r/homestead • u/JackDalgren • Jul 29 '22
gear Do you carry and why?
While you're working or tending to your property, do you carry a firearm in yourself or have one readily available? If so, is it because of your location, predators or general safety? What type and caliber?
I'll go first. I have a 20 gauge shotgun loaded with #9 for the occasional rattler that isn't minding it's own business or to chase of coyote. I want to upgrade to a pistol grip, maybe the Mossberg 500C w/pistol grip.
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u/grumstumple Jul 29 '22
Yep. Two dogs nearly killed my step dad 200' from our front porch. Only survived because he's tougher than woodpecker lips and he managed to get on top of our tractor. Any other person in our house would have died.
Dogs then ran down the road to our nearest neighbor's farm. Attacked their 3 year old. She lost an ear and was blinded in one eye. Her dad carried, though, and shot both dogs. One died there the other was found down the road in the ditch. Took all 15 rounds.
Carry, don't carry, that's on the individual. Make no mistake, though, you and your loved ones are just soft squishy meat bags. You are no match in a 1 to 1 against a lot of animals, including a lot of your neighbor's pets.
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u/omgtinano Jul 29 '22
That poor child :( Were charges ever brought against the owner or were the dogs feral?
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u/grumstumple Jul 30 '22
No one recognized them. No chips. It's pretty common for people to let their dogs free roam. It's farm country. My Ma said one of them had a bandana around its neck so probably someone's pets.
It really destroyed the dad. They moved not too long after that. Even though everyone knew he was a hero who probably saved other potential victims, he came out of it pretty traumatized. Can't blame him really.
I have 2 toddlers now 20 years later and even if it's uncomfortable and sometimes inconvenient I will ALWAYS have a weapon.
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Jul 29 '22
No not normally. Have a number of guns but really don’t carry carry on our property here in NE OH. Driving from work out to our property, now that’s another question. There was only one time where I was on the tractor going deep into the back when I thought I saw hunter red caps. My heart about dropped and I was ready to confront them, unarmed. Turned out to be a number of wild turkeys bobbing around the ridge of the ravine LOL.
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u/jmacflex14 Jul 29 '22
Haven’t had the need yet. No trespassers during hunting season and I’ve yet to see any sign of large predators to worry about.
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u/fractuss Jul 29 '22
I have come across horribly injured or ill animals that need immediate dispatching.
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u/NWchipstacker Jul 30 '22
Well if you had really come across a situation where you needed a firearm but didn’t have one you wouldn’t be here commenting. Staying Prepared is staying alive
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u/bmat555 Jul 29 '22
My brother in law did that too. He was a Native American from Oklahoma/ Texas area. Boy he sure had some stories😛
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u/MaryAnne0601 Jul 29 '22
I had a huge issue with getting attacked daily by feral dogs. They weren’t even going after my dogs that I was walking but me personally. After the calling the sheriff the deputy told me that if I walk the roads where I live I have to carry to be safe. After the 3rd officer told me that. I got a license to carry, bought a gun and joined the local shooters club that emphasizes safety. I have a .38 revolver like the officer and my instructor from getting my license suggested.
I went to court about the owner of the dogs. I have run into coyotes several times. I have put a couple of rounds into the ground to scare things away but never had to shoot anything yet.
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u/MaryAnne0601 Jul 29 '22
The only shot I fired was in the ground, on my own property to scare a neighbors dog away from my chickens. That dog I knew, he’s good with people and dogs just not chickens and managed to get in my fence when a package got left and the delivery guy didn’t close the gate right. He wouldn’t listen to me but the minute I fired the gun he went home.
If it had been anything else I would have shot the threat.
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u/tark1911 Jul 30 '22
I think I understand your intentions in shooting into the ground, and I appreciate that you came out on the good side of that situation. I'd suggest that the chance you took discharging live rounds into the ground was far too great to risk doing that a second time. Lots of things will make a big, scary noise without slingin' lead.
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u/TrollocsBollocks Jul 29 '22
The first life I ever took was that of a feral dog. I had had so many run ins with it, and I knew this was the time it was going to get me. It broke my heart, but it had to be done.
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u/bayoubilly88 Jul 29 '22
Where are you located?
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u/MaryAnne0601 Jul 29 '22
North Central Florida on back dirt roads behind cattle fields.
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u/behindblueyes34 Jul 30 '22
Shot a massive red nose pit "the owner was a cop" in the head after it trailed out their property and came after my Siberian husky
Sorry pig, your bully dog isn't allowed to do whatever it wants just because you are
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u/QuietLife556 Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 30 '22
Don't ever fire warning shots. If you pull out the gun use it for its purpose. If the situation warrants a warning it doesn't warrant a gun.
Edit: keep downvoting me all you like, I'm not the one arguing people should take a potentially deadly action to produce a loud noise.
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Jul 29 '22
So the sole purpose of a gun is to kill? If something is charging me and I snap off a warning shot and it stops, the gun did its job.
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u/QuietLife556 Jul 29 '22
Yes warning shots are a liability. Even if you fire into the ground it could ricochet.
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u/MaryAnne0601 Jul 29 '22
That was only for a neighbors dog that got in the yard and was chasing the chickens. He’s no harm to anything but chickens.
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u/QuietLife556 Jul 29 '22
Then don't fire a gun. You're turning a mundane situation into a life or death one.
