Taking a gun on the bowhunt

T

TheFever

Active Member
Messages
538
Reading all of the stories about bears and cougars in our outdoors, I wanted to take a handgun with me on the bowhunt for protection. Sounds like standard procedure for most of you guys. I was talking to my uncle and had mentioned this, and he said that the rangers or whomever don't like hunters to carry a gun on a bowhunt.

Is it cool for me to carry a pistol, or will that get me in trouble? Thanks for any feedback.
 
It is not leagle here in Calif to cary any firearm during archery season.Some states it's OK.Be sure to read the regs....Good luck & Good Hunting!
 
You CANNOT carry a firearm during a bowhunt here in UT, UNLESS you have a CCW permit...then you may have a pistol on you, provided it is not used to take protected game. That is a good reason to get one, besides when you head downtown or to the mall. :)
-223
 
Yep there are only two ways the easiest is to get a concealed carry permit, the other you have to be hunting with livestock horses pack goats or somthing like that, there is a law that allows you to carry on the archery hunt to protect livestock.
 
Not standard procedure that I know of. I'd worry more about wearing your seatbelt on the way to your hunting area.
 
I carry my pistol with me every time i'm out archery hunting. To be legal you need a concealed carry permit, or be a law enforcement officer, or both!

Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!!!

}}-SLIVER-->
 
i live in oregon and here the law states that a person can not be prevented from carrying a firearm in the outdoors at any time regardless of any hunting that is taking place. the odfw can dictate what weapon you can hunt with (shoot the animal with) but not what you can carry. i would think that other states would have to adopt some sort of law like this to keep from infringment on 2nd amendmet rights. any thoughts?
 
i have never heard of anyone getting harassed for carrying in utah even WITHOUT a CCP.

just use your head don't plunk chipmunks all day while your bowhunting and who will know?

i open carry most the time while bowhunting, the reason is my pack has my holster on the waist strap, because there is no way i could draw it if my pack is on. without the pack on it is CC.

and i have drawn it multiple times, but never fired while bowhunting, last year was the closed i have come to using it. 10 yard standoff with a very curious bear. lions are worse though.
 
Here in Michigan it is illegal to carry a firearm during archery season unless you have a ccw permit. However even if you have a ccw you can't use it. We have so many laws covering handguns i don't even own one any more.
 
I just recently received my CCW. I know that it is technically illegal unless you have the CCW. Here's my beef:
If you are road hunting where there are rangers you more than likely don't need a handgun for protection against bears or cougars- most likely. If you are hiking the backwoods where bears and cougars frequent, you are more likely to need the handgun and much, much less likely to run into a ranger who is going to give you are hard time about it.
I take my .45 for protection in camp from other people more than animals. I've heard a few stories about people being robbed or worse in camp when criminals brought guns to the fight.
my advise: Get a CCW permit. Be legal, don't take a chance.

Good luck and good hunting to you!
 
Here in Wyoming you can't have one on ya. I even got grilled on it last year. Had an antelope tag roughly same area as my elk. Warden stopped by while I was archery hunting and wanted to know what the rifle was for. Had to show him my antelope tag to let him know I was legit. I've hunted plenty in bear country around Meeteetsee and in the Thorofare. A lot more guides up there these days carrying bear spray than pistols. I leave my revolver at home and carry a large can of spray. It's lighter and I'm thinking I'll be reasonably accurate with it while I'm crapping my pants in fear should a large bear start charging me. Not sure I could hit a bear with my sidearm in the same situation...
 
bear spray has come along way,
but i carry Carry pretty much 24-7. i am so used to it, i feel naked without it. and adding something else is not really needed.

and like stated above it is not always about the animals.
 
