When Fishing/hiking, Do You Carry A Handgun?

[stlfisher]

I just carry a fishing pole. I had run in that was excatly like what blazerman stated with some meth heads on the mineral fork. Not something i want to encounter again, i was on foot and high tailed it outif there. Called the cops from my car and they took it from there. weopon or not i fish that area with a buddy now.

[Haris122]

A pistol that shoots the common defense calibers like 9, 40, or 45, seems not to be the choice for something in Bear protection. I think the P95 is supposed to be more of a human protection kind of gun if I'm not mistaken, due to the calibers it is commonly sold in.

I have went fishing once or maybe twice, someplace where across the river when I got there I heard someone firing a rifle or something, repeatedly over the course of an hour. In that case I really did feel like having a rifle along with me myself would've helped (as I didn't think a pistol would've helped enough). Pretty sure it was just some idiots target shooting and setting up their private shooting range that just happens to have people and houses around the place, but that's really not much more assuring than someone intending to shoot at you. Hunting too, there have been some times when I considered what would happen if the person randomly firing around would see me before I do him, but at least there I had a rifle to fire back with, just in case, and it was somewhere that other people seeing you with it, wouldn't automatically freak out over seeing you with one.

There's definitely some times when packing something would help. Just as long as people don't get too zealous to use it, just to prove the benefit of carrying one, and actually contribute to the situation going downhill real quick.

[Blazerman]

Anyone who has read any of my post before probably know i can usually be found on the Meramec upstream from the k bridge. Which was where i was on that day. When I first got my place i didn't have my Blazer. I had canoes and i was in one on that day about 5-6 years ago. Put in at Plum ford.

Coldwater i agree that probably nothing would of been different but i know i wouldn't of felt so defenseless. For the record i also have a 380. Don't always have it on me but it is usually close by.

Back when i floated and camped on the river i had a 12 gauge shotgun with a short barrel that I carried. It is legal but wouldn't be much good for hunting. I usually stashed in the tent with me at night and i always felt better knowing it was there.

[ozark trout fisher]

A couple months ago I was kayak fishing one of the Ozarks' more popular smallie streams and as I was apparently fishing through some very territorial angler's favorite hole, I starting hearing shots over my head. Not close enough that there was any chance I was being shot at, but definitely too close for comfort. I suppose it's possible the person simply wasn't paying attention, but that's really giving them the benefit of the doubt as they were shooting across a popular floating stream and you'd have to think they would notice someone paddling by. In any case, it was a bit spooky, but having a firearm around sure wouldn't have helped me. The person was out of sight, as the shots were coming from a steep, heavily timbered hillside above the river. How could having a gun have helped me besides giving them a great excuse to shoot a little closer to my head? Others can carry a firearm on the river for protection in these situations, but it seems to me that almost all the time you're better off paddling (or running) away from the scene as quickly as possible. It doesn't feel particularly good but it's the right thing to do, and will probably result in you coming home intact.

That said, I really won't get into this any further. If you choose to concealed carry on the river and are darned responsible about it, fully understanding the consequences of a bad decision, then you are not negatively impacting anyone and most reasonable folks would consider you well within your rights. It's just that I remain unconvinced that it protects you more than it might put you in danger in some situations.

[hank franklin]

Blazer, were you above or below Meramec Shores lane? I got family with a place through there. We canoed twice recently down to Meramec Shores but never further. Saw one sketchy looking fellow one day but he seemed more like a pothead then a methhead. He was quite friendly as well.

I don't carry but the thought has crossed my mind. My concern is the party animals who come carrying. Surprised something stupid hasn't happened already.

[jdmidwest]

I carry for a number of reasons. I usually don't carry concealed when I am out and about in the stream or woods, I carry open. About the only time I don't carry is when I fish with one of my good buddies that is commissioned LE. I know he will toss me his backup if we get in a bad pinch.

In my travels I have run across seedy characters. But the seediest are the stray dogs or wild dogs. I have had a few encounters with those, but I have never had to shoot one. There is always the chance you may come across a wild bear, wild hog, or mountain lion in MO. Bears must be a real threat possibility or MDC would not post Bear Aware warnings. Wild hogs are really a pain as they can get nasty if you run across a bunch of them, and they like stream beds.

One of the main reasons is that it is a good signalling device. What if you slip and fall and need some assistance? It makes a pretty good noise. What if you encounter someone target practicing and can't hear you yell at them? A few shots in the air gets you noticed and can prevent an accidental shooting. Many streams pass thru private property and you never know what is out in the fields you are passing thru. I have had a few encounters with target shooters that did not suspect that anyone would be wading the creek that I was fishing thru.

My main fishing weapon is usually whatever I have with me at the time. When I wade or do a walk about, I like my new Ruger P22. It is light and I can pack 50 rounds without much trouble. Others I carry are a snub 38, Keltec PF9 9mm, S&W 6906 9mm, S&W M&P 45C 45 acp, S&W Model 19 .357, or my Colt Officers 1991A1 45 acp. It really depends on my situation as to what I may have on my hip. When I am out during a fall hunting season, it will be a large caliber. Fishing, I tend to stick to the smaller ones. Hiking or mushroom hunting, anything goes.

[Al Agnew]

I have no problem with responsible people carrying, and I'd say most ARE responsible. But at the same time, the time you'll actually need it and it will be effective will probably never happen. You all know I've been on a lot of rivers for a lot of years, and while there have been a few times when I felt uneasy, they were not times when a handgun would have likely been effective. Discretion is always the better part of valor, and avoiding or running away from bad situations is always preferable. I don't need to prove anything to anybody.

And once I finally impressed upon my wife that although she has a perfect right to say anything to anybody she wants, I'm not Superman and I might not be able to get us out of every situation she puts us in...I felt even less need to carry. The closest I've ever come to real conflicts on the river was when she told somebody who was littering or running ATVS in the river exactly what she thought of them.

[Smalliebigs]

I don't carry but I don't fear the CC guys more than the meth heads like Jack Jones does

no kidding that is the stupidest dung i have ever read on this forum

[UnCivE]

I have considered carrying a number of times, but I'm not sure I've got the disposition to carry safely. When my temper gets tripped I tend to do things I might regret. I have carried in the past... hell I slept with a 9mm and an M4 for a year in Iraq, I am comfortable with weapons. However, there are some personal reasons I don't carry, but it suffices to say that it would be an unwanted distraction to me. Once my daughter is old enough to go with me, I may change my mind.

[dennis boatman]

...don't carry, never will..BUT if I did, it would be at walmart, not on the rivers, lakes or trails...feel much safer AWAY from "civilized" folks...