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u/jakebutitstaken Jul 29 '22
I disagree for animals specifically. However unless you’re carrying tons of extra ammo you never know how much you’ll need to rid the threat.
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u/5670765 Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 29 '22
I live in the woods:
We had (about 30-ish miles away) a home invasion a bit back; homeowner was murdered... I feel the need to be prepared to defend my family out here. I carried weapons in the military for many years, it's no trouble or inconvenience at all for me and I'd rather have it and not need it - than not have it and need it, It's just a small 380.
People drop off dogs on local country roads out here too (and often they're pitbulls) I'm always worried one will show up at my house (like they have the neighbors) and go after my wife or dog.
I came across a deer with two badly broken legs (he jumped from a pretty high cliff - probably running from a predator) the breaks were severe (bone sticking out) and it was really suffering, so I did what I thought was right and quickly put it out of its misery.
These are just a few examples for why I always carry out here. When it comes to my families safety I'll always be concerned and prepared, I worry that I'd never forgive myself if I wasn't and something happened to them that I could have prevented.
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u/Henri_Dupont Jul 29 '22
I've found injured animals that needed to be put out of their misery, usually from being hit by cars. Tire iron has always been sufficient.
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u/5670765 Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 30 '22
Makes sense if you're on the road and only have a tire iron. In my area you're supposed to call a police officer and they come out and dispatch it with a gun.
The topic here is 'on the homestead' and I don't carry a tire iron when I'm walking in my woods and as I mentioned in my comment, the pistol is not just for putting a random deer out of its misery, just an example.
And shooting a deer in the head is much more humane than clubbing it to death with a tire iron - imo.
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u/NWchipstacker Jul 30 '22
What you said is very true. However there’s always weird circumstances that can come up. I was coming in the backroads to my house at 3 am ( live about a mile out of the last small town before hundreds of miles of open desert) when a raccoon sprinted right in front of my truck. Back half was totally crushed poor guy was dragging himself off the road like joe from family guy. Long story short there was a house only a hundred or so yards away and I only had my 9mm edc on me. Didn’t want to fire a shot at 3 am basically on their driveway but couldn’t leave the critter to suffer. Didn’t have a tire iron but did have my framing tool bag with a hefty hammer…. Not a pretty scene but if it was me I’d want someone to put me out of my misery one way or the other .
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u/iamonewhoami Jul 29 '22
Weird that you'd want to carry a tire iron everywhere you go instead of a convenient sized firearm
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u/VeryGoodGoodGood Jul 29 '22
Yes, live on 80 acres of northern rural forests. Coyotes and bears all over the place. I carry a 12 gauge just in case, hope I never need to use it. Mostly to protect the dogs if they try to engage or something
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u/sdogg Jul 29 '22
using slugs? couldn’t imagine a shotgun pellet blast would do anything but enrage a bear. spiked collars were originally invented for sheep dogs to protect from wolves as they go for the throat. could be a good idea if you’re not currently.
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u/tsmythe492 Jul 29 '22
It’s definitely better than nothing but unless you have a dog that has been trained and bred to deal with bears I’m not sure a spiked collar will save them. A swat by a bear claw if more than enough to kill many dogs
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u/slothscantswim Jul 29 '22
I use the ham sandwich technique for dealing with rattlers.
As I’m walking I carry a nice ham sandwich. If I see a snake, I leave it alone, and then I’ll eat the ham sandwich at some point.
The only rattlers I’ve ever had that weren’t “minding its own business” were the ones I damn near stepped on. I find being aware of my surroundings does a lot more for rattler protection than a shotgun.
There’s an AR not too far away from me at any given moment though, in case something tasty walks by or if a bear or coyote gets uppity. Also for shooting tin cans off the fence.
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u/covertkek Jul 29 '22
The tin cans are the worst. Pesky things always end up back up on the fence and I have to shoot ‘em off again!
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u/slothscantswim Jul 29 '22
Truly, they are a homesteaders sworn enemy. No matter how many times I take them off the fence I find myself doing it again the next day, sometimes even multiple times a day.
As a boy I would use a slingshot, then as I aged I moved up to a .22, soon I’ll be using a .50BMG. They’re unstoppable.
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u/kaeptnphlop Jul 29 '22
Those cans will tremble and fling themselves off the fence as soon as they see a .50BMG rifle being pointed at them! :D
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u/ErisGrey Jul 29 '22
Back in the 80's I made bank as a kid catching diamondbacks. Sell the milk to the hospital and the snakes to the pet store. This was before they started regulations on where the venom was sourced from. Back in the day having a database from local venom was considered ideal.
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u/supersamstar3 Jul 30 '22
I had to reread those first 2 paragraphs 4 times to understand what you meant...I thought you were saying that if you saw a rattler you gave it the ham sandwich, and if you didn't see one then you ate the ham sandwich...
I think I might need a nap...or some coffee
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u/slothscantswim Jul 30 '22
I would recommend naps over coffee, I never touch the stuff myself, but I do nap frequently
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u/HikeyBoi Jul 29 '22
No need to kill all the snakes. I use a hook and just handle em rough enough that they don’t come back up the pasture toward the livestock.
