Should you carry a firearm while bowhunting in Wyoming

[BipolarBear]

With wolves, lions, moose and bears out in the wilderness here should I carry a firearm for protection or am I just overthinking situations out here. Could always just kick em really hard if they get to close. What's your thoughts?

 

[Glendon Mullins]

I feel like I should move this thread from the General Forum to an appropriate one, but I can't figure out if i should move it to the firearms, archery, moose, varmint or bear forum?? lol Let m guess your hunting deer as well??!! lol

Your username certainly fits lol

 

[wildwilderness]

I would if hunting in known Grizzly country, especially while field dressing and packing an animal.

 

[Dos Perros]

What part of WY?

 

[Sam Colt]

Only things to attack me while hunting in Wyoming were a grumpy badger and an ugly waitress. Even the buzztails gave me a wide berth.

 

[taskswap]

So the waitress... did you "have it coming?"

 

[Maverick1]

Do what makes you feel safe and comfortable.

 

[Beendare]

BB, if you do a search there are many threads on packing a pistol in Bowhunting season.

I am a guy that only packed a backup on Kodiak island hunts....for decades I never packed a pistol bowhunting the lower 48.

Now I do. Short story; I think things have changed. More aggressive critters and I'm older and usually alone- nice to have that backup.

I carry a SW Shield 9mm or a G19 in black bear country....and a G20 10mm in big bear country-both with hard cast ammo. Plus I practice draw and shoot a lot to make sure I'm a decent shot with them.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Did the waitress identify as a cougar?

 

[Sam Colt]

So the waitress... did you "have it coming?"

I expect so. My guess is that I likely said something like, “seen a lot of deer and antelope, but hardly any beaver.” Glad I didn’t get coffee poured on me.

 

[Sam Colt]

Did the waitress identify as a cougar?

I’d have been safe at my age!

 

[DenimChicken]

If it’s legal, the only downside is a small weight penalty. I certainly would carry a pistol.

 

[awbowhunter]

I've always carried regardless of where or what I am hunting. It might not be any of the prior mentioned you have issue with.

Where i am hunting dictates what I carry though.

 

[venado mula]

I never worry about wolves, lions or black bears. I live in grizzly country and I carry a compact pistol with bear spray. You usually get the 5 am wakeup call from the curious grizzly wandering to close to camp and the horses start stomping and then you're making coffee. I recommend carrying both (everything breaks or doesn't want to work when you're in the middle of nowhere) and loading your sidearm with hard cast lead bullets, carry and know how to use bear spray. Hope this helps.

 

[TaperPin]

It’s legal.

The north west mountains have grizzlies that walk all over the mountain ranges that connect to all sides of the park. However, the places with highest concentrations are what you need to be aware of. Don’t worry about cats or black bears or the locals will make fun of you.

The best thing you can do is educate yourself about what situations to avoid and how to hunt safely in griz country. The book Bear Attacks Their Causes and Avoidance is a good one.

Having said that, if you step around a tree and come face to face with a momma and cubs, or any grouchy bear, sometimes they get right after it and you won’t have much time to react. In those cases it’s not clear if you’d be better with a big can of bear spray or a pistol. If my buddy has a bear on him I’d much rather have a pistol instead of getting up close to the action. However if a bear gets a good spray in the face, even if he knocks you down the pepper spray is working to change its mind. Most pistols are not going to put a bear down right away even with multiple hits in vital areas.

Bear spray is much lighter, but get a big one that sprays a long way.

 

[Dented]

I carry wherever and whatever I'm hunting. The only variation is caliber to address the largest local issue should it occur.

 

[Btaylor]

Just camp and hunt with that dude that gave the silverback HIV.

 

[Haro450]

I never have. But we also never hunted close to the large grizzly bear population in Wyoming (Yellowstone). I almost never pack a pistol while bow hunting.

I will when hunting in Alaska from now on though.

 

[CobraChicken]

I carry it hunting and in bear country. Also carry bear spray. Most importantly, practice good bear country hiking/hunting.

I also carry for self protection. Especially the story of the degens near alpine wyo who beat some other guys pretty good all because they thought they took their cow. I think felony charges were recommended.

Side note: I'm not afraid of other hunters or people lmao it's just an insurance policy. I promise my wife and little boy I'll be home, I plan on keeping that promise.

 

[HOT ROD]

I had a very close encounter with a mountain lion it was the first time I left mt Glock in camp and the last...