Re: [Paddlewise] Guns? When and Where?

"

> areas.  I'm thinking of doing some solo paddling in Northern Maine this year
> (lakes and rivers).  I've read several accounts by people who were glad they
> had a shotgun with them (moose, bears, etc).  The last thing on earth I want
> is to ever have to kill a wild animal (my Mother tells me I cried as a child
> when the neighborhood brats killed a squirrel).  But I do know how to use
> firearms.

Mark, I suggest that if you're going to shoot at a moose or bear, that you file
the front sight off the end of whatever weapon you choose.  If you don't kill
them or scare them off, but piss them off, the beast is going to ram it up
your......and it goes in easier without the front sight.  Seriously, isn't it a
better idea to rig some kind of bell or gong to warn them of your presence when
coming around blind curves in a river?  Yeah, I know, disturbs the solitude.
But I can't see any situation where you'd surpise an animal, have it charge you
in self defence or fear, and be able to get a gun out quickly enough to be
effective.  Then, there's the two legged kind of animal to be worried
about....remember Deliverance?

-Nick (no slight to Maineiacs)




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