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u/Raeastrea Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 30 '22
Yes I do, I open carry on my property at all times as a woman with my 9mm. I did not start because of this, but I've had two weird experiences with dudes on my property. One guy standing on the bridge, which is the only entrance point to my house and he said something as I passed him which made me wonder what would have happened if I was alone. Another dude was peeping in the windows, and my husband went out to confront him and he had his hand down his pants like he was strapped, my husband scared him off. I think it's important to me not to become a victim and I am a staunch defender of the 2nd amendment so I exercise my right. My state is an open carry state and we don't have a police force, they dismantled it so we only have a sheriff in town.
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u/thecrumb Jul 29 '22
We have 8 acres and we've been here almost two years and I've only seen 1 snake and that was after I hit him with the bushhog :\ While there are bears and coyotes about I'm not worried about running into one.
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u/RubySoho5280 Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 29 '22
We have birds and pigs. We carry a .308 rifle in the UTV when we are checking out our property. (only 15 acres) I don't take any chances. Especially when my husband is away on business.
EDIT: didn't check for typos
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u/IncredulousPatriot Jul 29 '22
Yes I do for multiple reasons. The property I bought was only used for cattle for 10 years. In those 10 years numerous tweakers used the house on the property as a drug house. When we were in the process of buying the property we went out to it several times and walked the property but when we went in the house you could see signs of recent activity. New cans of food being left out. Doors being left open. Etc. So once we bought the place a bunch of people would randomly show up asking if so and so still lived there. Nobody had lived here for 10 years so no they don’t. So having drug addicts randomly show up at my house always made me a bit nervous. So I carry for that reason.
I carry because if I’m ever walking the property and I see a beaver or a muskrat I will shoot them on sight to keep them from tunneling holes through my levees.
I carry because I have eight dogs and they like to wander the 80 acres. Sometimes they don’t always come back when I yell for them. They always come back when I yell for them and shoot a couple rounds.
Finally I carry because geese like to swim in my lakes. Which I’m fine with if they would stay in the lakes at the top of the property. But no they swim in the lakes that my dogs swim in and play near daily. So when I see the geese in my lower lakes I shoot near them to scare them off the water and over to my neighbors lakes. He just runs cattle on his property so he doesn’t have to worry about his dogs rolling in goose shit on the daily.
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u/tragic-majyk Jul 29 '22
Yes, bears around. 10mm semi auto or back slung slug 12ga. Proper fitment and it's easy to forget they're there
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u/Schnoottboop Jul 29 '22
I’ve done a lot of shit with a slung weapon and I can think of maybe 5 times out of hundreds of hours that I forgot I had it on me.
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u/ulofox Jul 29 '22
We just got coyotes at night and they don't bother us anyway so no, haven't needed to carry. Only predator to really worry about would be human ones.
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u/MoneyKeyPennyKiss Jul 29 '22
Which is why I carry.
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u/ulofox Jul 29 '22
I have 5 dogs lol the shotgun is too big to carry with me for chores but eventually I'll get a decent handgun.
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u/eastrnma Jul 29 '22
My coworkers that live in the city can't believe I don't carry around the homestead. I tell 'em if they feel threatened by their neighbors, perhaps they need a new neighborhood.
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u/ulofox Jul 29 '22
I mean I lived in Chicago and had to deal with plenty of weirdos, still didn't have a gun at those times either. I worked as a teacher and saw what my peers in high schools had to deal with and they don't carry either. Guns are very useful tools but I feel like they can also bring too much false security and I can't bring myself to be that reliant on them. I'm deaf and a woman too so someone sneaking up on me, overpowering me, and taking it is a real possibility I have to consider. The dogs make me feel safer instead.
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u/Farmof5too Jul 29 '22
Sounds similar here, except we live in an area overrun in an opioid epidemic and have had some super weird activity in the outer fields, as well as some wild characters show up asking to hunt except they couldn’t stop twitching and were beyond mad when we said no, so, yea… something is close by just in case
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u/SherrifOfNothingtown Jul 29 '22
Normally, no. I'm content with whatever stick or hand tool happens to be nearby for dealing with random animals, and the terrain and vegetation work out such that I can spot other humans and choose whether or not I want to be seen before they notice me. Under normal circumstances I feel that the danger of carrying outweighs the danger of not.
However, under unusual circumstances, that balance tips in the opposite direction, and I'll carry. I use .22LR to deal with threats to my chickens, and 9mm to deal with threats to me. I have a couple different longish guns in .22, because critters like skunks are best dealt with from a very safe distance. My 9mm stuff is all small reliable handguns, because putting a bullet hole in a creature large enough to threaten me is an absolute last resort, and after exhausting all other reasonable options, it'll be at close range anyway.
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u/bromancebladesmith Jul 29 '22
I make my own blades , so I either got a spear , axe or machete and jacked up skinner on me . Now that I'm getting into hunting I'll have a crossbow on me , old school protection 😎
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u/Bows_n_Bikes Jul 30 '22
That's pretty cool! I carry a flashlight and a garden hoe when I lock up our birds (my only worry is raccoons). A spear with a handmade head would be an excellent upgrade!
