Hunter killed by bear, WRITE a letter to change Wilderness ATC 'rules'..

Superbrad said:
This may not be ideal situation, I agree.... but the fact is it should be the hunters choice....
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I'd agree with rem338 about few sheep hunters carrying but I also agree with your statement. The antis constantly ride on the coattails of tragedies like this but it does somehow feel dirty as a responsible gun owner but then again, it's best to talk when you have someone's attention. On a different note, it's pretty common when I go sheep hunting with a buddy for only one of us to pack a rifle...I would definitely carry in that situation. I got a spot message from a buddy for season opener that he and another buddy were on rams so I went in to help them out. It was in the same area as the attack took place....I went in solo without a rifle.......yes, it should have been my choice.
 
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Jay said:
And THAT is where you would be WRONG! http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2013/01/16/get-your-tickets-now

The gentleman in the link SAVED HIS OWN LIFE by illegally carrying a pistol just in case of such a situation.

If I was EVER to be in a life & death situation with a bear, the last place I would want my LEGALLY owned 44 Magnum revolver IS IN MY GOD DAMN SAFE AT HOME!!! It should be on my hip while I am out hunting!!!

Regards
Jay
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Actually quite a different situation..... he was bow hunting and not packing a rifle....nor was he hunting for sheep. Rem is on the money...few rifle sheep hunters would also carry a pistol. That said I'm all for giving them the option to do so.
 
sheephunter said:
Actually quite a different situation..... he was bow hunting and not packing a rifle....nor was he hunting for sheep. Rem is on the money...few rifle sheep hunters would also carry a pistol. That said I'm all for giving them the option to do so.
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I hear you sheephunter, but it isn't different. We are ALL out there chasing game & it should be my choice to pack a pistol.

Anyone that thinks otherwise should go personally tell Mr.Cross's family that they are 'very sorry' he's dead, but 'we just can't allow folks to carry pistols'... Talk about the moral LOW ground... To stand on one's high horse & in a very paternalistic way tell them that can own a pistol, BUT NOT TAKE IT ANYWHERE other than the range... Argh. It actually makes my blood boil.

Regards
Jay
 
Jay said:
I hear you sheephunter, but it isn't different. We are ALL out there chasing game & it should be my choice to pack a pistol.

Anyone that thinks otherwise should go personally tell Mr.Cross's family that they are 'very sorry' he's dead, but 'we just can't allow folks to carry pistols'... Talk about the moral LOW ground... To stand on one's high horse & in a very paternalistic way tell them that can own a pistol, BUT NOT TAKE IT ANYWHERE other than the range... Argh. It actually makes my blood boil.

Regards
Jay
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Again I agree with Rem and I'd say to you the two cases are very different....Mr Cross is not the poster child for wilderness carry.....Mr Bennett....you bet. I think when making a case for something like wilderness carry it's critical to have all your ducks in a row.......Bow hunting the boreal forest and rifle sheep hunting the Rockies have few similarities...other than you are hunting. It angers me too that we can't have the option to carry but at the end of the day, few rifle sheep hunters would.
 
There is one common theme here among all.... and that is the freedom of choice.... I have been surrounded by yotes on bow hunts and wished I had better defence (and yes I know this pales but case in point)...

The root is this.... no law abiding rpal owner should not have the choice to carry in the woods.... a handgun would NEVER be my choice to harvest a big game animal with.... that is my choice... but I world certainly say that as a law abiding citizen I should he able to carry one to protect myself when separated from my hunting arm....

And I would challenge anyone to give me one good reason why I should not...
 
The fact of the matter remains that the attitude toward handguns has to change before wilderness carry will be commonplace. The general populace has to be educated on the fact that handguns aren't solely there to commit crimes.

It was evident in this thread. Other hunters suddenly fear their fellow hunters if they're carrying a handgun. That's pretty sad.

Unfortunately, I've seen the attitude toward firearms by law enforcement change over the years as well. The young game wardens and RCMP are almost fearful of anyone with a gun. In my area, it's common to see people with guns on quads, snowmobiles,etc. out hunting. Years ago no one batted an eye, but now any interaction like a simple license check with police or DNR has them with their hand hovering over their holstered gun, hip turned away. Our game wardens have only had handguns for a few years, and some of them thought it was a bad move that they would have to wear them as people would perceive it as a threat. This again proves that the average Canadian is very distrustful of anyone with a handgun.

I don't know what the answer is, but shedding some light on the fact handguns can be used for lawful purposes, like protection of life, by ordinary citizens certainly isn't wrong.
 
Jay...you have it right... I believe once someone has a firearms licence they should be able to carry whatever and when they want...I am also in favour of handgun hunting....

