Carrying a pistol while scouting

[def90]

In Colorado you can carry concealed during hunting season while you are in the act of hunting even if you don’t have a concealed carry license. if you do not have a concealed carry license and you are not hunting you would have to open carry to remain legal.. then again if you are carrying concealed in the woods and you are doing it right who would ever know?

I use a Hill People Gear recon chest pack.

 

[Hunt4lyf]

There's not a whole hell of a lot of Chicago gang-bangers or M13 cartel members in the backcountry. So who the hell needs to pack a pistol. Odd.

Makes me want to stay well away from where all you pistol-packing crazies are hunting. Geesh.

What is odd about exercising your 2nd amendment rights? Only thing odd is coming onto a site such as this and making a statement such as "pistol packing crazies"

So I’m going to Colorado to do a little scouting before season. Wondering how many people actually pack a pistol when scouting/bowhunting just in case you run into a bears or lions? If so what is your preference on how to carry the pistol? I would think that the holster would get in the way of the backpack, etc.

much appreciated.

Yes, bad stuff can happen no matter where you are at.

Google "Alyssa Heberton", murdered out in the sticks by a chance encounter with a lunatic in Colorado.

 

[Gutshotem]

There's not a whole hell of a lot of Chicago gang-bangers or M13 cartel members in the backcountry. So who the hell needs to pack a pistol. Odd.

Yeah, what the hell is the OP thinking? Unless he's going to be in the company of some black or brown people, there's absolutely no reason he would ever need to carry a firearm.

 

[Rob5589]

What is odd about exercising your 2nd amendment rights? Only thing odd is coming onto a site such as this and making a statement such as "pistol packing crazies"



Yes, bad stuff can happen no matter where you are at.

Google "Alyssa Heberton", murdered out in the sticks by a chance encounter with a lunatic in Colorado.

Unfortunately even gun owners have consumed the "blood in the streets" koolaid that the anti 2A quacks spew. This is from the CDC, which is not exactly gun friendly...

 

[Flyjunky]

any suggestions on how to carry? I agree the holster may get in the way...

I use either a holster with molle attachment for my pack hip belt or one that attaches to my bino harness. The hip belt feels more natural since it’s closer to where I normally carry.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Fudd comes to mind.....

 

[awbowhunter]

I always carry, in Colorado I just carry a glock 43....and its not for bears...10 mm in bear country. Check out Ivory holsters. Great folks and they got a holster that will quickly transfer from your pack to waist belt if you drop your pack.

 

[SwiftShot]

If it makes you feel safer a HPG bag is a great way to carry. I grew up in Western Colorado and have been a backcountry enthusiast for 50 years. I almost never carry and never have needed a pistol.

I would think the pistol would be needed now more. All those two legged wolves.

 

[riversidejeep]

There's not a whole hell of a lot of Chicago gang-bangers or M13 cartel members in the backcountry. So who the hell needs to pack a pistol. Odd.

I see you must not hunt my neck of the woods, our National Forest is overrun by the MS-13 cartel, Hmong and Bulgarian mob assh*les. In the past 10 years deer hunting I have run into 6-8 pot gardens run by these guys. They like to put in 5-10,000 plant gardens in remote areas with water, just like the places I hunt. I gps the location and contact the F/S LEO and they say " We'll get right on that as soon as we have more resources". I don't blame the guy as I wouldn't do it by myself or with just a couple guy either. This year forward should be better as then pot prices have crashed and most out of the area growers are leaving. Now that they've killed most of the wildlife and screwed up most of the water sources , Damn right I pack a .45 ACP hiking in the woods.

 

[Phaseolus]

For the times I carry in backcountry I use The Recon. The great thing about HPG is their headquarters store is 20 minutes away so I go browse it a few times a year. I use the recon bag more for keeping calls and stuff together (without a pistol) archery hunting. https://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1

 

[Packin_packout]

For areas where I can openly carry I run my bladetech dropped offset holster so I can run it with a pack easily. If I have to go concealed I run the HPG chest pouch ( you can run it with a pack w/o issue). This means I don't have my bino's on my chest and have to fish them out which sucks. Just make sure you have spent time drawing and doing dry fire practice with both. Better yet go shoot an IDPA match with the gear you are planning to run. I strongly recommend a weapon light. I have had two occasions while hiking in to a glassing spot pre-dawn where i have gotten snapped at by bears in wyoming.