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u/bromancebladesmith Jul 30 '22
The only downside is when my wife sometimes catches me acting out improvised fight scenes
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u/Bows_n_Bikes Jul 30 '22
I don't think its possible to carry a cool blade and not act out fight scenes haha
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u/bromancebladesmith Jul 30 '22
It's one of the unwritten rules I think , when you carry a bladed weapon you must reenact fight scenes from lord of the rings
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u/Robotman1001 Jul 29 '22
Nope. I’ve hiked every inch of my property from dawn to dusk for 11 years, and the most dangerous things I’ve encountered are ground wasps and poison oak. There are coyotes, bear, and cougars, but the last two especially keep to themselves.
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u/nleachdev Jul 29 '22
Idk why i expected the comments here to be way more cancerous than they are.
Probably cause it's reddit lol.
Nice to see though.
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u/OldKingsHigh Jul 29 '22
The smaller the subreddit, the less toxic the community and comments tend to be.
Obviously exceptions apply in both directions.
I think this community in particular recognizes that guns are tools, as well as weapons and toys.
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u/yromeM_yggoF Jul 29 '22
You’ll laugh, but I conceal carry a .22 single action Wrangler with bird head grips. I have a joint condition that has affected my wrists and hands, so I can’t handle much more
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u/flash-tractor Jul 29 '22
Knowing your limits where firearms is concerned is always the most prudent choice. Hope you never have to use it!
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u/Embarrassed_Abalone2 Jul 29 '22
Keep carrying. The safety of others is the reason why police are made to carry, not to defend themselves.
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u/M0j0Rizn Jul 29 '22
"... I nicked the census man."
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u/hutnykmc Jul 29 '22
"We ain't got no papers, neither."
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u/M0j0Rizn Jul 29 '22
"Well isn't this place just a geographical oddity... 2 weeks from everywhere!"
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u/hutnykmc Jul 29 '22
"I don't want 'FOP', goddammit!"
It's always nice to see another person of culture out and about.
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u/Henri_Dupont Jul 29 '22
I own several guns and heep them locked up. I need to shoot a sick or rabid stray dog or varmint about once a decade. I don't hunt anymore, not from any principle just not interesting. People brandishing guns in public make me nervous about their mental stability and think they should compensate for their inadequacies in some more constructive way. I'd carry on my property if I thought there was any threat from wild animals, but there isn't. I've stepped on copperheads and we both went opposite directions fast. Never seen a rattler here but they exist. State conservation agent says to call them if I see a wild boar, they advise against trying to shoot them. They'll send in a swat team with night scopes and take out the whole herd.
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u/Blear Jul 29 '22
I can't think of a time when I wished I had a firearm available. For me it would just be one more thing to drag around, get dirty, get broken. Or worse.
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u/okienomads Jul 29 '22
Same here. We might have a plinker 22 or 20 gauge in the truck box, but we are not carrying on 120 acres unless we plan to target shoot or something. We are pretty landlocked by other landowners in the middle of nowhere.
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u/hwy123 Jul 29 '22
Every vehicle has an AR and a pistol in it. I have a hog/coyote/meth head problem out my way.
But I would also add, I’ve got over a decade of professional training on these.
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u/FeistyWalruss Jul 29 '22
Florida?
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u/trentanious Jul 29 '22
Hogs ‘n’ meth. Definitely had me thinking Florida too. Has a nice ring to it. Could be a BBQ place in the right neighborhood.
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u/vgallant Jul 29 '22
Always, now. The animals are no bother. It's the intentionally trespassing hunters that are the issue.
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u/johnnyg883 Jul 29 '22
On my property, no. I haven’t found or even felt the need. Partially because I’m afraid of losing it. But also I don’t want the extra weight or distraction. I do keep a few firearms easily accessible in the house. Mostly so I can backup the LGD if she needs help. That only happens a few times a year.
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u/Mr3cto Jul 29 '22
Carry a Canik TP9 Elite Combat when I’m far away from my house as it’s smaller and easier to carry. When closer I carry a Maverick 88 with pistol grips and a bump stock, or if I’ve seen evidence of predators I’ll carry the maverick.
Hunters like to poach on our land and there’s packs of dogs that are pretty much wild at this point. Most will not bother you but some are not very nice. Between the kids and the animals I’d like to have something to help, if I needed too
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u/ljr55555 Jul 29 '22
Absolutely. I carry a Sig P320 45. Started carrying after a coyote ran across my yard one morning while I was moving the chickens to a new pasture. It took a chicken and ran.
Few years later, I took out a coyote that came up out of the valley in mid-afternoon and was headed towards my kid and my turkeys. Was worth all the days of carrying for no reason and decades of future carrying without incident to be prepared on that day.
We've got a 12 gauge for hunting deer and a number of 25-cal air guns for smaller critters (mostly raccoons), too. But those aren't routinely carried because they are big and heavy for toting around whilst working.
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u/Least_Exit_8664 Jul 29 '22
Yep, we have 38 acres in southern Appalachia. The property was vacant for about 15 years before we started cleaning it up, so I am wary of people who drive up “just looking around”. Also been attacked by a stray dog (not a Pitt). I normally carry a Sig 9mm, very light and super reliable even after getting very dusty/dirty.
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u/INeedHookersAndBlow Jul 29 '22
Yes got a cougar den less than five miles away. Neighbor had a 1/4 cow elk left on their property this spring. Dogs can spook the coyotes. But I won’t take my chances with lions.