Depends on how far your willing to take it, The 2nd amendment to the constitutions gives you the right to bear arms, Now Im one that will take it as far as the Ranger or who ever else wants to take it, I pack always in the woods, regardless of the rules because the 2nd amendmet says I can and In my eyes that rule trumps all others. Just my .02
 
>Depends on how far your willing
>to take it, The 2nd
>amendment to the constitutions gives
>you the right to bear
>arms, Now Im one that
>will take it as far
>as the Ranger or who
>ever else wants to take
>it, I pack always in
>the woods, regardless of the
>rules because the 2nd amendmet
>says I can and In
>my eyes that rule trumps
>all others. Just my .02
>


that pretty much sums it up in my eyes too. if you were cited and the was zero evidence that you used it to take game you will win 100% of the time,
 
Down in AZ along the border I think you would be a fool NOT TO CARRY a sidearm, It hell sittin in a blind or treestand and having just your bow, and have a group of IA with a mule carrying a AK 47 stops in for a drink of water on the same waterhole you sitting, Bow Gun fight just don't seem fair.
 
take a pistol, the hell with the law, I have been in far to many situations where i have almost needed the pistol. go light & keep it out of site & obey the law & you should have no problems. also you have the right to take your gun into the n.f & shoot any time so whats the difference.
 
I now carry a pistol because 3 years ago while stalking a bull on my le archery hunt, I walked within 60 yards of a bear feeding on grubs. Scared the Ch#@*@*# out of me. I do have a CCW permit.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-08 AT 02:19PM (MST)[p]I had to call the F&G. Was unable to find it in the regs. In Idaho you can carry during Bow season
 
>I now carry a pistol because
>3 years ago while stalking
>a bull on my le
>archery hunt, I walked within
>60 yards of a bear
>feeding on grubs. Scared
>the Ch#@*@*# out of me.
> I do have a
>CCW permit.

I hate to tell you this but at 60 yds that bear would of been on you and tearing your throat out before you could have even got your gun out of the holster let alone been able to place a lethal shot. That being said I only have a firearm on me when in camp, 12ga, during the bow season for reasons others have mentioned, thiefs and black bears. During the hunt I only carry pepper spray for animal attack defense. 95% of the hunting population could not place a lethal shot on a charging bear with a hand gun.
 
60 yards in less than a second! thats one fast bear.

i'm not saying they are slow, and i'm not saying everyone is wyatt earp, but with a little training and practice, most hunters would have no problem with a handgun.

after the 1st shot the bear will probably loose interest real fast even with a miss.

but to each his own..

the pepper spray reminds me of a very funny joke. the punch line.......the grizzly bear scat smells like pepper and is full of bells.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-08 AT 09:59PM (MST)[p]also.

i have yet to see a holster for pepper spray that is worth 2 bits.

they are cheap, cumbersome and do not work, so where does it go? in the pack of course. now how fast can you get it out of that?

or even a cargo pants pocket. good luck. the bear will pepper you as he eats you........



here is a good pic.


488e9555656931cb.jpg
 
Abomb

Sometimes you don't have to have a lethal shot to scare off a bear. A grizz with a cub attacked a guy I worked with. He was so scared when he pulled his gun he ripped his holster with the belt still attached and shot the bear. It did not kill the bear but the 357 stung enough to stop the charge.

Frozen
 
I have hunted in some of the highest grizzly pop. areas in the lower 48. Taylor Fork In Montana and The North Fork Shoshone In Wyoming, for over 18 years. I have had to fire warning shots to charging bears and also spray a couple. No fun to say the least. I guess my main point is that spray will deter a charging bear 99% of the time and not be lethal to the bear who is just acting out to survive. I have talked to many people who have shot charging bears only to be mauled even though the shot was lethal. A lot of people talk like they could shoot like "Wyatt Earp"( thanks rifle666) but to be put into the situation with no way to train, most will fail. I was not trying to attack you rifle666 and sorry if you feel I was. Now as for the bears in AK, which I have hunted in, I would carry nothing but a big magnum with a heavy payload. This is a never ending topic and everyone has their opinion. I am done with this one. Good Hunting and clean kills! Oh yeah that sign pic is funny.
 
no need to apologize, all friends here, i was not trying to attack.

i just don't like spray, personal preference. i am not convinced of spray yet.

i will take my chances with my sidearm.
 
