Side Arms While Archery Hunting

[Limbhanger]

I was just curious if any of the guys on board carry a side arm while Arhery Hunting.

[Coastalfisherman]

I pack a 45 auto anytime that I am in the woods. For the 2 legged predators.

[Bugle4em]

Yes .40 Glock

[RoscoeP]

I have never done it before, but am seriously considering it for the future. More predators out there of the 2 and 4 legged variety.

[Ni!]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. For reasons similar to those stated above. It seems like we've had this discussion before, and some of our members get pretty upset by this practice. Let's see how it goes this time.

Ni!

[waterfowlin101]

.357

[jlsexton]

After hearing a cougar growl at me during second season Elk I don't think I'll enter the woods without one. I will be purchasing a pistol soon but don't know exatly which one I should get I was thinking maybe a 9mm?

[Screamin Bulls]

I pack a 45 auto anytime that I am in the woods. For the 2 legged predators.

Exactly!

Josh

[sliverpicker]

Never while archery hunting! I spend many days in the woods and mountains either hunting, scouting, photographing wildlife, or working, and have never been threatened enough to pack heat for 2 or 4 legged critters.

That doesn't mean I won't have a handgun closeby when I'm recreating, but I never pack it out bowhunting. I'm not afraid of shadows or the boogeyman!

sliverpicker

[Abalone]

For the first time ever I started packing my .357 with me.

It does provide a sense of security. For one thing once in awhile I will find myself in a situation where somebody starts shooting a rifle near me. I don't know if they are shooting at stumps or if they are shooting into the Valley I might be hunting. If I feel threatened I can let them know that I am nearby.

[Limbhanger]

I never packed a handgun until this year. I spent several days in the John Day Wilderness not packing and never thought much about it. Then while hunting the Trask unit I happen to run into a Forest Service Officer. We talked for about 30 minutes and when I was ready to drive off he asked me if I had seen any suspicious people or activity. I said no and of course asked why?? He told me to be VERY careful because there are a lot of people that come back and forth to grow pot on Timber Company and National Forest land in the Trask and Wilson units. He mentioned that they will get really ugly with you if you stumble into their plots. He also said that there are many that are out stealing moss and salal for the flower business that dont want to be seen either. He was serious when he said BE CAREFUL. He was out checking on a couple areas that were pretty close to where I was hunting.
That really torked me. That last thing I want to worry about while I am enjoy the outdoors is that crap. I hunt a lot by myself so, now I pack my 45 auto. Thanks for all the answers.

[rimrock]

I never do. The four legged variety IMO aren’t the threat they are made out to be (if you simply want to get down to statistics/verified reports). The two legged kind well again I’m not of the opinion it’s as great of a threat either. Also using deadly force is not as easy as the internet likes to make it. Drawing a gun on someone is just as likely to escalate a problem, and if you draw one you better be ready to kill that person(s). I don’t think bluffing per se is the approach one can take with a gun, are you ready if someone would call that bluff?

Nevertheless it’s a legal practice so bow hunters can do it, but I won’t be one of them.

[ehunter]

I have never carried one or want to we just cover too much ground and the extra weight is not needed. Plus not sure where I would carry it probably in my pack. I am a better shot with my bow than a pistol any way even though I have a conceled weapons permit and we shoot the old 40 glock alot. In my opnion its not worth the trouble. I have yet to hear a archer get attacked by a animal. I am also one of the few on this thread that thinks carrying fire arms during bow season is a bad idea. Sorry I don't trust my fellow hunters to only use it on preditors.

PS one year we had 10 guys in camp and every one of us saw a cat, that year we found 5 kills sites. I get a little nervous but it has not stopped me from hunting there.

[gottafish]

Why Carry the extra weight??? The bow will put enought hurt on anything that may be a threat. I think its silly

[Santiam338]

I don't pack either....

One thing to think about Rich...Try holding a flashlight and shoot your bow...

Hmmmm??? :whazzup:

[Abalone]

They really aren't that heavy. I hunt in Trask Unit and have had some encounters with the bad boys. But that's not why I carry the gun. It has more to do with the problems of thieves coming to my Cabin. If I do catch them I want to make sure things work out allright.