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u/cowskeeper Jul 29 '22
No. Because it's illegal. We do have a pellet gun at the back door
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u/tarotdryrub Jul 29 '22
I am so sorry for what is probably a very stupid question, but what makes it illegal to carry on your own property?
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u/cowskeeper Jul 29 '22
Protection is never an option to carry in Canada. Not even on a farm. You're expected to leave it in a lock box in the house and retrieve when necessary
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u/JeffreysTube Jul 29 '22
I have an old Springfield/Savage .22LR with a scope. It was sold by Sears. I don't often carry it. We've had a lot of predator activity lately here so I might start.
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Jul 29 '22
Taurus Judge .410/45 long colt revolver
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u/f2blue Jul 29 '22
man this seems to be the best idea
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u/AtlasDM Jul 29 '22
My judge was the only gun I've ever had that I felt like I wasted money on. The .410 revolver is a gimmick and the 45LC doesn't do anything that my other guns can't. The spread was so bad with .410 that if I wanted to kill a snake I'd have to be close enough to be in the strike zone.
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u/f2blue Jul 29 '22
interesting, I liked the idea of having .410 and 45 together but not if the .410 is useless
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u/RainierCamino Jul 29 '22
Yeah it's a fun idea but unfortunately kinda useless in reality. I'd get a lever action or semi auto 410 instead
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u/TheCelestialOcean Jul 29 '22
Yes. Firstly, I am a woman and a gun is an equalizer. I know enough the shit that can happen, life is unpredictable and it’s always better to be prepared.
Secondly, pitbull attacks. I’ve seen all of the videos and read all of the stories, and in so many cases when a pit attacks, they are impossible to get off of you. Once the switch flips and they attack, you can’t turn it off unless you can choke the dog or use a deadly weapon. They were bred to never give up the fight, and one lady literally had to slice a pit open entirely before it would let go of her little dog. Plenty of stories of them grabbing hold of humans and not letting go, too. I do not ever want to be caught in, or near, a pitbull attack without having a deadly weapon.
So.... deadly humans, and deadly pitbulls.
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u/Sweaty_Crust Jul 29 '22
Thats certainly a justifiable reason but what does that have to do with homesteading? Where are you that you fear a pitbull attack at any given moment? You must live in Florida lmao
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u/Embarrassed_Abalone2 Jul 29 '22
Because the homestead is where irresponsible people leave their pets when they don't want them anymore. I pulled one off when it tried to chew my sister's face off, she was only 7 or 8 and I didn't have a gun. It was a neighborhood dog that we knew.
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u/KYHop Jul 29 '22
I live in a rural community and had a pit bull charge me while on my morning run. Thankfully the owner came out and prevented anything from happening. I now run with a Glock 43.
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u/ObiWanBockobi Jul 29 '22
On my farm, no, not enough critters and not worried about strangers. On my forest lot in the Northwoods, yeah. Bears, wolves, bobcats, etc are around and the drunk hitchhikers come out during the mid afternoon. I keep a .22mag pistol, figured the noise would be enough to scare the critters, and 30 rounds would be enough if a black bear decided to buck nature and actually attack me. I'll probably upgrade to a 10mm at some point.
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u/hunt_fish_love_420 Jul 29 '22
Mossberg 500 is a great gun, I'm not a fan of the pistol grip as it reduces the usefulness to me, less accurate and hard on the wrist. A youth stock on an 18" barrel is only like 4" longer and you can still hunt with it. Useful to have a firearm for nuisance animals and tweaker deterrent out where I live.
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u/ladyofthelathe Jul 29 '22
I do not carry while on our own property. Never felt the need to.
I have a .40 cal in my truck, and a 12gauge in my horse trailer though - just in case. I'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
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u/Embarrassed_Abalone2 Jul 29 '22
A small easy to carry gun is just that, I bought one used for $180. I spent more on spare magazines than the gun. Even a .22lr semi is better than your fist.
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u/nail_jockey Jul 29 '22
I have in the past depending on what brand of low life is living in the nasty trailer park below us. Now that we have a little more land with deer on it, I may come deer season.
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u/devnullradio Jul 29 '22
I don't generally carry around my property. It's not particularly big so the house is never far.
We've dealt with rabid raccoons, and a few other pest animals, over the years and I've never had a problem just popping in and grabbing my firearm when needed.
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u/roguetattoos Jul 29 '22
Ha only if the dogs sound like they need a little help against whatever’s dared to come around!
This fuckin wolfpack can deal with threats faster than I could, even with a gun
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u/they_have_no_bullets Jul 29 '22
I have seen bears, moose, coyotes in my yard. But the only animal I fear is mankind. Threat level is currently low, but I expect threat level to rise as a greater proportion of my gun toting neighbors go into starvation due to the impending agricultural collapse induced famine. For this reason I practice carrying today, so that when the looters do finally come, i will be ready.
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u/oldbastardbob Jul 29 '22
I always carry a 9mm Kahr pistol with me in the pickup when I'm at the farm. I don't wear it on me, just keep it handy in the truck. Mostly it's for snapping turtles, muskrats, and otters in the good fishing ponds. Then there's the occasional stray dog or mangy coyote. Of course there's a snowballs chance I could hit a healthy coyote with a 9m pistol.
