I have never hunted, nor do I have the intention of doing it. Furthermore, I have never fired a gun, yet from time to time I find myself in out of the way, very isolated places in pursuit of trout. At these places however, you run the risk of running into some wildlife that could present some danger to your well being. I have considered ?packing? when I head out with my kids, just as a means of protection, but the thought of killing an animal, even in self defense, does not appeal to me. Once again, I have never fired a gun, and due to my inexperience, carrying and attempting to use a gun in a moment of desperation could/would more than likely be a disaster. Were I to go this route, I would take all training required, and spend countless hours at a shooting range until I was fully confident I could use a gun safely. Success would only be measured when I had to use it to defend myself and family after killing a beautiful animal. Not exactly my choice.
My question is the following. Is there a tranquilizer gun out there in the market available to the general public? I would feel much more comfortable with such a thing. All I would be after is 5 to 10 minutes head start to get the h_ll out of the way, believe me, I could cover a lot of ground if I knew there is something out there chasing me.
I have asked around (hunters) and nobody is aware of such tranquilizer gun available. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe there is a market for such product, especially among those of us who just want to experience the outdoors without being mangled/eaten in the process.
Someone said, ?think of all the criminals that would get one to commit their crimes?, my reply was simply that if a criminal were to commit a crime, he would more than likely use the real thing, am I wrong?
Also, I was told, people would buy them to ?torment? the wildlife. I disagree, if the darts were on the pricey side (which more than likely would be), say $ 20 a dart, I can?t see too many people firing these things at $20 a pop just to put an animal to sleep for a while.
I understand a tranquilizer dart does not stop a bear/cougar on its tracks, but if I knew within 5/10 minutes I would be O.K. I could run around for those minutes until the dart did its thing.
I know about bear spray, but the thought of using it when a charging bear is 10-15 ft away is a bit too close for comfort. Worse yet, if one of my kids is attacked, I may not be 10 ft away to assist. Keep in mind my daughter is mentally handicapped, and while she loves the outdoors, she is 100 dependent on the decisions I make.
I love the outdoors, camping, fishing etc. And I would feel more comfortable if I knew I could protect my family if needed.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this idea has some merit.
I don’t believe you can avoid an enraged bear or cougar for several minutes until the tranks take effect. Darts are not going to be very effective against an animal that is allready attacking. Allso the dart guns I have seen used on T.V. do not appear to be as easily carried as a pistol and require marksmanship skills that you would have to learn. I’m not an expert on bears having only seen them in the wild a few times but I believe you would do better to get the pepper spray reconmended for bears and being steady enough to spay it directly into the animals eyes. I do agree that if you are not accustomed to handling guns you are better off avoiding them. Accidents with the pepper spray are a lot less lethal.
a better alternative would be to carry bear spray, but it wont work against cougars and moose, it is very efective against bears i cary it all the time when I am exploring here and it makes me feal safe
My vote is also for pepper spray or some kind of “spray”.
5-10 minutes of avoiding a charging animal is a really really really long time to be at that level of physical activity-not to mention that there might be more than one person with you, who you don’t want to be left behind.
A tranq dart will not buy you enough time to get things together in an emergency animal situation. All the nature people who use tranq darts are the ones actively hunting for the animal. They are prepared for this. You and me in the woods are not out looking to down a moose or bear.
And whether the spray works on all animals or not I’d still spray whatever was coming at me.
Saltamontes
you don’t need a gun or spray(but bear spray don’t hurt to have in someplace). What you need is to pay attention to where your at and what is around you. Most attacks happen is when you surprise the animal. Believe it or not most animal find the smell of humans very offensive, so pay attention if you don’t surprise them and you know their there, there shouldn’t be a problem you need to protect your self against.
Ghost
Oh yeah,
We are all aware that fly fishing usually involves using lures that are the result of dead forest critters?
If you’d NEVER want to kill something from nature… ???
I don’t know what is in you fly box since there is pretty much a synthetic alternative for anything nowadays. I use lots of them tool.
A tranquilizer doesn’t take effect immediately - in fact, there is often a long lag time. There isn’t a human alive that could out-run a bear or a cougar for 30 seconds, much less 5 - 10 minutes.
The chemical and dosage is generally specific for a particular animal - there isn’t commonality for bears and cougars. Dart guns must be shot at relatively close range and are not as accurate as say, a rifle.
Finally, often tranquilized animals don’t survive anyway - either from stress or improper dosage. (They do have to be properly cared for when tranquilized)
I think you need to decide how concerned you are about defending yourself/family or killing an animal - and how likely such an event would be where you plan to be. If your concern is high, a firearm is your best option. If you’re not very comfortable using - and experienced with - a gun, I believe you are better off without one. Pack the pepper spray, make some noise when moving through the wild - and know that being attacked by an animal is very rare.
Dear Saltamontes,
Somehow I can’t get the picture of you being close enough to dart the animal and then running around in circles and around bushes to give time for the tranquilizer to fire up out of my mind ( Great run-on sentence). Three Stooges comes to mind. I fish mostly in Wyoming’s remotest areas of Teton and Y’Stone NPs. Firearms are not allowed so I do pack a sizable cannister of what is commonly called “Pepper spray” to deter possible sticky situations.I have not heard that it is innefective for cougar or moose but I doubt that very much. I do also ,however, occasionally “pack” just to be safe. I’d rather go to jail than to hell to which I’m surely destined if I don’t repent and change my wicked ways, but that’s a story for another time. My firearm is a .380 Walther PPK for to emulate 007. This weapon is way too small to be effective at most any range except to aim for the beasts tonsils when he opens his mouth to savor a piece of my head or other vital handsome part of my torso. Your fear/disdain of guns in somewhat a politically correct one. To even have a slightest doubt about using a firearm to protect yourself or your family against ANYTHING is an idea totally beyond my comprehension. But that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
In any case, do whatever you think is best for you and those who rely on you. YOU are the ultimate judge in that regard.
