The thread on Woods Self Defense got me to thinking. What do you carry when you're out in the woods?

Recently I had to ask myself that question. First a little background. I grew up in a camping family. When my sons were young I spent 12 years as a Boy Scout Leader. I've always enjoyed the outdoors. However, events and life change and I haven't been out there much in a very long time. But as I said, life changes. I now find myself less than a year from retirement and on my own. So I've been thinking about ways to fill that soon to be free time. After more than a decade, I've decided to take up camping again. In fact I went just last weekend.

For the most part, I'll be hanging around State Parks. I'm fortunate enough to live in Tennessee where the law allows folks with a Handgun Permit to carry in State Parks.
So it was never a question of if, but rather what I should carry.

The next step was to consider the criteria for my camp gun.
Activities: Well there is the normal movement of daily chores in camp, But I like to go hiking. Its nothing for me to hit the trails and walk for miles. Spend most of the day somewhere in the deep woods. I also tend to walk around the campgrounds and other more public areas of the park. Might do some fishing. And of course spend the evening kicked back in a comfortable chair around the campfire.
So I wanted something of reasonable size and weight that I can strap on in the morning and pretty much ignore all day regardless of what I end up doing.

Threats: Next I needed to consider what type threats I may encounter. In my little part of the world there really isn't much in the way of dangerous critters to worry about. Maybe an ornery racoon, possably a coyote and just maybe a stray dog. Snakes don't bother me and I just leave them alone. Frankly, the mosquitos would probably be the most troublesome critters I'd have to deal with. So while the need to shoot an animal is almost non-existent, there is that rare possability one must consider.
OTOH two legged varmits are real. Drunks, druggies and punks have also been know to frequent State Parks. And I have to admit that over the years I've run into more than my fair share of stupid in public campgrounds.

With this criteria in mind I dug around in the safe and this is what I settled on.



Model 60-4 loaded with .38 Special +P 158 gr LSWCHPs.

Compact with just enough weight to control recoil without being cumbersome on my belt. The 3" lugged barrel along with adjustable sights make it surprisingly accurate out to 25 yards or better. And the selected cartridge should provide more than enough power for any situation I might encounter. Being stainless steel sure doesn't hurt since I sweat while hiking and could get caught in the rain.
In fact I wore it all last weekend which included a five mile hike and it worked out just fine.

So that brings us back to the original question. What do you carry when roaming the woods and why?

Can post a picture later if of interest, but when I'm in the woods at our mountain retreat, I carry a 3", magnaported, Charter Arms Bulldog in .44spl with bobbed hammer.

__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"

Your choice looks mighty good to me. I can no longer hike the woods. If I could, I'd probably carry my four-inch 10-5 with the FBI load you chose. My EDC is a J-frame .38 Special with the same load. On the rare occasions I can get to some fishing water these days I generally carry it concealed instead of the K.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

Like Shouldazagged, my EDC is a J-frame 38. On my last back packing trip I carried a Cobra that is pretty rough on the pack'ship belt. But for drunk problems consider this story. Went to a park to camp with a few other families on a non-holiday weekend about 15 years ago. When we arrived, the rangers were distracted, agitated and almost rude. About an hour after we were set up, the ranger drove up to our site, apologized, said it had been a few years and didn't recognize us and made us welcome. As he got into his pick-up, he unsnapped the strap on his holster, got a determined look on his face, and drove on up the hill to the next set of sights about 500-600 feet away. The next afternoon, I walked up to the use the toilet. The group at these sights, looked like everyone whose parole officer would let them leave the state (West Virginia was about 15 miles away) had come to the reunion. While sitting on the thrown I heard two young men at the entrance discussing how someone was in their toilet, and they were teach me a lesson. I had a 1911 on under a way over-sized hooded shirt. I racked the slide and holstered the Colt and finished my business. As I exited the the small building there was not a person in sight, about 25 to 30 people had vanished at the sound of the slide chambering a round. Since then I have never carried on an empty chamber, but I do understand the usefulness of sound effects and always have some varity of 1911 when park camping. Ivan

I've written about this subject before, so I'll be brief here. I upgraded my hiking/woods carry from a J-frame .38 to a 624 snub after finding a large pile of bear scat on my trail. The big .44 Special rides in a Lobo Flap Holster, and doesn't weigh me down. I'll alternate the 624 with a 696 as the mood hits me. If I didn't have the two .44s, I'd opt for my 3" 65 or 66 with .357 loads.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

I have an older one of these but not magnaported. Good caliber and light. Sometimes I'll pack my Glock 36/ .45auto for the same reasons. Nothing wrong with a Jframe either except for the large critters maybe. And to be honest, when talking large bears, I'm not happy with a .44spcl or .45 auto. When in their backyard and I expect encounters, it's my 629

Always in the handlebar bag on my bicycle: Model 60-14, 2 1/8", 38 Special +P Remington Golden Saber 125 grain BJHPs, two extra speed loaders. I used to carry a 2.5" 686+, with .357 Mags, but the smaller J frame cut's down on both weight and bulk.