So much anti and fuddness among firearms owners here..hard to fathom....
 
What's the point of a restricted license ? I have one just I don't see a practical aspect to the license ? Wish there was

Wonder if a letter to the pm office would help anything ?
 
sheephunter said:
Again I agree with Rem and I'd say to you the two cases are very different....Mr Cross is not the poster child for wilderness carry.....Mr Bennett....you bet. I think when making a case for something like wilderness carry it's critical to have all your ducks in a row.......Bow hunting the boreal forest and rifle sheep hunting the Rockies have few similarities...other than you are hunting.
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And also other than that you are duly licensed, and while pursuing a lawful activity, the pursuit of which you have again been duly vetted and licensed, you should not be restricted in the equipment you carry to ensure your safety while doing so. It's a simple procedural argument of logic. It's a shame that the distillation of logic is so infrequently applied to this argument.
 
sheephunter said:
It angers me too that we can't have the option to carry but at the end of the day, few rifle sheep hunters would.
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Sorry sheep, I disagree. I know a large number of rifle backpack hunters that would carry if it was legal in Canada to do so.

But I do agree, it should be a personal choice, no matter what. Why is it that a trapper or prospector can get a carry permit to carry but a mountain biker, trail hiker or backpack hunter cant?

Please don't try and explain the hoops we have to jump through to get a carry permit. I already know them. Just trying to make a point...
 
This past week my son was hunting black bears and sheep south of the Crowsnest Pass and had these three furry visitors pay their camp a visit. Grizzlies are a common sight where we hunt and we pay great respect for them. They are not an enemy or foe to us, they are part of the wilderness. If we were afraid of the wilderness we would not venture in these type of territories. Never needed a sidearm and don't think it would help, overall it would be a hinder then help. There are many areas where grizzlies/cougars don't exist, however some need to carry a sidearm which is weak and fruitless excuse.
 
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Of course Track, you understand that it just takes one bear, that's been rewarded once in it's life by breaking into a cabin, a break in that you had absolutely no knowledge of or control over, to change cute and cuddly into something else. A travel trailer with 2" walls might as well be a tent. I absolutely disapprove of killing bears unnecessarily, but not having a lethal option when they come to visit shows a deep lack of respect for what bears are and how they make a living. You don't want to use bear spray in the confines of a tent, RV, or cabin, and a scoped rifle is less than intuitive. The bear doesn't care if you have a superiority complex, if you don't disrespect him, and remain in his environment, sooner or later a price will be paid.
 
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Boomer said:
Of course Track, you understand that it just takes one bear, that's been rewarded once in it's life by breaking into a cabin, a break in that you had absolutely no knowledge of or control over, to change cute and cuddly into something else. A travel trailer with 2" walls might as well be a tent. I absolutely disapprove of killing bears unnecessarily, but not having a lethal option when they come to visit shows a deep lack of respect for what bears are and how they make a living. You don't want to use bear spray in the confines of a tent, RV, or cabin, and a scoped rifle is less than intuitive. The bear doesn't care if you have a superiority complex, if you don't disrespect him, and remain in his environment, sooner or later a price will be paid.
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I don't stand alone. I know many mountain men who hunt in the same territory sans the fear of teeth and claws. Knowledge and respect of these animals is essential. Thanks for the tip on bear knowledge, RV's, etc.;)
 
track said:
I don't stand alone. I know many mountain men who hunt in the same territory sans the fear of teeth and claws. Knowledge and respect of these animals is essential. Thanks for the tip on bear knowledge, RV's, etc.;)
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Ever wonder how we got the firearms act?? Read the posts from this member. That is how.
 
Track,

I don't tell you how to use toilet paper to clean your ars why do you have the need to tell the world what they should carry in the woods? If the hunter (dog walker, hiker, etc) posses a Restricted PAL it should be their decision if there are going to carry or not... No ends, ifs, or buts!

If you don't want to carry toilet paper, pistol, rifle...etc. That is your decision! Very simple... live and let people live.


track said:
This past week my son was hunting black bears and sheep south of the Crowsnest Pass and had these three furry visitors pay their camp a visit. Grizzlies are a common sight where we hunt and we pay great respect for them. They are not an enemy or foe to us, they are part of the wilderness. If we were afraid of the wilderness we would not venture in these type of territories. Never needed a sidearm and don't think it would help, overall it would be a hinder then help. There are many areas where grizzlies/cougars don't exist, however some need to carry a sidearm which is weak and fruitless excuse.

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track said:
however some need to carry a sidearm which is weak and fruitless excuse.
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Track, your posts seem petulant and inflammatory at this point. We all know your stance on the issue...you don't think there is a need for a sidearm in the bush.
(Did I just get baited!? ;))
 
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