cub_driver
Registered User
Big Lake AK
When it comes to personal protection in the woods I have always been in favor of a large magnum rifle. With the new development of slugs I have been taking my faithfull 870 with its short barrel and folding stock. I feel confident with it and it is much less trouble to carry in the plane and in the field.
Last summer I was up west of MaGrath at a friends gold mine. I was planing on moving some equipment to another mine 7 miles away. I landed on the lonely little strip and began to shuttle equipment to the little shelter about 300 yards away. When I returned to my airplane after the last load I was shocked to see a black bear with his two front paws on the open door of my plane and his head well inside if it. Being I had had my arms full I didn't bother to carry the gun with me it now layed inside of the plane with the bear. My first reaction was to start yelling at the bear but it seemed to do little good. I looked around for things to defend myself with and saw nothing. The area had been burned of several years earlier and there was nothing bigger then a switch to be found but I still kept yelling at the bear to move. The bear finally moved out of my plane with out doing any damage. The bear turned my direction stopped to sniff my tire all I could think of was he was going to chew up my bushwheels so I yelled some more and shook some brush. This had little effect on the bear and he moved my direction again but then walked around the plane and sniffed the other tire. I yelled more he finaly moved about 50 yards away and I made one fluid jump into the plane and fired it up. I never seen the bear after that. I really wanted to put a chase on him.
My point being my gun did me absolutly no good in my plane, with the bear. I am considering one of the new titanium pistols for protection here is my thinking. I know a 44 mag is minimal power but if I put it in a hip holster it will be with me every time I leave the airplane no matter what the situation is. I doubt it will be in my way plus the weight will be minimal I should have no excuse to leave it at home. What do you guys think? How many of you guys are packing pistols when your out and about. I only plan on taking one gun with me I have enough other stuff to carry.
Cub_Driver
Last summer I was up west of MaGrath at a friends gold mine. I was planing on moving some equipment to another mine 7 miles away. I landed on the lonely little strip and began to shuttle equipment to the little shelter about 300 yards away. When I returned to my airplane after the last load I was shocked to see a black bear with his two front paws on the open door of my plane and his head well inside if it. Being I had had my arms full I didn't bother to carry the gun with me it now layed inside of the plane with the bear. My first reaction was to start yelling at the bear but it seemed to do little good. I looked around for things to defend myself with and saw nothing. The area had been burned of several years earlier and there was nothing bigger then a switch to be found but I still kept yelling at the bear to move. The bear finally moved out of my plane with out doing any damage. The bear turned my direction stopped to sniff my tire all I could think of was he was going to chew up my bushwheels so I yelled some more and shook some brush. This had little effect on the bear and he moved my direction again but then walked around the plane and sniffed the other tire. I yelled more he finaly moved about 50 yards away and I made one fluid jump into the plane and fired it up. I never seen the bear after that. I really wanted to put a chase on him.
My point being my gun did me absolutly no good in my plane, with the bear. I am considering one of the new titanium pistols for protection here is my thinking. I know a 44 mag is minimal power but if I put it in a hip holster it will be with me every time I leave the airplane no matter what the situation is. I doubt it will be in my way plus the weight will be minimal I should have no excuse to leave it at home. What do you guys think? How many of you guys are packing pistols when your out and about. I only plan on taking one gun with me I have enough other stuff to carry.
Cub_Driver