Last year in the rut for mulies, a mountain lion stalked me and was waiting under a scrub oak 20 yards in front of me! I could not see him without my binos. Dont know if I would have had time to shoot my pistol if he decided to come in, but on that trip, thats the only time I have went without my pistol. Scared the crap out of me, he sat there for about 25 minutes. I took a shot with my bow after about 10 minutes, to try scare him, cause I had a 4" clear spot to get a good shot. That only made him crawl closer to me. He finally backed out, and that's when I backed out the other way! Slowly! I would have been a lot more comfortable with my .40 cal! So I dont go in the woods without packing on my hip. Loaded and ready!
 
I've had close cougar encounters, and I am now starting to carry all the time the field, but more for protection against people. Lots of nutzos in the outdoors , and I don't mean honest hunters, fisherman or other regular outdoors people. Odds are I will never run into anyone face-to- face that will harm me, but I guess you never know for sure(I've run into them , but not so much face to face).
It makes a better 3 shot distress signal than a bow at night if you ever get hurt anyways.
 
I always pack my .45! Not only do I feel more comfortable with it while archery hunting it is also my right to carry a firearm. Maybe I would miss a cougar or maybe not I will hopefully never have to find out. I don't like the spray for the fact that if the wind is in your face your screwed...

Jeremiah
 
jerimiah hit the nail on the head, it is our right to carry a firearm in to the field. If you have a hunting lisense with you, no game warrden has any right to give you beef for having a side arm on an archery hunt. We are all Hunters on this forum, Let's be proud of the 2nd and excersise our right, heck the best thing to do that has allready been said is to get a CWP, afterall you never know when you will need a side arm anymore. Good luck hunting this fall and best wishes. JT, Teton country
 
>LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-08
>AT 02:19?PM (MST)
>
>I had to call the F&G.
>Was unable to find it
>in the regs. In Idaho
>you can carry during Bow
>season



ya gotta be careful unless idaho changed the rules the only weapon u can carry is a pistol, also we are starting to get people pull guns up here on you when you shoot an animal claiming they shot it...happened to me and i have heard stories, but a pistol might just get ya dead too, it might add to the fire

47e9fcb352ad748f.jpg

has anyone seen my kittie
 
>Here in Wyoming you can't have
>one on ya. I
>even got grilled on it
>last year. Had an
>antelope tag roughly same area
>as my elk. Warden
>stopped by while I was
>archery hunting and wanted to
>know what the rifle was
>for. Had to show
>him my antelope tag to
>let him know I was
>legit. I've hunted plenty
>in bear country around Meeteetsee
>and in the Thorofare.
>A lot more guides up
>there these days carrying bear
>spray than pistols. I
>leave my revolver at home
>and carry a large can
>of spray. It's lighter
>and I'm thinking I'll be
>reasonably accurate with it while
>I'm crapping my pants in
>fear should a large bear
>start charging me. Not
>sure I could hit a
>bear with my sidearm in
>the same situation...

Taken straight from the Wyo game and fish site:

"Q. Can I carry a handgun while archery hunting?

A. Yes. An archery hunter may possess a firearm during a special archery or limited quota archery only hunting season. Firearms may not be used to take big game during an archery only season, however."




Nothing like guttin' a 6x6 elk at 7:30 in the morning.
 