Dear Saltamontes,
Marco’s image of you running circles while waiting for the tranc to work has had me giggling for the past 10 minutes.
But to the point. If you have ANY compunction about killing or wounding an animal, don’t take a gun. No amount of training or practice will overcome that doubt. If you are going to use a gun under duress there will likely be no time for uncertainty, no time for doubt, no time for hesitation. Bear spray, bells on your coat, or any of the other suggestions made in this post and many others like it would all be better protection than a gun you don’t know that you will use.
That being said, a dart gun loaded to stop a grizzly, would kill a cougar, and might kill a black bear. It doesn’t work very fast. And I do know people who would spend $20 to mess with a grizzly, a deer, the neighbors cattle, etc. I also know people who would think it really funny to shoot each other in the backside with one. While those aren?t reasons to exclude the idea entirely, they surely have to be considered.
I hope you come up with a satisfactory solution for you and your family.
Ed
P.S. Marco, I would be willing to help you with that hell problem anytime.
First of all. Take a state hunters safey class. Even if you will not hunt, It will be good for you and wise you up to issues about handling firearms. Don’t walk in and say…I just wants make sure I can protect my family.
Take the class for what it is and learn. No whiners around guns. After you have taken the class and graduated, go to a local gun shop. Not Walmart, a real gun shop. Tell them you would like to purchase a single barrel 12 gauge shotgun for camping protection from bears, etc. They wil fit you with a nice firearm, some approaiate ammo and ask them for instructions. You wil get everything for under $2oo.oo. They will throw in a trigger lock and you can rest assure you will be in good hand, your hands!!
For what it is worth, buy the pepper spray and carry it whenever in the “bear country”. However, if protecting the well being of loved ones in your charge, while in the woods, is your goal, I would take the gun safety course from a reputable club or teacher and get the carry permit to be legal. I consider a rabid animal or pack of “wild” domestic dogs much more likely to attack you or yours. In which case a 9mm handgun will be effective enough for protection. When it comes to shooting a wild or rabid animal or watching it tear up a family member while you get a stick, the handgun will be my choise everytime! Also, get the safety lock to be sure, esp. with kids around! Ron G.
I’ve read all so far and will tell you from being in both bear and cougar country everyone must have you confused. First you can not outrun either the bear or couger. You can leave the bear know you comming with noise,bells whistles. He will avoid you–if you surprise one the bear spay will work. The REAL BEAR SPRAY. Alaskan guides sometime carry pump shotguns not the single shot 12 ga that one suggested–using it to scare a nosey one away. Bears usually will only attack to protect cubs.
Now the cougar–If you are in couger country,they are the ones that sneek up on you to kill. Usually from the rear. Hikers,Joggers bike riders. If you know of cougars in the area that you frequent ,research what others are doing. If it means a firearm do not take the hunting course that one told you to take. That isnt the one to pursue–Go to a firearms protection class. Usually run buy the police or a gun store. If under the law you are alowed to carry a firearm buy a revolver not a pistol for safety reasons.
From reading the beginning I take it that you are worried about the animal Dont worry for the couger protect your family----------
I would recommend that you take up golf and stay our of Wyoiing and Montana. If you are bound and determined to go into remote areas fishing. Bring a fat slow guy with you. Then you can shoot him and get away.
This is interesting since the US fish and wild life are denying that there are 140 lb strange dog like amimals have been spotted and killed in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. They claim that the these animals are all within the Yellowstone National Park.
I would say go with the spray if your not experienced with guns and have any doubt in your mind of using one. I work in remote areas for a living and will be buying a handgun for personal protection once I get all my papers in order (Canada). The major concern we have at work is wolves moreso than anything else and usally in late winter and spring when they are hungry with pups in the den.
When your in the situation of a wild animal attack its you or them no time to doubt what you can or can’t do. I have had to fend off wolves with an axe before and it’s not a situation I want to be in again. I’m getting a handgun so I have some range to my advantage and added safety. The wolves we had a problem with were not directly attacking us but were after our dogs. All dogs think alike and our dogs and us were the same pack and we were in the wolves territory, not sure if they were defending thire turf or if it was just they were looking for a quick meal.
I stress however this IS RARE, you are probably never going to be in this situation, this is deep backcountry and few people ever tread where I work. I carry spray and a decent sized fixed bladed knife, plan A and Plan B, they are my piece of mind and last resort. My first plan is advoidance, I were bells and very rarely surprise any dangerous wildlife. I have 1-2 close encounters with bears a year and have yet to use either plan A or B, I see dozens of blacks and grizzlys per year, see 100’s of moose, and atleast a few packs of wolves, every year. I have had 2 very close calls with bears, 2 run ins with moose, and one wolf incident over the past 10 years.
I spend 300+ days a year in the bush either at work, or fishing And I have had very little problems.
Buy the spray, know how to use it, and know the dangers in the areas you travel. Most importantly be aware of your surroundings and you will avoid 99% of the problems. Being familiar with the behavior of wild life you are likely to encounter, and specifically in bad situations will also improve your safety.
My concern about a gun is that it need exist in your home when not strapped on. Especially with a mentally challenged child I fear that it could get used by mistake. We all try and never let it get misplaced yatta yatta but mistakes do happen and it could cause a problem. I think that the statistics show that more people are hurt by gun accidents than by intentional gun violence. (No cites for that statistic - oure hearsay).
Bear spry/pepper spray or whatever is best is the route I would take. The 5 minute run around idea is about 4 3/4 minutes more than you might have in a good situation.
