoe and lost the stove but have their food, or vice versa. C) out camping and found out it takes more fuel to cook than they thought and they need to borrow a can of coleman gas.

Only once was it someone who really gave us the willies, but four grown men all with a gun on and/three teenagers with who are all going for their packs, seemed to change their mind. We were seven days in and these guys passed us at a portage with two little packs and no coolers. Then after we went out from the portage, these guys came out behind us a far ways back and just followed along. Then after we made camp, all of a sudden there they were just paddling soft about 40 yards up the bank, maybe 15 yards off the shore.

 

[MrZ]

"I'd offer him some coffee..."

Ditto...

And then probably strike up a conversation about his rifle, hunting, and firearms in general...

 

[gezzer]

Offer him coffee and something to eat he is more than likely lost.

Oh ya lot's of people think hey there’s a hunting camp with lots of guns lets go rob them. Get real!

What is with the stupid scenarios that are what ifs? How about some common sense? When someone who is armed approaches and offers no hostilities why are you worried are you waiting to be able to shoot someone? (note using typical anti-gunner questions):banghead:

 

[444]

That was the exact question I was asking when I read the post

I welcome the company.
Sure, you don't just totally ignore the possible danger, but the chance that is anything other than another hunter/camper/like minded individual doing the same thing you are is remote.

Think about this: you are right there in the same place and you are also armed. Should someone immediately think you are up to no good and run through a senario of how to kill you just because you approach someone's campsite ? Why would this guy immediately come under suspicison ? If you get ready to shoot anyone that comes near you or talks to you in the city you need to seek some medical help and the chances of meeting a flake in the city is infinitely greater than meeting one out in the middle of no where during hunting season.

 

[Hazwaste]

OK, I am camping/hunting in the wilderness.




Try the veal.
Be sure to tip your waitress.

 

[Shweboner]

Where I usually go to camp, shoot or just wander around in the woods, it is not uncommon to see other people around... I think I spook people more than they do me. Even if I am just venturing out hiking I have a pistol on my hip and a rifle over my shoulder.

Usually come up upon some wide eyed city-people picking mushrooms......


One time I walked this old logging road, probably hadn't seen traffic for 20 years. It was pretty well overgrown too. Anyhow it ended near the main road where I found a guy in his truck... We werent sure if he was dead or not... sitting in there passed out with his face pressed against his window.
That was pretty wierd. Turns out he was just sleeping.... but it was a damn strange place to take a nap

 

[gila_dog]

When I'm camping out the closer I am to pavement and towns the higher the chances of weirdos and such I think there is. But in your scenario, the guy is probably just a lost hunter. If so, offer him something to eat and drink. He's probably tired, hungry, and thirsty. If you can figure out where his camp is offer him a ride. Put a deposit in the "favor bank". Someday you will screw up, or just have bad luck, and some complete stranger will come along and help you out. You will be repaid with interest. It really seems to work that way, for me anyway.

Now if a truck load of armed drunks roared into my camp, that would be a completely different, and possibly more likely, matter...

 

[MadMercS55]

The main spot of wilderness we go camping\hiking on has been owned by my family going on 20yrs now, and is clearly posted Private Property, No tresspassing. The signs are clearly posted and rarely get tampered with. This time of year there we are usually there every weekend, and other relatives are there other times. Never really had a problem with knuckleheads, just hunters and hikers that got lost and came wandering through our neck of the woods. I usually walk around with a P220 in the open and at camp there is always a Mossberg 590 or Marlin 45-70 within easy reach since cell phones barely work there and help tends to take a LONG time in arriving.
Earlier this year we had a family of 3 get off the beaten path..several MILES off the beaten path. They popped out in our "backyard". Fun part was it turned out they lived less than 6 miles from where I live now, talk about a small world. We ended up having dinner together and I drove them back to town later that evening. The farther away from the city the people seem nicer on average.

 

[ezypikns]

Just be Careful.

Remember poor Ned Beatty.

 

[DWARREN123]

Probably in more danger in a large city than in the woods but always be prepared.