RE: [Paddlewise] Guns? When and Where?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sailboat Restorations, Inc.
> [mailto:sailboatrestorations_at_worldnet.att.net]

>snip
> 
> I was wondering how many people like to carry a gun on trips 
> in wilderness
> areas.  I'm thinking of doing some solo paddling in Northern 
> Maine this year
> (lakes and rivers). 

  It's semantics - I _do not like_ to carry a gun, but occasionally do
(trips on Admiralty Island primarily).  I live and play in an area where
bears, both brown and black, are quite common and it's unusual for a year to
pass without someone being mauled or killed by a bear.  Since you indicated
that you weren't looking for a discussion on _whether_ or not toting a gun
is appropriate I won't go there - too much.  In some parts of the world it's
common sense, in other it's nonsense.

> Also, if you do carry a gun, what do you carry?  And where? 

12 gauge shotgun, SS barrel and receiver, composite stock, loaded with 00
buckshot and slugs.  Carried in cockpit - cause that's the only practical
place.  The only time I could ever imagine needing it is on shore - no need
for a quick draw from the boat! - just paddle away.  Heck, on land just walk
away.....that's what I've done the times I've encountered bears.  Common
sense and knowledge of animal behavior and patterns (stay away from salmon
streams when the bears are feeding for example) will do a lot better job of
protecting you than a gun.
  As I've posted in the past - 'tis much better to _avoid_ a problem than it
is to figure out how to get out of one.

  A friend of mine who has lived, worked and played in the forests of SE
Alaska for many years often says regarding carrying a gun (which she does
regularly in bear country), "Basically the only reason for carrying a gun is
so that the bear will be "marked" if it attacks me. That way they'll know
which bear to kill when they hunt it down."

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska
 
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