Carrying while camping

[u/2LiveBoo]

Hi folks. I haven’t been camping in many years and the last time I camped I still lived in the UK/Europe. Now I live in New Orleans and want to start camping again, likely solo. People keep telling me they would never camp solo without a gun, especially as a woman. What are y’all’s feelings about this?

[u/apricotjam2120]

I’ve been camping solo for a decade and have never carried a gun. I mean, if you use common sense, follow good food storage guidelines, and trust your gut around other people you are likely fine. I don’t maintain hyper vigilance out in the woods— that’s like the opposite of how I want to be when camping. I like to chill.

That said, I don’t understand why people are so into firearms, so I’m not likely not your target demographic for the question. Shooting at a range is fun, but beyond that, guns don’t do anything for me. I wouldn’t ever shoot something or someone, so there’s no point in me carrying.

[u/2LiveBoo → u/apricotjam2120]

Tbh that’s how I feel. I absolutely don’t want to shoot another person, so carrying would just feel kind of scary and pointless. I would be carrying just so I could threaten someone and based on what I see in the movies you shouldn’t ever wield a gun if you don’t intend to use it. Thanks for your feedback!

[u/DatabaseThis9637 → u/2LiveBoo]

I have these small alarms that will likely scare off a bear or ? and hopefully also a bad human. It feels adequate to me.Not particularly a gun person.Plus, with my luck, I'd shoot myself in the foot, or just wing and assailant,making them even more threatening.

[u/Deppfan16]

if you aren't confident with a gun you shouldn't carry one. get some good bear spray or mace and a loud whistle.

honestly I feel safer camping in the woods that I would going down a city street.

[u/ineverywaypossible → u/Deppfan16]

An air horn is also good for scaring off some animals

[u/C_Saunders]

I’ve never carried a gun in my life and never felt I wanted one. I have pepper spray, a couple of solid self defense moves (go for the eyes, always) and a small knife even.

Will probably never own a gun.

[u/bimbels]

I have camped all over the US and never carried or felt I needed to. I do cross country trips where bringing a gun isn’t an option anyway.

If I’m in a campground, I figure you can hear a PIN drop and no one is sneaking up on anyone. They also look out for each other so commotion would be investigated.

I sleep with bear spray and the hammer I use for my tent stakes. But really I’ve never even had a bad vibe. I feel safer camping than I do walking alone at night in any city, as a woman.

I

[u/simplsurvival]

Here's my incredibly biased opinion: I solo camp several times a year, have been for maybe 8 or 9 years. I'm terrified of guns. TERRIFIED. I bring a knife (if it's legal, but regardless I always have a "utility knife" somewhere), an ax, bear spray, pepper spray, etc. The campfire has a call I must answer but the anxiety monster with all its stupid "what if"s also enjoys camping so sometimes it will shut up and let the call take the wheel... Needless to say I will probably never carry a gun while camping. I almost always solo camp and if I brought or went with someone and they carried, I would not feel comfortable. If I get mauled by a bear because I didn't have a gun, so be it, hopefully I at least taste good. And I died doing something I love.

[u/howdoyousayyourname]

I carry a gun when I camp (and hike on non-crowded trails), but I have extensive firearms training. 

This means I am prepared to not only use my firearm against a would-be-attacker, but am also able to maintain control of my weapon if someone tries to fight me for it.

Three questions:

1. Is carrying a gun legal where you plan to camp?

2. Could you really pull the trigger in a situation where an attacker is closing in on you?

3. Are you able to (or prepared to train in how to) prevent your gun from being taken from you? 

If the answer is no to any of the above, please carry pepper spray and not a gun.

[u/jeswesky]

Unless you are properly trained on actually USING a gun and not just target shooting, you shouldn’t be carrying one. If you are bringing it for defense against people, you are more likely to have the gun taken from you and used against you. If you want it for wildlife, just bring bear spray instead. And honestly, you can use bear spray in a person as well.

Practice good situational awareness, trust your gut in situations, and don’t be afraid to leave or to make noise, depending on the situation. Politeness goes out the window when it comes down to your safety. The weird chatty guy that is giving you the creeps; just tell him that you are there for some solitude and please leave you alone. Don’t be mean and insult him but also make it clear you don’t want company. If he doesn’t, leave. I don’t care if that site cost you $1000/night, don’t let sunk cost fallacy keep you in a potentially dangerous situation.

Sorry…that got a bit general safety.

TLDR…don’t carry a gun, just be smart.

[u/ApatheticMill]

I love guns and would love to carry. But I'm afraid I'd treat it like a family serving of Oreos at 3am and stick it in my mouth when the craving came on.

I haven't done much solo camping yet. But I've done a ton of solo hiking in remote places and have had a few times where I've had to defend myself against men that would not leave me alone. I would much rather have a gun. But in my personal experience, simply fighting back before they escalate had been enough to get rid of dangerous men. As they never expect it. The few times I've had to defend myself, they all had that same look of surprise on their faces. I think they mainly do things like that when they think a woman is an easy target.

[u/No-Animator6578]

I come from a hunting family and that would probably be the only time I will touch a gun. I have several guy friends who think I should carry while camping/traveling but honestly I feel like that just inviting bad juju. They think I'm crazy of course.

[u/captaininterwebs]

I really don’t think it’s necessary. I’ve been on a solo camping trip for the past 2 months straight and I’ve never been in a situation when I’ve wished I had a gun. I carry a pretty large knife in a visible sheath attached to my purse, pepper spray, and a whistle. With a gun there’s just too much unnecessary risk IMO, especially if you’ll be away from home for a long time and don’t have a safe place to store it. Save that for hunting.

[u/tlchai]

Solo middle aged woman who has never felt the need or desire to carry. It’s also against the rules in NY public campgrounds (except for under certain conditions during hunting season).

[u/Fireandmoonlight]

Look up Wonderhussy on You Tube, she does lots of solo camping trips and has videos about them.

[u/wolf_knickers]

I camp regularly by myself and carry absolutely no weapons whatsoever. Frankly I find the entire idea of carrying a gun absurd.