Still, it demonstrates that one should not wander totally unarmed in the
wild.

...

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats?

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a new
reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as they
evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from the system....

I look forward to your ideas....

On 2009-11-01, Clurrie <clurrie at (no spam) NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

Still, it demonstrates that one should not wander totally unarmed in the
wild.

...
Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats?


Arrgh.

There are thousands of ways to die in the backcountry.

You can only carry so much gear, so what you want to do
is try to cover the mostly likely ways you're gonna die.

In the continental US backcountry, fatal animal attacks,
particularly ones that a weapon can help prevent, are
*very* rare.

Death by hypothermia or dehydration, depending on the
environment, is infinitely more common.

If you have available carrying capacity, more layers, more
fast-burning carbs, and more water are the usual things to
bring along if you want to increase your survival chances.

Weapons are so far down the list that I don't know anyone
who carries one, apart from tools like ice axes and trekking
poles that incidentally could be used as weapons.

BTW, if you want to make the scout's life better, give them
trekking poles. The things are worth more than their weight
and, if you really are a bed-wetter type and fantasize that
weapons in the backcountry have some utility, poles are prolly
about the most useful thing you could carry for interacting
with critters.

Now, trekking (or "walking") poles are loved by millions. I never have

In article <4aeceac5$0$5343$9a566e8b at (no spam) news.aliant.net>,
Clurrie <clurrie at (no spam) NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a new
reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as they
evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from the system....

I look forward to your ideas....

I have carried my Alaskan Bush Knife for the last 5 decades when out
in the bush, and I am sure it would suffice, for any protection needed
from this type of attack. I also liked Wolf's Trekking Poles... I have
a Brother-in-Law that kept a cougar at bay with an Ice Axe... similar
situation and tool....

I too carry a bush knife for over a decade (one that I made myself see

Bruce in alaska wrote:
In article <4aeceac5$0$5343$9a566e8b at (no spam) news.aliant.net>,
Clurrie <clurrie at (no spam) NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old
scout might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike
for defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a new
reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as they
evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from the
system....

I look forward to your ideas....

I have carried my Alaskan Bush Knife for the last 5 decades when out
in the bush, and I am sure it would suffice, for any protection needed
from this type of attack. I also liked Wolf's Trekking Poles... I have
a Brother-in-Law that kept a cougar at bay with an Ice Axe... similar
situation and tool....

I too carry a bush knife for over a decade (one that I made myself see
http://clurrie.150m.com/Knives/NouveauCoureurDesBoisPage.html if you're
curious). Although I think it's worth more than many tools twice its
weight and could be an awesome defensive weapon in the unlikely event of
an attack, I realize that not everyone will be comfortable carrying one.
I don't see me voluntarily going in the wilderness without it, but many
are intimidated by its size and weight. I believe it's a tool that can
protect you from the really usual dangers and the unusual ones too...



Clurrie
"Be careful out there, there are things that can hurt you"

Clurrie wrote:
Bruce in alaska wrote:
In article <4aeceac5$0$5343$9a566e8b at (no spam) news.aliant.net>,
Clurrie <clurrie at (no spam) NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old
scout might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike
for defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a
new reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as
they evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from
the system....

I look forward to your ideas....

I have carried my Alaskan Bush Knife for the last 5 decades when out
in the bush, and I am sure it would suffice, for any protection
needed from this type of attack. I also liked Wolf's Trekking
Poles... I have
a Brother-in-Law that kept a cougar at bay with an Ice Axe... similar
situation and tool....

I too carry a bush knife for over a decade (one that I made myself see
http://clurrie.150m.com/Knives/NouveauCoureurDesBoisPage.html if
you're curious). Although I think it's worth more than many tools
twice its weight and could be an awesome defensive weapon in the
unlikely event of an attack, I realize that not everyone will be
comfortable carrying one. I don't see me voluntarily going in the
wilderness without it, but many are intimidated by its size and
weight. I believe it's a tool that can protect you from the really
usual dangers and the unusual ones too...