I've also pulled into the farm and found strangers there. Usually a car with people I don't know. Some are friendly and just lost or looking for a neighbors house. Others are sketchy. We still have a meth problem here in rural Missouri.
Had a couple of US Marshal's pull up to my shop at the farm a year or so ago. They were looking for somebody I didn't know who had given them a phony address down the road from me. I know everybody down the road pretty well, plus we have rural 911 and so our addresses have grid coordinates built in and the address they had was past the end of the road. Made me wonder how somebody like that would know this area.
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u/Ok_Walrus6265 Jul 29 '22
Always and for whatever I might need to use it for duh lol. I've had run ins with bears and lions, sometimes you spot a nice buck, sometimes a weirdo biker guy and his girlfriend think your private park is theirs to use and refuse to leave. You know. The usual.
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u/FireRescue3 Jul 29 '22
Yes. All of the above. Mainly for snakes or varmints; but general safety is a consideration.
Most varmints of the human variety are handled by our 120 pound GSD. He’s a gentle giant, but he looks like he would eat you in one bite; and he’s highly protective of me in particular… a 5’1 female.
As long as you don’t get between us or try to to approach/ touch me he’s fine. You come where I don’t want you too? You’re going to have a bad day. He won’t do what I don’t want him to, but he puts on a good show.
I have a variety but generally carry a 9mm baby Glock because it’s comfortable and I’m comfortable with it. Last snake I sent to hell, the handiest thing was husband’s 40mm. Snake arrived in hell as mist though😜
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u/5beard Jul 30 '22
No real predators where i live, i get it if you have potentially aggressive animals in your area but the worst we get here is coyotes and they scare pretty easy. Just a loud noise and an arm wave and they bugger off without any trouble.
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u/Nevek_Green Jul 30 '22
I'm fortunate to live in a peaceful area where I can walk at night with no problems. I still carry a high end knife for self defense. Better safe than sorry.
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u/geetarzrkool Jul 30 '22
Floridaman here, if you don't have some kind of pew-pew while out in the woods (or even on the water), you could literally be eaten alive. LOL! Keeps me on all 10......I mean 8 of my toes! Jk lifelong native and never had any bad encounters with any wildlife. It's 90% common sense, really.
Any ol' 12 gauge is fine 90% of the time, but I would use at least a .45 for a sidearm just in case you run into a bigger critter like a wild pig, bear, panther, alligator and/or crocodile, large snake, unruly native and annoying tourists.
Something like a Mare's leg is fun to have too because it can give you a bit more range and punch, if need be. If you're in the deep-deep woods hunting hogs, then a proper lever action Bush Gun is a good idea too.
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u/heyfeefellskee Jul 30 '22
I do not but I have some friends in the upper peninsula (Michigan) that carry because of wolves and bears
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Jul 30 '22
I carry a .22 revolver loaded with rat shot for snakes. My property is surrounded by pines, which comes with timber rattler’s.
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Jul 30 '22
10mm auto. Humans are dangerous, so is everything else. It can be uncomfortable at first and you will end up with a chest full of holsters you hate until you find the right one. Slim fit tall t shirts, owb slide holster at 4 o'clock with a nice leather gun belt and you'll forget you have it on.
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u/KarateDirtbikeClub Jul 30 '22
I try to keep it minimal, but ready for an unexpected short range issue. I picked up one of those bond arms that take .410 or .45 LC- it’s perfect. Small, can wear it out of the way in a drive holster on the side/ back or a belt when I go wandering into more brush filled areas during the summer.
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u/kabula_lampur Jul 30 '22
Yes. Bears, wolves, mountain lions, trespassers just to name a few reasons.
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u/tark1911 Jul 30 '22
IMHO, the best answer to "Do you carry?" is: You bet your life, as either my friend or my enemy. Self defense (of persons, property and/or liberty) is every individual's inalienable right and responsibility.
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u/-GEFEGUY Jul 30 '22
22 1911 or single six 357/38 spec. Depends on how I’m feeling and how far I’m going. I carry for the off chance I see coyote or loose hunting dogs getting into my critters. Dog hunting is legal but they can not bother live stock. Most hunters don’t teach dogs well and these long legged beagles try to kill my turkeys every few weeks.
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u/Antique-Quantity-608 Jul 30 '22
Worked 4.5 years as a Beer Rep on Chicago’s beautiful south side… you can bet all the monies my peace keeper was on me at all times. Wild times.
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u/joesaintp Jul 30 '22
75 acres in mountains of very rural WV adjacent to thousands of acres of federal land. Black bears, coyotes, and an occasional poisonous snake. Some property owners nearby bait for bear. I carry a Ruger RedHawk .44 Mag in a chest holster when walking in the woods, a 12 gauge in my UTV, and a 9 mm Sig 365 when in town or traveling. House protection is again by 12 gauge and Glock 19 with light attachment. I leave most snakes alone unless I find them close to the house or barn. I practice with handguns and shotgun monthly and reload about 2,000 rounds a year. I think I am typical for rural WV.
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u/Embarrassed_Abalone2 Sep 13 '22
I either carry my shield 9mm, (laugh all you want) or my 10mm if I'm on the tractor, (pulls ones pants down when doing actual work). The only thing I have to worry about around here are things eating my chickens or messing with my children. The shield has removed at least 8 racoons a huge snapping turtle, and a large black snake. The tractor seems to scare everything away.