WOW, hard for me not to rant on this subject,California law say's you cannot possess a firearm while afield during bowseason and that includes your campsite, if you hunt with an archery only tag as I do theres an even stricter law that says you cannot possess a firearm even when hunting during general season with your bow, what nonsense ! When I challenged the dfg they said they had never heard of a bowhunter getting attacked by a bear or mountain lion so not to worry,I responded with A... bowhunters a a general rule are less likely to poach than rifle hunters B..we sneak around the woods before the general season so the chance of getting into close contact with dangerous game is greatly increased C... what about the numerous pot farms on NF property and thier illegal protectors D...how about the lady that was walking her 2 dog's within 3 miles of where I hunt in Kern county that was attacked and damn near killed by a black bear, losing her teeth and maybe her eye before escaping, and lastly I pointed out that I believe that I'm as brave as anyone I know but 2 yrs ago I wounded a black bear and waited an hour before tracking, We tracked that bear on hands and knees for 3 hours thru ungodly thick brush, I gave up the search when I followed the blood trail to a point where the trail back tracked above us for about 20 yards and I could see by the blood that he had waited there to ambush us as we went by, fortunately he lost his nerve and bolted down into a canyon that I wouldn't follow him into without my .44.Fish and Game was unimpressed and told me that if I didn't like the law to go to a meeting and complain.
 
Since when does callifornia fish and game have power over our 2nd amendment. this is BS and it's time we put outdoorsmen in to the fish and game instead of activists.
 
Man up and leave the gun at home. Carrying a sidearm is NOT standard procedure. The only fellas I see doing this are the same ones that don't remove their butts from their ATV all season long. If bears and lions scare you than carry a can of spray on your hip. Much more effective if a critter decides to turn you into lunch and legal no matter where you are. The vast majority of guys cannot stop a charging bear with 1 shot from a handgun (1 shot if you are lucky). Do the research before you carry 4 pounds of useless steel all day.
 
You can't carry a pistol in a bar, into a school, onto a military base, into a court house and you can't carry one during bow season in states where it is not allowed by law. Doesn't mean I agree, but it just how it is. If you've got 6 years and a few hundred thousand, you can try and get it changed by appealing in federal court. Have fun!
 
You can carry one here in Oregon during bow season. Was defeated in court a couple years back. Don't carry one if ya don't want.
 
I would carry one in Oregon or any other state where it was legal. My handgun is one of my best friends and we go about everywhere together. I just wouldn't carry it bow hunting in a state where there was a law against it. Personlly, I don't need the grief of a long court fight but I agree with trying to get the state to change the rule.

Just from watching, it seems that people who like to define what the constitution says don't always see things the way judges do. Also, judges in different states don't always agree. It may have been beat in Oregon, but that is no guarantee a judge in Cali or elswhere will see it the same way. Legal has different meanings in differnt places.
 
Whatever helps you sleep at night. I think some have been reading too many scary stories for bedtime. In Oregon you are more likely to be attacked by a hippie tree hugger than a lion.
 
I sleep well at night. If you want to leave your guns at home go ahead. Just cause your against handguns doesn't mean everyone else is.
 
chewy

whats the big deal? let em pack, it is no show of manhood at all, some carry some don't,
I do, am i less of man? i hunt hard and quiet, i could not count the times while Elk calling i have called in a bear or lion. or had a lion stalk me on a dark trail. or wake a sleeping bear.


or more recently, my wife sat on her deer in the book cliffs for two hours waiting for me to get back with the game cart/ flashlights and other gear, this is PRIME bear country. she sat with that deer and gut pile with her .38 spc. on the hip. i would not have left her otherwise.

pepper spray goes on eggs and toast.



live life one mule deer at a time.
 
Yes, I agree to each his own. When it's legal...go for it. I am just tired of guys breaking the law in other states where it is illegal to pack handguns during the bow hunt. I've had archery hunters decide to plink rocks and logs during the day in the very canyons they and others are chasing elk! And these are places that it is ILLEGAL! Pepper spray my friend, does not go on eggs. Like I said, do the research. You've got a charging bear...are you going to trust your shaking hands, and pissed pants for that one fateful shot or are you going to put out a fog and let the bear get worked over. If you have ANY doubts than check out some vids of Wayne Carlton calling in bears. Time after time the stuff has been proven. I don't sell the stuff, I just think it is about time people realize the benefits of the product. Whatever works for you though.
 
