Anyone solve this?

[Where's Bruce?]

Worst case scenario... bring a grenade.... Ed F

Amazon.com doesn't sell em Ed...tried Bass Pro & Cabelas too. Where do you buy yours? Let the pandamonium begin.

 

[colonel00]

Where do you buy yours?

Army surplus, duh

 

[bowuntr]

I've never thought there was a reason to having one... just trying to help out. Common sense is you best defense around big bears. My experience is that if you prepare for the worst and have all this extra fancy, bulky, heavy equipment... you end up leaving it in camp. Keep it simple... Ed F

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Bears aren't the biggest threat...snakes are. The kind that slither and the kind that walk on two legs.

 

[Mtnboy]

Bears aren't the biggest threat...snakes are. The kind that slither and the kind that walk on two legs.

Unfortunately, this is how I feel these days too. Even deep in the backcountry...just look at the Amber Alert deal in Idaho this year.

I always pack heat of some form whenever I go in the woods anymore...call me paranoid

 

[bowuntr]

OK... I give up... Ed

 

[cwh]

I don't always carry a sidearm when hunting, but when I do...

Ok, I pretty much never carry a sidearm while hunting, but my sheep partner did the thigh holster with the 329PD this year, and I thought highly of his get up. Always with you, out of the way, and with a light revolver, it isn't a hindrance.

The other option I see people going with is the HPG kit bag: http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Products/tabid/762/categoryid/9/Default.aspx
I've not used one, but it seems handy for all the "stuff" you want quick access to. If you run a bino bra of any description, it will probably be in the way though.

For a knife I neck carry a fixed blade. Again, it is out of the way and there when you need it.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

An event some time back forever changed my opinion regarding the sidearm issue. My buddy and I are 8 miles from the Mexican border at dark thirty with our bows and FoxPro FX5…a little outing of predator calling in the Cleveland Nat’l Forest in eastern San Diego County. It’s a hilly area with lots of chaparral, perfect for close and personal coyote action with a bow. We sneak in 40 minutes before grey light, place the caller 25 yards out and settle in awaiting the rosy fingers of dawn to pierce the morning sky. Other than a few birds, there is nothing moving. Wearing 3D and tucked into the scrub brush, we are seated about 8 minutes or so when I hear movement directly behind me. I freeze, unsure what is approaching. I nock an arrow and remove my knife from its sheath…not sure exactly what to expect. The sound of heavy weight moving thru the chaparral is unnerving…whatever is coming up behind me is big.

I lock eyes with my buddy, they are wide open in fear and now I am filled with dread. When you see sheer terror on your hunting buddy’s face, you know you’re in deep sh*t.

The sound is moving laterally behind, not more than 15-20 feet. I’m thinking about jumping up so if it’s a mt. lion I am not such a small target but realize if it was a something like that, my pal would already be up on his feet. He’s not moving. I follow his lead. He can see what it is, I cannot…not until it turns again and move past me at 20 yards. At first all I saw was the gun, an AK47 slung over the shoulder of the dirtiest man I have ever seen. Then I saw his buddy, equally filthy and toting the same firearm. In tow were 34 others, all Latino, most likely Mexican. We sit perfectly still and watch as a total of 36 aliens pass by without a word. The “train” was completely male and no backpacks, which I thought was strange. Not at all like the videos you often see posted online with a mixed bag of men and women of all ages moving past a surveillance camera hidden along the trail.

[video=youtube;KD-OPWEmHp8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD-OPWEmHp8[/video]

It isn’t until they had passed a quarter mile away that my buddy and I broke silence. He calls the Border Patrol and gives em the GPS numbers, head count and weapons description. We beat it outta there ASAP.

Later my buddy is told we were extremely lucky. Just ahead of the group that passed us was another of equal size carrying backpacks of dope. The second group was the relief group. We had slid in right between the two. When we retrieved the game caller, there were shoe prints 5 feet away from it.

Now we never hunt that area with sticks and strings…I carry an R25 semi-auto in .308 w/ ten rd magazines. There’s an armed invasion taking place on the border and people who do not live near the southern border cannot imagine just how real the threat is. I didn’t fully appreciate it until this encounter. Though this all happened years ago…I can see it like it was yesterday. The most dangerous animal in the field has only two legs.

 

[123 4/8 P&Y]

Holy snap. I'm not a good enough shot with my cc pistols to beat 2 smugglers with AK's.

 

[luke moffat]

Where's Bruce...your above event sure does seem like a good reason to carry a side arm no doubt.

However, I misstood you when you typed your first post in this thread, I thought you were required, by law, to carry all those items at all times. Rather this is something you feel is to required these items at all times. I think hunting on Kodiak is another world away from hunting 8 miles from the Mexican border. I'd much rather deal with bears than people with guns anyday. The reality of the situation is that you are going to be on Kodiak WITH BEARS and not dangerous PEOPLE with guns.