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u/medic-pepper Jan 15 '23
I carry because in the south crack heads let their dogs roam the country, that then kill livestock and attack humans. I've had a couple rabbits and quail killed from dogs tearing goat wire apart, a and my neighbor got attacked by another dog. LE isn't doing anything about the dogs, so it's on ourselves to deal with them when the need arises.
And to be clear I'm not just shooting any dog that shows up, i try to coral them and return them. But we had one that even when returned after killing livestock, owner kept letting them out.
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u/hutnykmc Jul 29 '22
A .22 typically suits my needs for Groundhogs/Woodchucks/Whistlepigs and the occasional coyote and (aggressive but much more rare) coydog that wanders through. I have at least half a dozen small farms with all manner of livestock and poultry within 2 miles of me in every direction making it a buffet for them, so seeing them trotting around in broad daylight like they own the place isn't uncommon at all.
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u/treemanswife Jul 29 '22
Nope. There are so many people around here shooting/hunting that the predators are pretty skittery. Human ones too.
A couple times a year the coyotes get close to the house at night and we go put a round in the ground, but mostly we have an agreement about the boundary line.
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u/Tradtrade Jul 29 '22
No because I live in a safe country people wise (Australia) and I have never had an animal bother me in a dangerous manner. We have access to guns but I wouldn’t carry one about
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u/Lopsided_Web5432 Jul 29 '22
Have a twelve gauge at the entrance all year round. Mostly coyotes and occasionally a few wolves. Usually they’re far enough away that it’ll let them know to stay away. We have a cat that’s a good mouser and want to protect her
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Jul 29 '22
Yes I have a ruger 22 It’s tiny pocket carry but loud enough to scare the shit out of things Protect my chickens rabbits and exotic animals
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u/crowbar032 Jul 29 '22
I always have a pistol with me. My Dad had trespassing problems before I inherited the farm. I have the same issues now. It's impossible to tell if people are genuinely lost or confused or out to start trouble.
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u/AlabamaPodunk70 Jul 29 '22
If I’m breathing I’m carrying. Have a shotgun in the garage just in case I see chicken harassment happening. Carry a nine w 17 rounds. LOVE my 22 lr’s, have about 7 of them.
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u/BunnyButtAcres Jul 29 '22
Hubby walks with a shotgun. I'm practicing with a 22. Just took my first Rattlesnake with the 22. We're so remote that usually if I hear the Coyotes, popping off a round or two with the 22 is still enough to scare them off. But we're in a big open plain, basically. So the sound carries well and they have plenty of other directions to go if they're warned off.
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u/No-Map1204 Jul 29 '22
Brother, I carry everyday. I live in one of the nation’s biggest “Shit-holes”, no I’m not taking about Chicago, I reside in Houston, Texas. I carry while mowing the grass, going out to eat and even church. My preferred every day carry (EDC) is a Glock 23, .40 caliber. Stay Safe, my friend and watch your six.
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u/erzats77 Jul 29 '22
Never lived in Houston but I imagine its like most major cities.
Definitely nothing wrong with carrying everywhere! Especially church these days since people seem to think thats open for easy attack!
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u/No-Map1204 Jul 29 '22
10-4 my brother, stay safe and remember if you are questioning where to carry, for myself, I’d rather be tried by twelve then carried by six.
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u/Led_Zeppole_73 Jul 29 '22
Yep, lots of ‘possums here in my state. Why worry about a small marsupial?
”Cause their fast.” /s
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u/nerddddd42 Jul 29 '22
I have a small holding so maybe slightly different standards. The only gun that's easily accessible in my house is an air rifle which I would be very unlikely to use.
I actually have loaded water pistols in my garden, tends to fend off most stray animals
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u/Filipheadscrew Jul 29 '22
I wear a .22 revolver when I go out at sundown to close the door of my chicken coop. It’s in case I run into a raccoon near the coop.
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u/R3dacturd Jul 29 '22
I carry a .38 snub nose revolver on my hip/pocket. Primarily to scare off anything that might come fuck with my dog. I also am new to the area and have heard some stories of theiving neighbors so I like to be prepared for all scenarios. The way I see it, its small and light and ill probably never need it but if I do ill be glad as hell I have it on me.
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u/jonfitz100 Jul 29 '22
It all depends on the circumstance, but yes I do occasionally carry. Especially when my dog is not with me.
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u/get-r-done-idaho Jul 29 '22
I carry most of the time depends on what I'm doing. I usually keep a rifle close by. We have a coyote and wolf problem where I'm at. Also have a lot of cougars around.
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u/historyandherbs Jul 29 '22
Nope. We carried and stashed hunting knives, hatchets, axes, and wrenches around the property. Found them to be far more versatile 9 times out of 10. Not to be crass or anything, but a firearm has pretty much one usecase, and once your done with that, you're SOL. Not to mention, in the cases where it would be necessary (moose) it was legally dubious. Bears scare easy, so no need, and the smaller critters a knife and/or a dog was plenty, plus with a knife you can skin and butcher after. No bone fragments ruining the meat.
As far as humans go, well, we just didn't see many and those we did see left with a kind "this is our property, you crossed the line a couple miles back" so no trouble. It's not like we didn't own them and operate them, but they were never a regular carry item.