i agree, when it is not legal then no they should not be packing and plinking, and if not legal they better keep it in a pack,, witch would render it useless,

in my hunting adventures the ones doing the plinking Usually are not the ones with archery tags. they are joe camper and his 20 kids living out a beer educed fantasy of living in the wild .. for two days.

in fact i cannot every remember a single time i saw a bow hunter "plinking"

as far as confidence, i am totally confident in my abilities with pressure and a pistol, or revolver. but i shoot almost every day. not to say i'm dirty harry or doc holiday,

changing to spray would make me less confidant, mainly due to lack of real time practice.
no one on the currant market offers a "practice" spray can. just the 49.00$ real deal.

when one of the many companies makes a practice round, i may try it.

the wayne C video.. "they come to eat" is one of my all time favorite product movies. it is nuts.

for now i will stick to my SW.

soon to come.....the JUDGE. that will be my hunting carry backup.


I live life one mule deer at a time.
 
So what if i'm not bow hunting but i carry one durring the bow hunt while i'm scouting for muzzeloader or rifle season? is that ok? i would think so since i don't have an archery permit. i don't mean consealing either.
 
2nd amendment. Does this mean nothing. It's not to prove anyones man hood, it's the concept of our rights being stripped from us one law at a time. By the way, I hunt archery full time, with a recurvrve fread bear, does that make me less of a man. I killed 3 black bears last year with a recurve does that make me less of a man? I had my .44 on my side the whole time, now that i think of it, i like the feeling of my .44 , and i think it makes me more of a man. JT we are all sportsmen, lets do what we got to do to do it.
 
>Yes, I agree to each his
>own. When it's legal...go for
>it. I am just tired
>of guys breaking the law
>in other states where it
>is illegal to pack handguns
>during the bow hunt. I've
>had archery hunters decide to
>plink rocks and logs during
>the day in the very
>canyons they and others are
>chasing elk! And these are
>places that it is ILLEGAL!
>Pepper spray my friend, does
>not go on eggs. Like
>I said, do the research.
>You've got a charging bear...are
>you going to trust your
>shaking hands, and pissed pants
>for that one fateful shot
>or are you going to
>put out a fog and
>let the bear get worked
>over. If you have ANY
>doubts than check out some
>vids of Wayne Carlton calling
>in bears. Time after time
>the stuff has been proven.
>I don't sell the stuff,
>I just think it is
>about time people realize the
>benefits of the product. Whatever
>works for you though.

I can tell you from experience that my hand's don't shake and there isn't a drop of piss in my pant's and the .44 gr hardcast .44 goe's right where it was aimed !they tell you to try the spray first to make sure you're familar with it and that it work's, what they don't tell you is that after the test the hole may clog up and you won't know until it's too late. I don't get my real life experience from Wayne Carlton video's, stop judging people and get a life, as hunter's we get enough crap from anti's without crapping on ourselve's.
 
I agree with you on this one. A can of pepper is no match for a well placed shot from a powerful hand gun. I have my ccw and never leave home without a pistol in my waist band. This holds true for hunting too. No matter where i go or what i hunt or the weapon.
I don't carry my pistol for the fear of animals as much as the 2-legged freaks that are in the field. It takes 2.0 seconds for some idiot to point his gun at you and fire for no reason or a stupid reason. How many people have been murdered or seriously injured under these same circumstances? Too many for me to feel safe without it. All these other guys can have their cans. I will keep packing steel.
 
That's a good point indeed. There are definately some hairy situations with other hunters or antis from time to time. I can see that being an issue for sure. It really is one of those issues you can go in circles about but I can see carrying for something like that. I am sure more than a few of us have had a gun brandished by a overly aggressive and mis-informed land owner who believes he owns BLM/Forest land as well or just simply believes he can intimidate you into believing he does. I will admit...my bear spray isn't going to get me out of that situation. Quick draw pepper spray vs .44 mag...I don't like my chances.
 

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