Clurrie
"Be careful out there, there are things that can hurt you"

Neat stuff, but I think you should look at the page
you referenced above. There is a google ad that moves
with the page and covers part of your text. Since your
text flows with soft returns, there is no way to move
the ad off the text.
Right. Sorry about that. The annoyances of having to go to a free

This is the first time an adult has been reported killed by coyotes.
Its about one a year for bears, one every five years for mountains
lions,
40 per year for domestic dogs, 40 per year for lightning, 600 auto-
deer accidents.

The last three may be worth worrying about.

I'm sure it won't stop me from going into the woods (dogs, lightning and

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a new
reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as they
evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from the
system....

Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats?

rick++ wrote:
This is the first time an adult has been reported killed by coyotes.
Its about one a year for bears, one every five years for mountains
lions,
40 per year for domestic dogs, 40 per year for lightning, 600 auto-
deer accidents.

The last three may be worth worrying about.

I'm sure it won't stop me from going into the woods (dogs, lightning and
deer on the road don't do much to stop me from doing things, but I do
take precautions like not playing golf or hiding under solitary trees
during thunderstorms, not ignoring large, aggressive dogs and watching
for the telltale signs of animals about to climb into the roadway from
the shoulder while driving country roads). I also intend, when my turn
comes, to take the H1N1 vaccine, even though it hasn't yet become
another version of the Spanish flu. I wash my hands often and take my
vitamins like the doctors say to - just in case. I know some people are
going to ask me what should be done to be ready if something like this
and I'd like to have a thought-out, reasonable answer to give them. Like
I said in my original post, I don't think a firearm or any such "extra"
is a reasonable approach, but I'm sure experienced backcountry people
have thought of "what-if" scenarios. I know I have.

So far, we've come up with a walking sick (or trekking pole) and a bush
knife as equipment that could easily and practically be used to try and
dissuade a rogue animal from using you as their main course for the next
meal. Interestingly, these were what came to my mind at first... Now,
an ice axe was also mentioned and that I had not though of, not being an
ice climber... Interesting, though. Anyways, I will appreciate any
reasonable suggestion. I think it's one of those things you kinda work
over in your mind once in a while when the trail gets long and boring...
:O)

Clurrie wrote:
Does anybody have some other good weapons that,say, a 12 year old scout
might realistically and legally bring on his or her next hike for
defense against such threats? This may be the thin edge of a new
reality where animals that have not become more of a threat as they
evolve to replace others we humans thoughtlessly removed from the
system....

A 12-year-old scout might want to enjoy the wonderful, unusual
experience of seeing a coyote.

The danger of getting fatally mauled is many orders of magnitude less
than the danger of getting hit by a car crossing the street -- or of
drowning in a bathtub, for that matter.

Four militants armed with AK-46's. Bear wins:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8339549.stm

"Bear kills militants in Kashmir"

"A bear killed two militants after discovering them in its den in
Indian-administered Kashmir, police say."

"Two other militants escaped, one of them badly wounded, after the attack
in Kulgam district, south of Srinagar."

"The militants were armed with AK-46s but were taken by surprise - police
found the remains of pudding they had made to eat when the bear
attacked."

I guess the bear didn't have room for dessert.

In article <DbOdnX1ex5fL2W3XnZ2dnUVZ_hudnZ2d at (no spam) supernews.com>,
pbj <postittothenewsgroup at (no spam) nospam.com> wrote:

Four militants armed with AK-46's. Bear wins:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8339549.stm

"Bear kills militants in Kashmir"

"A bear killed two militants after discovering them in its den in
Indian-administered Kashmir, police say."

"Two other militants escaped, one of them badly wounded, after the
attack in Kulgam district, south of Srinagar."

"The militants were armed with AK-46s but were taken by surprise -
police found the remains of pudding they had made to eat when the bear
attacked."

I guess the bear didn't have room for dessert. :-)

Sonny, can you tell us ALL, Just what kind of firearm is an AK-46?????

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of folks.........