Black Prince wrote: ↑Mon Mar 12, 2018 8:45 am
On the thoughts of fishing on your own I personally would have a 9 mm browning auto I was on holiday in Ireland visiting relations I went rabbit shooting with a young man from the village walking along a field by a river there was a herd of cows they parted to reveal the largest red coloured bull I have ever seen he started kicking up clods of earth and grass he was not happy we were near his girls we had two cartridges left and a single barrel gun he was getting very upset at us we had nowhere to go I told my friend if he charges fire over his head then with the last shot shoot him he charged a shot over his head stopped him in his tracks
I do believe if we had not had that gun we would have died that day if I was in America I would not go fishing without one
mike
The only time I ever felt threatened was the time I was in the RMNP, and I was in the Colorado River walking along some willows looking for a clearing to get out of the water. I was watching where I was placing my feet and I found an area where I could get out. I stepped out of the water and looked up to see a cow moose 8 feet away from me with a mouth full of grass. I could have poked her nose with my fly rod. She looked at me, I looked away and though quickly, without any sudden moves, I re-entered the river and started to calmly make my way across. She started to make some grunts and I thought for sure I was a dead man. But I never heard her enter the water. I got to the other side and tucked into a tight clump if pine trees to protect myself if she decided to charge. All of a sudden, from the willows came the calf, stumbling through the thicket. Cute little guy. I just stayed where I was, and she looked at me I guess to see what I was going to do. I just stayed silent and motionless. Her and her calf then started moving upstream.
As nervous as I was, it was just as exciting. But now I keep a close watch these days for anything. If it happened to be a bull moose, I don't think it would have ended the way it did.
Bears, they want nothing to do with humans. They get a sniff of you and they go the other way unless cubs or food is involved. Lions, totally different. They will stalk you, and if they believe they can take you, they will. And if they do, you better fight because your life depends on it. What they will do is get above you and pounce on you from behind. But attacks from bears and lions are rare here.
I will tell you the truth, I am more afraid of a badger than a bear. Those things are mean. I was following one in my truck down a dirt road, it was about 30 feet in front of me and it turned and snarled. I think it would have won.
I do think about carrying a gun sometimes, but I just can't bring myself to do that.
Besides, shooting a bear with a 9mm, not a good idea.
Worry less about who you might offend, and care more about who you might inspire.