do you get this feeling too???

[GMMAT]

gun?I hardly even use a flashlight...lol...You can bet no gun law would discourage me from carrying 1 in the woods or anywhere if I was afraid for my life and we all have the right to self protection...The 2nd amendment is a RIGHT!!!NOT a privledge...SO ACT LIKE IT!!!  

The law against carrying firearms in a NC bow season is really no different than the laws prohibiting carrying in a courthouse, airport or any other place deemed unlawful.

[greenhed]

I have come across Bears, been followed by cougars (and even scared one off its kill), been stalked by wolves, threatened by a pine marten, sprayed by a skunk, glared at by forest grouse, and had squirrels drop pine cones on my head.  The biggest danger for me is doing something stupid like falling out of a tree stand, slipping and breaking a leg in the back country, stabbing myself with an arrow, running out of gas in the middle of nowhere (ask Brian Krebs about this).  
I do carry when hunting, mainly because of the 2 legged drunk animals that appear from time to time.

[wollelybugger]

We had a old saying when I worked in the prison, it is better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by six. Carry your pistol if you are that worried.  

[Scott S.]

I have never seen one or been growled at, but there are mountain lions where I hunt in Western Iowa.  I wish the law would allow me to carry while bowhunting.  I am not so concerned while walking, but I'm afraid that sitting scruntched down on the ground behind a burlap ground blind and blowing a fawn bleat makes me sound like lunch.

[Van/TX]

I worry about 2 things walking to my stand at night(or daytime).  Yellow Jackets that nest underground and rattlesnakes.  Handgun is no defense for the Yellow Jackets and the snake has already bit you before you can kill it    But really your chances of getting hurt climbing up the tree is far greater.  In fact driving to your hunting area is the real danger   :p  ...Van

[bill langer]

The way I see it is the lions, bears, wolves, coyotes etc. gotta eat too...

[yekrut]

I think it just takes alot of guts, to do what we do. Some people think I am crazy , when I tell them what I do and what I see!!! Like walking around in the dark in the woods alone!!  

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I don't worry to much about the woods, now the city and the highways that is were I feel unsafe and I want a firearm.Blake

[John3]

It is not that uncommon for me to be in a hunting bear camp where at least one grown man is afraid of the dark.. They will not admit it; but it is common.

I am more afraid of the two legged animals that I might encounter on my way to the woods than any animal. At least no predator would kill you for the $50 in your wallet or to steal your car for a joyride...  Yes, the wild is safe compared to that. I carry everywhere except in the woods. LOL

John III

[Bonebuster]

If it is legal to carry a concealed pistol, then do yourself a favor,  get the training, get the permit, and get a gun you can be comfortable with.
It is a ton of responsibility, but WELL worth it

There are no cougars where I hunt and live, but my thinking is, if you are scared while walking to and fro, I believe an apex predator such as a cougar can sense it, possibly making you more of a target. Afterall, the fear is a weakness, and these fantastic animals have survived by being able to easily find the weak.

Possibly...just possibly, the confidence you have while carrying may be the deciding factor in what triggers or repels an attack... it works with lowlife people.

[Walt Francis]

Personally, I don't worry much about the mountain lions while hunting, even though there are lots of them in my hunting areas.  Grizzlies are a different concern; I always consider them when hunting the mountains.  Don't get me wrong the kitties can and are dangerous but the grizzlies are more likely to attack you.  Here is the link to an encounter I had with a mountain lion while hunting elk:
 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=055765

I have been charged by two different sow grizzlies (one stopping at 10 yards and the other at 10 feet), for me there in no comparison regarding the pucker factor between kitties and bears.

[yekrut]

Wow, What a story. I red it and it sent chills down my spine!! Thats amazing!!  

[Frank V]

Originally posted by bill langer:
The way I see it is the lions, bears, wolves, coyotes etc. gotta eat too... [/QUOTE

Yes they do, but not me!              Here we are allowed to CCW during bow season because we have several large meat eaters in most areas. Frank

[-Achilles-]

"The law against carrying firearms in a NC bow season is really no different than the laws prohibiting carrying in a courthouse, airport or any other place deemed unlawful."....And you can can bet if I get shot or have my life threatened in those places I would sue the hell out of them for not protecting me...In vermont you can still carry in the court house or anywhere and they also have the least crime in america...But the 2nd amendment is a RIGHT...I don't need a permit or permission to protect my self and neither do you...I will say again its a RIGHT SO ACT LIKE IT!

[yekrut]

Last fall a guy was sitting on a stand on the land we hunt, and  a lion ran chaseing a deer right under him , he freaked out!! I have hunted there since and had no problems, but who's to say someday when I am walking in I won't get attacked!!!!

[Biggie Hoffman]

I just feel like I'm not bowhunting if I'm carrying a firearm. It cheapens the whole experience.
It's only sane to have a gun in camp where griz is a problem but to carry one is to admit that the bow and arrow you carry isn't a sufficient weapon and that's simply false.

 Man up!

[Dave Bulla]

Depends on where you're hunting.  Here in MO, there have been several confirmed mountain lion sightings in my area.  We have quite a few bobcats and coyotes (too many actually) and there is always the chance of encountering a smaller but rabid animal.

Generally, I enjoy being in the woods in the dark and seldom use a flashlight unless it is so that other hunters can see it and know I'm not an animal.

I think the odds of NEEDING a firearm are about slim to none most of the time but I strongly believe in the right to have one in my possesion.

A friend of mine was varmint hunting with a bow a few years back and was trying to call in a coyote.  Instead, he called in a bobcat to a REALLY close distance.  Something like about 15 ft.  He did manage to shoot it with his recurve but it was able to penetrate a nearby massive brush pile before it died.  We couldn't "dissasemble" the pile enough to get to it.  I had another friend call one in by accident when he was calling turkeys.  Point is, while mountain lions are super scarce here, bobcats seem to be common and evidently come in to calls intended for other animals.  And when they do, I'm pretty certain that they come in looking for food.  I expect 99% of them would flee once they figured out you were a human but I have a hard time being certain of that.  I doubt the b'cat that got within feet of my friend DIDN'T know he wasn't a dying rabbit but he stalked in anyway.  That raises questions.  Where does curiosity end and where does actualy instinctive hunger take over?  Would a bobcat attack a human?  They aren't all that big but they evidently do kill deer fairly regularly.

For now, where I hunt I don't feel a need to carry but maybe someday.  Out west in big bear country or where mountain lions are common, I'd probably at least want a gun in camp.  My 45-70 Marlin would be a great camp gun.

p.s. Fatboy, the link you posted about the guy ripping the leopards toungue out during an attack was kinda interesting but the way it was written was totally inappropriate for this site.  We have quite a few younger readers here.  I'd suggest you go back and delete it.

[yekrut]

I don't want to carry a gun, I am an archer! Plain and simple! But I would like to know I am safe from lions? You never know? But something was chaseing a deer down the trail last fall but it was to dark to see what it was , it made me a little nervous!!

[Mo. Huntin]

hehehe to each his own I guess.

[RC]

I never hunted where lions and bears were a problem so I can`t say. I do know wading a slew to get to a honey hole and hearing a gator slide in will make you forget about being quiet.

   If a bear did show up I think I`d slap`m and make him catch me a fish...RC