Therefore I'd choose either the side arm or the spray which ever you feel more comfortable with in the unlikely even of having to deal with a bear. I leave leave which ever one you don't choose at home or atleast back at camp. IMO you don't need super quick access to a knife on a stalk so leaving it on your backpack won't be the end of teh world...

I use a crossfire holster the can be put on my belt or waistbelt of my pack and swapped back and forth in just a few seconds. Simple enough and can have it on me if I feel the need. I would say you are perhaps overthinking the bear scenario a little bit. Respect them certainly, but to be bringing spray, revolver, and a knife all at the ready would leave me to believe you are more worried about running into bears than actually hunting your quarry.

Everyone requires different things to make them feel comfortable though...so if having all those items on you at the ready at all times is what puts you at ease then by all means. Just my thoughts on it after hunting Kodiak on 7 different hunts. If I were to archery hunt on Kodiak I would take my revolver on the waistbelt of my pack...however to close the final distance I would have no problem with dropping my pack for the final stalk and leaving the revolver behind. Every situation is different though and I realize that, but honestly, I don't give much thought to the bears. Be smart, keep a clean camp, if not hunting a given area as you hike to the area you are hunting in, make some noise going through the tightly wooded alders/brush/ and grass....give them a heads up you are there so there aren't any surprises by either party.

Best of luck to you and above all do what makes you feel comfortable.

 

[bowuntr]

Well said Luke... Ed F

 

[Ray]

Bruce, you will like the Diamond D chest holster. I don't know how well it will function with a bow draw, but it does adjust from chest to armpit so it should work. You won't be bothered by the harness under a pack system.

One thing you need to do once you get it adjusted is lock the threads on all the fittings. They recommended using clear nail polish so they can be taken apart again.

 

[BRobertson]

A couple of things to keep in mind on the choice of holsters are weight and water soaking.
I bring this up because of the overall concern with packing extra ounces around here!
I always carry a revolver, because it is what I hunt with. I learned a long time ago to leave the leather holsters at home!!

I use nylon holsters exclusively because they will not absorb moisture as readily as leather, dry quickly, AND they weigh a fraction of what leather does!

As an example,:

The Simply Rugged leather holster for my 7 1/2 Freedom Arms weighs 21 oz

The Bianchi 4100 Ranger bandileer holster for same gun weighs 11 oz.

For some of the leather holsters, the difference is a lot more dramatic, as the Simply Rugged is a relatively light weight leather holster.
I far prefer it to the Diamond D holsters!!!

Bob

 

[MattB]

Everyone requires different things to make them feel comfortable though...so if having all those items on you at the ready at all times is what puts you at ease then by all means. Just my thoughts on it after hunting Kodiak on 7 different hunts. If I were to archery hunt on Kodiak I would take my revolver on the waistbelt of my pack...however to close the final distance I would have no problem with dropping my pack for the final stalk and leaving the revolver behind. Every situation is different though and I realize that, but honestly, I don't give much thought to the bears. Be smart, keep a clean camp, if not hunting a given area as you hike to the area you are hunting in, make some noise going through the tightly wooded alders/brush/ and grass....give them a heads up you are there so there aren't any surprises by either party.

Very well said.

 

[Yellowknife]

A couple of things to keep in mind on the choice of holsters are weight and water soaking.
I bring this up because of the overall concern with packing extra ounces around here!
I always carry a revolver, because it is what I hunt with. I learned a long time ago to leave the leather holsters at home!!

I use nylon holsters exclusively because they will not absorb moisture as readily as leather, dry quickly, AND they weigh a fraction of what leather does!

As an example,:

The Simply Rugged leather holster for my 7 1/2 Freedom Arms weighs 21 oz

The Bianchi 4100 Ranger bandileer holster for same gun weighs 11 oz.

For some of the leather holsters, the difference is a lot more dramatic, as the Simply Rugged is a relatively light weight leather holster.
I far prefer it to the Diamond D holsters!!!

Bob

You have a point there, and that is one reason I bought just the harness from Diamond D. I like his harness far better than the Simply Rugged version (have used both), and have used it with both nylon and plastic holsters.

I don't think I have a picture of me wearing it, but here it is sitting on my pack rigged on to a converted chest holster.