[BrianMaguire]

The weight thing is what I don't like, and why I don't carry. I like to travel light. Sometimes you need to cover a ton of ground real fast.

[PullShootExplode]

MOdel 22 .40 glock for me. Ran in to some road hunters in a closed burn during archery season all I could see was an Ar type rifle and another long gun. can you say poachers. Called it in never heard anything back about it. I love the BLM. sorry to hijack.

[Chrome Bumper]

I think some people carry one to predrill the arrow hole.

[cwh]

I'm going to ignore the comment about pre-drilling the arrow hole. I never carried when I bowhunted, but I guess that was a while ago and I don't think it was legal then. Anyway, I didn't own a handgun at the time.

Now, I think I would, at least on the west side. Definitely not for the critters, as some have pointed out it just isn't likely that you'll be a target for them. But for the crazies, I like my odds with a few rounds of .40S&W better than with arrows. Like you said rimrock, it isn't something to take on lightly, but sometimes situations happen, and I'd prefer to be prepared. There was a line in a movie along the lines of: "I just don't want to get killed for lack of bein' able to shoot back." That's kind fo the way I think about it.

[blacktail519]

Yep. Always

[BloodNtheboat]

Sometimes I carry a titianium 41 mag, so weight is not the issue, but most of the time I dont. The only time I really carry is when I know I am going to be out till after dark.

[MadMerganser]

Yes and I still will there have been 2 couples murdered randomly in the general vicinity of places I hunt or have hunted and a few incidents of folks shooting at someone who wasn't killed. I enjoy the woods and I have never been scared beyond nervous by situations that I have encountered even after dark. I do feel that chance favours the prepared.

[native]

Why NOT carry one? True, the chances of EVER needing it might be EXTREMELY unlikely, but the conseqences of not having it will be your life. In reality, the only time you would ever need one is if things have gotten really bad. Even if there is the most remote possibilty that this will happen, I'm not going to take the chance! BTW, I have encountered a sow with three cubs without a sidearm and will Never let it happen again, Until you have been put in this situation I believe that most people do not realize how vulnerable you can be.

[ehunter]

What sitaution are you guys talking about? I mean archery hunting is not a group event? I am wearing camo sneaking though the woods if I see another person I tend to melt away. The last thing in the world you want to do is get to a point of having to pull a gun on a another person?

I am still concerend that the temptation for some people to drill a animal is still too much temptation. I knew it happens a few years ago we turned a guy in who had used a rifle he got frustrated figured since he bought a tag he was owned a deer he got a real nice ticket.

[Rustyoar]

Yap Glock 23 .40 cal just another tool in my pack.

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail" thats my motto when it comes to fishing and hunting.

[gottafish]

If someone is going to kill me over a deer/elk I shot, He can't have it. its not worth a life. And if they still feel they need to kill me so be it. Next season I'll hunt with fred bear. But guns have no place in bow season IMHO

[cwh]

The last thing in the world you want to do is get to a point of having to pull a gun on a another person?

Absolutely ehunter, and I don't think anyone would argue with that. But there can be times when you aren't the one making that decision, you just have to deal with what happens.

I am still concerend that the temptation for some people to drill a animal is still too much temptation.

My bow is a far superior hunting tool than my handgun. The little Glock 23 isn't much of a 50 yard tackdriver, but that's not what it's designed for.

I guess this scenario doesn't concern me that much for 2 reasons.
1. People that are going to "pre-drill" an animal are going to do it regardless of the sidearm issue, and in fact it seems like they are much more likely to be using a rifle anyway. Consistent accuracy with a handgun is nearly as difficult to develop as consistent accuracy with a bow. Incidentally, in the situation described above, was it a rifle or a handgun?

2. It seems like about the easiest way to get caught poaching. Shooting a firearm in the woods during archery season is not something you can keep too secret. I've heard gunshots during bow season, and I bet any law enforcement officer within earshot was heading toward that sound.

Not saying it doesn't happen, just that I don't see it as that directly related to the sidearm issue. It kind of makes me laugh to think of putting the sneek on an animal in my full camo and facepaint, carrying the bow through the brush, getting all set up, and then reaching for the pistol to whack it. If that's actually happening - that's sad indeed.

[Abalone]

Here's something to think about.