Makes me want to stay well away from where all you pistol-packing crazies are hunting. Geesh.

As far as why? Two legged and four legged. I wander from Texas to Montana. I have found active car stripping operations in the NF near Durango, actively protected pot grows in Texas, run into the guys trying to recover the square bales floated in to bypass checkpoints on national sea shores. I've had drunk idiots take potshots at me when I was out scouting in wyoming. Southern Arizona south of tucson...drug runners. Lots.

Just getting to and from hunting / scouting areas I had a drunk ute try into break into my truck when I was in the gas station in Bayfield Co, had a guy try the same thing when my kids where in the truck at a gas station in ABQ, had two guys start walking up telling me to give their money in dallas, stopped a guy beating on his GF at a campground in OK.

Critters have been pretty entertaining as well in TX,NM & WY. Have not had any issues in MT & ID but that's just a matter of time. Don't quote me on it but I think CO was basically saying more issues with moose then bears for people and I could believe it. Had two occasions in wyoming this winter while snowshoeing where moose got up out of their bed in the willows stomped at me.

Your mileage may vary as far as running into bad people or bad situations. The reality is that it can and does happen...just a matter of whether you are trained and prepared to deal with it when it does. I choose to be so I don't have to tell my wife I am sorry I got pulled out of my car by a carjacker with my 1yr old strapped into a car seat in the back. Being able to deal with this and several other situations has made sure I have not had to tell my wife I am sorry and make it home consistently.

 

[Yarak]

Rarely do you have to be concerned about the 4 legged predators in the good Ol USA but the two legged variety can be most anywhere at anytime so best option is to carry no matter where you are

 

[awbowhunter]

Like yarak mentions, get in the practice of carrying everywhere, if not the time you don't have it...WILL be when you need it. Unless your a fortune teller carry every day and everywhere. Concealed if needed.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I ran up on a major drug pick up once, from a plane drop.
An ATV chase ensued but they werent able to catch me.
I had my .357 on my belt and it felt really good as I watched
them speed past while I hid in the pines.
Always Carry.

 

[Mike Islander]

Makes me want to stay well away from where all you pistol-packing crazies are hunting. Geesh.

You better. ;-)

 

[RufusB.Marion]

Can second Ivory Holsters. Great product and great service. Why not carry a sidearm? My Kova-whatever can probably fight off a mountain lion with his/her/their bare hands, but for us mere mortals better to have one and not need it...

 

[Mike Islander]

Can second Ivory Holsters. Great product and great service. Why not carry a sidearm? My Kova-whatever can probably fight off a mountain lion with his/her/their bare hands, but for us mere mortals better to have one and not need it...

That was the one I was thinking of for backpacks. Excellent reputation. They make a custom holster for EXO packs.

 

[RufusB.Marion]

Don't get me wrong, I have loaded pistols and revolvers and shotguns and rifles stashed everywhere in various towns I hang out at. But as far as in the backcountry, I either carry one of my rifles or nothing. I just don't see the practicality of carrying a glock or an AR-15 or a sawed off shotgun in the backcountry, as personal defense against other humans, or even wildlife, for that matter. Of course, everyone dreams of being the next Steven Seagal, Jason Bourne, or Chris Kyle (lol).

"pistols and revolvers and shotguns and rifles stashed everywhere in various towns I hang out at." - Are you actually Jason Bourne....?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

There's not a whole hell of a lot of Chicago gang-bangers or M13 cartel members in the backcountry. So who the hell needs to pack a pistol. Odd.

Come to the southern border and your boogey men do exist.

 

[RufusB.Marion]

That was the one I was thinking of for backpacks. Excellent reputation. They make a custom holster for EXO packs.

Been using mine for 2 years now, no issues whatsoever except the tensioning screw fell out. The owner had me loaded up with screws within a few days at no cost. Can't say enough about them.