I find the Diamond D strap system is simpler and ahh.... more rugged, than the Simply Rugged chest rig, and rides under a pack better than the ones that padded ones that come stock on most synthetic holster rigs I've used. It's also sized for normal people (I had to cut 6+" out of the Simply Rugged)

The draw back to most of the nylon rigs I've tried is the draw. It seems like the retention system is usually slow to defeat, and it's often hard to get a solid grip. For a defensive gun, I want it into action with max speed and minimum fuss. (Note: I haven't tried the Bianchi system) Although I'm not really a fan of the SERPA holsters for a hip system, they do work well for a cross draw rig just because they release the gun so cleanly, and that's what I'm currently using when I carry my Glock. Its a homemade custom set up though, and not really an off the shelf item.

Yk

 

[BRobertson]

Interesting combo on your holster!!

I will have to experiment with the different strap/harness systems.
So far I have not had any issues with the padded straps, although the Bianchi isn't very thick, and has worked very well for many years.

I do have a new pack though and a new pair of binocs which are larger, and I will know more after next months goat hunt.

Bob

 

[Sam Millard]

Like Where's Bruce, I hunt on a border. While we don't have alien smuggling, there are heroin smugglers. To compound the risk, the area also holds the largest concentration of grizzlies in Idaho at certain times of the year. I carry a Glock and/or bear spray most of the year. When hunting with my "normal rifles", I don't worry so much about the handgun, but when all I have is my long range rig, the G20 comes with me. I like kydex holsters like Raven for their durability, light weight, and easy draw. I carry spray in a holster that is clipped with a plastic s biner to my pack. If I want to leave the pack, I can clip it to a belt loop.

A point was brought up about carrying both at the same time and not knowing which one to go for. I agree completely and train accordingly. I think the most important thing with all of this is to keep your head out of your ass and avoid the fight all together, but if you can't, try to have a plan!

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Like Where's Bruce, I hunt on a border. While we don't have alien smuggling, there are heroin smugglers. To compound the risk, the area also holds the largest concentration of grizzlies in Idaho at certain times of the year. I carry a Glock and/or bear spray most of the year. When hunting with my "normal rifles", I don't worry so much about the handgun, but when all I have is my long range rig, the G20 comes with me. I like kydex holsters like Raven for their durability, light weight, and easy draw. I carry spray in a holster that is clipped with a plastic s biner to my pack. If I want to leave the pack, I can clip it to a belt loop.
A point was brought up about carrying both at the same time and not knowing which one to go for. I agree completely and train accordingly. I think the most important thing with all of this is to keep your head out of your ass and avoid the fight all together, but if you can't, try to have a plan!

I tend to think bear spray for bears and the sidearm for SHTF situations. Spray has the better success stats on bear defense but because wind can be a factor and spraying in some situations will only blind and disable you, you must be able to decide what to do in a nanosecond. Practicing bear spray draw & use using inert spray cans in different weather conditions is a good idea. It teaches you the limitations. If i could identify a good snug-fitting nylon holster like the D ring I would jump on it but nylon holsters haven't worked out well for me in the past. Had my .44 fall out of a flap holster 3 times one day. The damn thing was junk. Now I carry it in a Bianche. If the area doesn't have brown bears I skip the spray but I always carry a sidearm. I just feel better when I'm strapped...even when I'm working. Carry my LCR in a Remora holster all day. My residence has nine surveillance cameras covering the property that I can access remotely on my cell, iPad or any computer and I have high/low tech alarm systems, the best lighting on the block and 3 dogs trained to bark at anything that moves. All my girls can shoot any weapon and are trained for home defense via midnight drills. They understand overlapping fields of fire and muzzle control. Call me paranoid. I prefer to tilt the odds in my favor. Just the way I roll. May be a little OCD involved but if so...it's not clinical. Yeah...I was a boy scout in the 60s.

 

[bowuntr]

OK... I'll say it... you're paranoid... Ed F

 

[JoshTX]

I carry a G19 in a Comp-Tac Minotaur (fit for that gun) and I have found that this works pretty well for me at home/work. When I'm in the backcountry I still like to carry but I've tried all sorts of options that frankly left me underwhelmed. While I like the G19 it's not too good for critters so I got a G20SF and I like it a lot. The gun is (for me) soft shooting and accurate. I don't remember how I got the idea to try but the G20 fits quite well in the Minotaur for the G19. I assume this is because of the leather backing on the holster is pliable and allows for the added thickness of the G20. I got the idea to try to fit the setup on my KU5200 belt (over the padding, but under the accessory strap or whatever) and it worked perfectly. I keep a KU small pouch on that side the setup does not interfere with the belt or the pouch and I'm able to access the weapon without issue. This works for me because I like to keep things simple. Same holster, same draw stroke/angle and same required muscle memory, either at home or on a hunt. If I decide to hunt without the pack, I'm able to take the holster/weapon out and carry it on my body. Be advised the holster is not a retention holster and if you get too funky in your movements the weapon can fall out, though this has not happened to me yet.
Anyways, it's what I do and it works for me.