Chadwick said it’s surprising how much poaching is tied to the methamphetamine problem, whether it’s people out for animal parts to sell for drug money or simply restless “tweakers” filling the long hours awake.

“You need to be careful in the woods – you can have guys out ‘spotlighting’ from their cars because they’re high on meth,” he said.
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?S...amp;TM=75182.41

I have talked with the U.S. forest service people and the Yamhill Sheriff and they have told me the same thing.

Yes ! With my camo and my bow I would try to disappear as soon as I could but who knows what you will run into ? and when ?

Meth labs and pot growers are active in the Trask Unit for sure. I carry a cell phone with me also but it does not get good reception out there.

A forester in my area saw two Archery hunters last year before the season opened. They ran when they were spotted. A day or two later the forester found an Elk in that same area lying dead and the antlers had been sawed off.

Now I know why ! Morons.

[eightball]

Why not pack? It's legal. It's also your responsibility to come home to your wife and kids. If you hunt in a area where low life people might be a problem then you should be prepared to take care of yourself. As far as predrilling a hole with a handgun. If your close enough to do that, then your probably better off shooting with an arrow first. Thats not even a good argument. As far a cougar or bear go. The handgun would be better on a possible moving target, plus the noise factor. I never have had a bad run in with bad people while hunting, stupid ones yes, but no bad. While not hunting I've had 2 run ins with creeps. Once I wasn't armed and had another person come to my aid. The other time I was armed and let that be known. The creeps decided they had more pressing matters some where else. The way things have changed in the last few years I think George Carlin has it right when he said "owning a firearm makes me a smart american". Having one when you need it makes you a smart person. When you have a wife and children that rely on you as a father and husband you owe it to them at least to take care of yourself and them.

[Abalone]

As far as I am concerned the hole drill argument doesn't hold water. First off the OSP wouldn't have any problem figuring that out. Furthermore: If someone is that stupid and desperate they would do it anyhow. I carry my .357 and the thought of using it to fill my tag never crossed my mind. If fact I had a chance at a Cayote recently. If I had grabbed my pistol instead of my bow he'd be dead. But I forgot I even had it.

I don't always carry my gun with me and most of time it's in my back pack. If I hunted East I would leave the handgun at home or at least I wouldn't pack in hunting.

[Limbhanger]

The thought of pistol shooting an elk has never crossed my mind, ever. Anyone who would do this is a poacher, not a hunter. That arguement should be dead right there.
The question was for Ethical Archery Hunters.
Even though I will probably never need to use it I will pack from now on. When a Forest Service Cop takes the time to talk to you and tells you to be careful about the present and growing problem of illegal mexicans and other low lifes growing drugs in the coastal woods, I am willing to listen.

[ehunter]

Yea but we hear guys sighting in during archery season all the time in Oregon it is not ileagal to be shooting so the sounds of fire arms are going off all the time. I always hear from rifle hunters who carry a side arm how they use to finish all the animal if that happens durring archery season it is wrong.

It was a rifle we had seen the guy driving though with a rifle in his truck we were setting above the road. I don't think he saw us?? He did have a bow in his rack, when he came back by after the shot about 30 min. we saw the deer. It was really dry and the state trooper was on the main road way checking tags we told him what we saw the lis plate and the time he later told us he found the guy and camp and the deer, the guy had admitted he had shot it. It was a big 4x4.

[ehunter]

It is leagal to carry one so I am not going to argue with any one that feels the need to carry one. I am better with a bow than a pistol out to about forty yards that is all the protection I need.

[BrianMaguire]

I am better with a bow than a pistol out to about forty yards that is all the protection I need.

Now that is the truth.

[Irish Pennant]

A couple years before we were able to carry I had a black bear charge me. It happend so fast that there was no time to get an arrow out of the quiver, knock it, draw, aquire a target and get a 1 shot kill on a moving animal. The bear came out of some thick bush, ran at me full speed and stopped about 5 feet from me. I had time enough to pull out my knife, jump up and down and yell like a mad man. The bear turned and ran away, beside it being a rush, it gave me something to think about. When bad happens, it happens quick. If you think you can find the kill zone on a charging bear (head on shot, moving target, arrow bouncing off its skull if you got a shot off) you are fooling youself. If you choose to carry, carry where you can get to it in a heartbeat. If you don't carry, what can I say, its your choice.