Not as worried about the random four legged critter. The packs of two legged ones, are another story....

Some may consider my of trail a little on the "over kill" side. I have been carrying my 329 PD as a hiking/camping firearm.

With the correct loads this will handle any thing I could run into in wood where I live.

I feel the same way about being in bear country as I did about being in Vietnam. I'll take something I need two hands to carry. I'm not trusting my life to any handgun, not even my Model 29. My lever action 45-70 comes along.

If plinking I'll usually take a Ruger Mark II. If just carrying I like lightweight, that usually means my H&K P2000sk in 40 s&w.

Hi:
When I go walking in the woods, I am in the company of a "Hot Blond" and I carry a bottle of wine.

Never mind

__________________
In dog years I'm dead.

I have a rustic cabin in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Over the past several years we have experienced more and more black bear activity and the occasional sighting of a mountain lion due to drought conditions. In the past I used to pocket a model 649-3 snub in .357. But now I want something more accessible, manageable and more accurate. So now when I'm hiking or fishing I strap on my 2.25 inch Bianchi Riverbelt with my model 686-3 with a 4 inch barrel in a thumbsnap holster. My son and I climbed a very steep mountain (no trail) last weekend with this rig strapped on. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. And it did give some some peace of mind in the event of bear contact.

I most often will carry my 3 inch 629. Small enough to conceal under a light jacket or other cover and big enough for most chores.
When I may be just taking a walk out back I often put my Model 37 with bobbed hammer in my pocket.

Back in the late 1960s a GF and I went on a ride on my harley dresser up to the kern river in california. I dont know how it is now but back then it was the most popular place to go for the outlaw biker crowd. We slept out in the open along the river. It was party time untill the wee hours all around us up and down the river with boom boxs etc. Never again! Anyway the next morning we found that some bikers had kicked a local indian almost to death less than a hundred yards from where we were trying to sleep! I had heard the commotion but never guessed it was something like that!
I own somewhere around 25 handguns that would be good to pack in all the popular calibers .38 and above to .44 mag and .45 colt. To sit here and argue the nusances of which is best for the trail and defense would be impossable as it would get like argueing what size rock to use to brain a snake with. They all will do the job above .38 special. Come to think of it I have a nice .32 mag single six too.
Anyway after bypassing many safe queens, it seems I usualy take a old M&P or a old HD converted to .44 special the most on my quad rides. And I have many more better but dont want to scratch them up or get them dusty or wet.

My working outside/going in the woods/hunting & fishing back up is this 327NG. Plenty of firepower, lightweight and easy to carry.

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

since the first of the month my trail carry firearm has been a side by side 16 gauge hammergun. It grouse season!

The rest of the year the firearm I carry in the field hiking has been my transition, 4 inch barreled, 1926 3rd Model .44 Special. It carries well and has enough horsepower to handle most anything we might run into in our local mountains.

__________________
Bill Bates

As a biologist with a fair amount of hunting experience, I would say that a 4" 357 or 44 spl is what you need. Possibly a 40 or 45 auto==you don't need a cannon to stop bears or hogs. A lot of lion hunters use 22 mags.
A 38 would suffice but might be a little light for black bear or hog, especially that HP configuration, although that's what I usually carry for my "city gun". Maybe consider three and three with a hotter load.

I carry a 45 Colt Blackhawk but my requirements are different than yours. Overall, a good choice with valid reasoning behind it.

Bill maybe its the water here in utah? I guess we carry close to the same thing. When I want to go with a little class I might take my model 24-3 4".
Something about those .44 specials I have accumilated 7 of em!

I also have about 4 45 colts too. They are fine. Here is a 4" 25-5 I carry once in awhile.

"A lot of lion hunters use .22mags"? I imagine there used to be a lot more of them then. Anyone who would purposely hunt a lion with a .22mag is far braver than I, or insert whatever other word you'd like.

I figure the biggest annimal threat out there is of the two-legged variety. Wheel guns are sweet, but hiking I take a plastic fantastic (FNX-40).

A friend took a cougar that stalked him with a 10mm Glock. One shot.

Plastic fantastic dont look very good but they can be a useful tool.

I used to carry a 6" M29, buy it got heavy fast. I wanted a 4" M29 but I haven't found a trade yet. Maybe I'll sell my M29 to buy another but that is a pita.

I've gotten used to the FNX, which shoots well, shoots lead, and has enough oomph for most things. Great gun actually, with a good trigger.

You tree the lion then pick your shot. Lots of the locals use .22 mag to great success, and it doesn't tear up the pelt. To the OP, that sounds like a real good choice given your parameters.