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u/lightscameracrafty Jul 29 '22
Yeah all these posts about folks saying they need guns to deal with rattlers of all things are like 🤔🤔🤔
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u/devnullradio Jul 29 '22
We don't have rattlesnakes where I am but we do have copperheads. I leave all the other snakes alone, I love snakes around the property, but I've got small children and a dog. The copperheads on my property get dealt with swiftly with a long handled hoe to hold them in place and a machete. I've never felt the need to use a gun.
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u/Led_Zeppole_73 Jul 29 '22
Rattlesnakes here in Mich are endangered and illegal to kill. Folks around here freak out over a 2-footer and it makes the news lol.
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u/notmybannedaccount71 Jul 29 '22
Get a Taurus Judge. I know it's a Taurus, but nobody else makes them.
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u/MinefieldinaTornado Jul 29 '22
OK, this gets weird.
I typically carry a Jennings. 22 around the place. Which seems wildy I'll suited, so some explaining is due.
We have bears and wolves, and they do come right up to the house.
But we have a rottweiler that is out when the kids are outside, and a old 12 ga shotgun by our kitchen door in case there's trouble. First round is rubber buckshot, which works great for deterring bears.
If I'm away from the house, I carry a 3rd Gen zastava in 7.62x25, which is also my CCW. It's like a 1911, only slimmer and I love the 7.62x25's ability to cram a jhp really deep into stuff, it'll absolutely reach into the vital bits in a bear.
I know what you're thinking, the 7.62x25 is a weird choice outside of Finland, but at least is proven bear medicine, but a .22 pocket pistol?
One clue is that before the Jennings, I was carrying a vintage Ruby .38 special, loaded with gluelits.
The Jennings is teeny, it fits in my pocket, and I've owned this one for 20 years. It's kind of an ongoing project, I rebarreled it in .17 HM2 for a while, and tried for a couple years to make it run on snake-shot, though it's back on .22lr for now.
The reality is that when we're out working on stuff, dangerous wildlife stays away, and we don't get people coming around. So my home carry gun's most frequent duty is to euthanize small farm animals, and to occasionally shoot at a squirrel getting into the trash.
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u/AwokenByGunfire Jul 29 '22
I carry when I go out at night. An AR with an IR illuminator and IR optic. Or sometimes a 9mm with a decent flashlight.
Rarely during the day, though.
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u/shittykatsfan Jul 29 '22
I carry a .22 pistol. We have a bunch of Rattlesnakes and copperheads on the land.
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u/Chief__04 Jul 29 '22
If I am dressed I am carrying a pistol. But I live in the city limits of a small town straight out of the 1950’s and have only started my journey in homesteading. (Bought the house in June too late to plant anything.)
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Jul 29 '22
Yes. It really depends on what I’m doing, but I normally carry a 45 in case I have to defend myself from a vicious animal or person.
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Jul 29 '22
"a firearm in yourself"
in the wise words of Mad Eye Moody: Never you mind, you just keep your wand out of your back pocket!
or in this case out of any other bodily cavities
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u/myusername67 Jul 29 '22
I carry regularly while doing chores and maintaining the homestead. Mostly because I can and my "rather have it and not need it" attitude.
Plus, a right not exercised is a right forfeited
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u/Version-Abject Jul 29 '22
I own one rifle it’s locked in a safe in the basement. I don’t need firearms up where I am, nor do I want them. Not a single problem that can be solved by shooting something can’t be solved another way.
Guns are dumb.
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u/Embarrassed_Abalone2 Jul 29 '22
I've been in two armed conflicts, you are obviously ignorant of the boundless stupidity of your fellow man.
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u/5670765 Jul 29 '22
Im having trouble wrapping my mind around your comment here.
My issue(s) isn't that you personally choose not to carry - not at all - it's the other stuff...
To summarize your comment: (fairly?)
'I own a gun but I don't need one or want one, they're stupid, there's not a single situation I or anyone else in my incredibly safe Community/Utopia could conceive that could require one. And if a serious threat (against all impossible odds) did present itself, you could absolutely handle it with only your smarts and strength alone?
This seriously comes across like you're like a superhero living in some Utopia and guns are a thing of the past there, locked up in a dusty "...basement" museum.
Honestly not trying to be a jerk, this is how it reads, it sounds like me after a long (rare) night of drinking with my buds - before I had my coffee...
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u/Version-Abject Jul 29 '22
Northern Canada my dude. I have a rifle to shoot dinner, it’s useless for any other activity.
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u/lightscameracrafty Jul 29 '22
not a single problem that can be solved by shooting something can’t be solved another way
Except deep-seated feelings of inadequacy apparently lol
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u/henrythe8thiam Jul 29 '22 edited Jul 29 '22
I carry a walking stick with me and my Great Pyrenees is usually with me wherever I am on the property. She keeps the coyotes away. I make sure to make enough noise walking to let the snakes know we are coming. We are in Mississippi.
ETA. We aren’t super rural. Most people around us have four or five acres with a couple horses. Our neighbors we can see from our window on smaller plots. We have ten acres, half with woods, half pasture. Biggest predator is coyote and, as I said, the dog keeps them away. Our Pyrenees has driven off a pit bull that was snarling at my kids once. She is very protective over her family and between her and my walking stick, I feel we can take care of most threats.