[gottafish]

Exactly my point Irish Pennant, If you are charged by Oregon game and it isnt a bluff your hand gun is useless ass most people would never draw it in time. I have a cousin that is a full time guide in Alaska The only gun he carrys for protection from animals is a 12 guage shot gun loaded with slug,buck,slug, slug. He said even a 500casual is useless. As far as meth heads I think I can get a arrow threw them just fine

[uhmw]

no paky the heat, I bow hunt for the thrill of it. Being scared of big foot and of course the big bad wolf is why I wonder into the bush at 3am half sleep. Having a gun would take all the fun out of it. I do keep a mean bowi knife on the side if I happen to see the whites of their eyes. naaa packin heat would seem to nix the whole me againt the woods with a bow mentality that drew me to the sport in the first place. I have seen some black bears up close and the pucker factor was there for sure.
PS: how do you cape a meth cookers rack????

[Norm]

Anything farther out than 20 feet is safe from my .45 . I'm a much better shot with my bow, so I don't bother with a sidearm while bowhunting. I'd rather trade the weight for something useful, like donuts .

[Rank Amateur]

It's legal so do what you want. I would like to point out that the outlaws quite regarulary use a firearm to bow hunt with. The change in the law will make it easier for them. Does it go on, yep, I caught a guy on opening day of archery season. Watched him shoot a buck with a rifle, then use his ATV to yard it out of a reprod patch. Later I find out he was a convicted felon. I drove right up to the guy and talked to him, complimented him on the nice buck (I was gathering info) and yes I had my .357 under my jacket! I wasn't hunting, at least four legged animals.

I also know of another incident of a guy who used a .357 to take a nice bull, tried to pass it off as a bow kill, but he got caught.

I agree with the statement that the bad guys are going to do it anyway, so if one of you guys can save your own bacon by packing, good.

[spinnerbob]

Why NOT carry one? True, the chances of EVER needing it might be EXTREMELY unlikely, but the conseqences of not having it will be your life. In reality, the only time you would ever need one is if things have gotten really bad. Even if there is the most remote possibilty that this will happen, I'm not going to take the chance!

Yes, yes, yes! And I wear a helmet, too!!! I COULD slip and hit my head, therefore, I MUST wear it at ALL times!!!

[woolybuggerboy]

we keep a 10/22 with a 50 rd clip (theif repellant) in the tent but thats it. If you have someone (or thing) attack you... i'd think a big pointy broadhead would be scarier than a gun. My uncles friend was ambushed by a cougar when elk hunting in montana and he luckily had a loaded rifle with him but he wouldn't have had time to draw a handgun unless it was in a shoulder holster

[Abalone]

When I think of all the people I know that have weapons permits and carry pistols in Town ( I don't) under their coats I am wondering what all this fuss is about ?

Where do you feel safer ?

In the woods or the City limits of Portland ?

[eightball]

Thats a no brainer. Definitly the woods.

[ehunter]

I agree in the woods. The one area that always gets tricky is the truck, the roads are where I see the most people. I some times keep a gun in my truck. Once I am in the woods I am fine. I am usally in the woods way before light. One year I came back at noon and two idiots had blocked me in so I could not leave. I waited for them to come back and when they got back they were get this mad at me for getting there first and hunting so they decided to block me in to teach me a lesson. I did learn a leason when I left I got their liscence plates and parked down the road futher and walked in the next time I saw them we were packing a elk out that was sweet . The roads are where I get nervous not in the woods.

[Abalone]

That reminds me.... It' not a good idea to park in front of locked gates. Though they are locked that doesn't mean someone won't pass through them. I have a winch and if need be !

[ehunter]

No Abalone I wasn't near the gate but I wish I had, had your winch,,,, :grin:

[Half fast Toyn]

The day I feel threatened in the woods by any kind of predator is the day I'll retire my bows and my guns.

[sliverpicker]

The day I feel threatened in the woods by any kind of predator is the day I'll retire my bows and my guns.

I get more more nervous crossing thru the "Big Megopolis" then I do hiking/hunting by myself in the mountains!