I'm also with Bio on the Ruger .45 Colt, certainly enough gun for our end of the country. I have been carrying mine in a recently acquired Simply Rugged Chesty rig, very comfortable! I keep snake shot in the first cylinder when I'm wandering in Eastern Washington, and 300 grainers in the other five....and call this overkill if you want, but my 442 stays in my pocket as well.

__________________
Even older, even crankier....

I carry my 4" model 15 mostly unless it's bear territory then I reach for my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I have been thinking long and hard about getting a 3" model 60 to take the place of the model 15.

4'' model 57 for me

__________________
Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

My favorite Trail Gun has been a M65 with a 3" bbl. stoked with .357's.
While Pheasant Hunting I usually carry a M63 for an occasional Squirrel that crosses our path. It's not fun blasting a Squirrel with a 12 gauge.

Ive carried 3 different one's on occasion. The 686 & 629 mountain guns and the 329. I have to mix them up or the other ones get a bit jealous.

Jimmy do you still remember what to do with either one??

__________________
Forum consigliere

^ I was about to say something then remembered which forum this is.^

Jessie: I happened to realize from the context that the references to "lion" does not mean the Big African Kitty, but mountain lions, aka cougars.

Around here, the most likely dangers are from human predators, so I carry what is appropriate for that risk. This would also work for feral dogs, other canids, and cougars. If I go to the areas in which buzztail encounters are more likely, I'll likely go with my new (to me) 629-4 MG with one round of shot and 5 of .44 special Blazer gold dots.

Unless I had to, I would avoid areas in which large angry animals were likely to be found and come after me. If I did not have a choice, I'm with Donn: a good sized rifle or a 12 gauge with slugs.

__________________
NHI, 10-8.

My farm carry gun is a Taurus Public Defender Poly w/
3 rounds of Winchester PDX. I've found that it works great
on Copperheads, is accurate enough for a snapping turtle's
head to 20 yard and I've killed a coyote once at about 30
yards. That's about all I'll likely encounter where I live
that could be a problem. I have 2 rounds of Hornady 185 gr
Critical Defense in the cylinder on the off chance I should
encounter something more dangerous. It'll put 5 rnds of
this ammo into a 4 inch circle at 25 yards if I do my part.
It's small enough and light enough for IWB or even pocket
carry in some of my deep pocket pants. I also have a holster
attached to my Ranger and my Kubota tractor for it.
It works for me.
Dano

__________________
70 yr old TET Survivor: 68-69

Yep...New Mexico bears been rather squirelly lately. Took two off my property and a third tried climbing in my window! I carry a 629-4 with Ahrends grips in a Lobo #5 most often.

Hi:
Of course I do ! I carry a instruction book.
Jimmy

My S&W 1006 is my woods gun. Actually, if I had to walk through The Valley of the Shadow of Death, I would take this gun.

We camp fancy.

Well, I don't "walk" in the woods anymore, but I do run around a bit on my "Motorized wheelchair" (ATV). When I do my "walkaround gun" is whatever the mood strikes me at the time. The most often will be a 4" S&W revolver, anywhere from a Model 34 to .44 Mountain Revolver. The other would be a Model 60-4.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

I have used almost everything. Lately I have settled on a Glock 20 10mm. I also have a 329pd.

You're right, that's the cat I was thinking of, but even a mountain lion will get more than a .22mag from me

Down through the years I have carried mostly 4" N frames or a 45ACP. Of late this one in a shoulder holster would take care of any problem around here. One magazine with my handloads, one with hot factory loads-- just don't feel the need for anything else. Mostly around here feral dogs could be the problem.

I usually carry a Glock 36. It's super light, small, and it's not near as pretty as my S&W's so if it gets scratched or dinged...I really don't care.

I spend a good amount of time in bear country, so this has been my "go-to" trail gun for probably close to a good thirty years...a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

Packer, is that a Ruana in the sheath?

My 629 Mountain Gun rides nicely in a Dillon/Mitch Rosen OWB and is loaded with 210 gr Winchester Silvertips whenever I go into the woods.

However, I am in the process of picking up a S&W 1076 10mm off of Gunbroker (LGS should receive it tomorrow), so we'll see how this developes. I miss my Colt Delta Elite which is in the Colt Custom Shop waiting for it's turn to become transformed into an awsome carry pistol. But it won't be ready until next spring, so when the 1076 popped up at a reasonable price, I thought I'd go ahead and pick up another 3rd Gen. I'm going to load some 180 gr Golden Sabers to about 1250 fps and some 200gr XTPs to about 1150 fps and see what I think.

Nope. I know it looks like one, but believe it or not, it's an old Case 3½-inch fixed blade. It's been a great little knife...keeps a heck of an edge and is fairly easy to sharpen.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

No bears around here. Got a few hogs though. (ex-girlfriends don't count) I find that if I pack for the feral two legged creatures that load will handle anything else.

Tell me about it!

__________________
Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442