With the camera ;~D
Posted on 04/14/2006 6:52:17 AM PDT by george76
You're mostly right, Gorganeer, about National Forest land. Hunting, recreational shooting, and carrying of handguns for defense is both allowed and common in National and State Forests.
There is no hunting or guns allowed in National Parks under most circumstances...
The difference between "Forest" and "Park" is not just semantics. It's a real difference and people should understand that.
As I understand it the rules for National Parks are determined by the Forest service on a per park basis.
For instance at The Kenai Fjords National Park
http://www.nps.gov/kefj/trip_planning/Rules%20and%20Regs%20faq.htm
"It is legal to possess a firearm anywhere in the park in accordance with all other applicable state and federal laws. This is different than the rule in most Lower 48 National Park areas, but is allowed here for protection from bears and other dangerous wildlife. Hunting is strictly prohibited within the park."
As that says... Alaska is different than anywhere else, because of their unique risks. Normally, National Park = no weapons... National or State Forest = weapons.
Understood, so I will ammend my previous statment to some degree.
I never go into the woods (if there is a good chance I will encounter bears and or cougars) without a weapon unless common sense and my god given rights have been suspended, in which case I don't go in the woods.
As to carrying a weapon, at least in Idaho certain species of animals are open to hunting year round. Coyotes are a good example, so as long as you have a valid hunting license you would be 100% legal packing a rifle.
I have run into rangers and wardens on several occasions while horse packing elk camp into our hunting area months ahead of the start of the season and have never had them even begin to question rifles on our person or strapped to my critter.
Somebody get Stephen Colbert on this story!!
I just hate to see so many FReepers on this, and the earlier thread, who have disdain for the law that is born of ignorance. The law did not prevent this mother from being armed, other choices she made did. If I was camping at a popular campsite with two little kids and a bunch of other people around, as she was, I might not have had a gun within arm's reach either. This was a highly rare and unpredictable turn of events. If I were going to that Forest tomorrow would I pack? You bet. It's all about assessing risk and weighing risk against other considerations.
100% in agreement.
With the camera ;~D
Ha, I see them all year long...right up until about Labor Day. Then POOOOOF! The next 2-3 months is spent looking VERY hard for them again.
They were obviously very aware we were there, but they also appeared to know what time of year it is :~D
It is rEdiculously out of whack ..because the whack is sport killing, or killing for the fun of it is OK. But acting on natural instinct is not.
Nice telephoto. Was that Canon ?
It is a Canon. It's actually not the best zoom out there, I can't get in real close and not get fuzzy, but I was pretty happy with those shots :~D
Just got back from a trip to the Smoky Mountains area a few months ago. On two occasions all traffic stopped on the roads because of a 'bear sighting'. People got out of their cars with cameras and tried to lure the 'cute little bears' to them with treats so they could snap a photo. Idiots! We hiked to about 15 falls in the SC/NC/TN area and never encountered a bear - and most of the falls were pretty remote, with no other humans in sight. Bears are fine if no one tries to 'humanize' them. They are wild animals, and need to be treated as such, with respect and awe and fear. When we go into the woods, we are in their territory. The consequences of our actions are our own. We might be perceived as food or as a threat - depending on the bear. That being said, I know I will be eaten the next time I go for a hike.
In case you ever find yourselves in a 'beary' situation, one of the surest things that can work in your defense is a good ole' camera. There was an article in the NG some years back about how a travel reporter thought his time had come when found himself face to face with a pretty ferocious looking bear. For posterity's sake he decided to take his last photgraph and record the moments before his death. And lo and behold, as soon as he fired the camera's flash at the bear, the bear turned around and disappeared into the woods. Had he not taken that picture, he said there was no doubt he would have been killed and eaten that day.
I use to see bears all the time backpacking and rafting in the Smokies.
Once met a couple hiking out with only a back frame left, after a bear tore up their gear getting food. We gave them food and water and told them to turn around go downhill as it was only a half day's walk out that away as opposed to a two day uphill climb.
"I could never understand stories like this"
I get the impression that there is a lot you don't understand.
Heh... You know, there's a ring of truth in that! Not necessarily because the flash will scare them, but because you get a rare chance to see a bear in the wild, and the $%*&#$ thing won't likely cooperate and hold still long enough! That's the real risk in wildlife, this thread notwithstanding!
I think it's especially good to post my bear photo story especially in light of the conversation about telephotos. My husband and I saw a black bear, with cubs, last summer on a trail ride. I even had my camera out... had just finished taking this picture.
She [the bear] was on the logged hillside above... off to my left and a ways off... my horse ~may~ even be looking at her but I doubt it. I don't think he ever saw her.
We were with a friend on a mountain bike. We were all stopping to take a rest break in the clearing.
When we first saw her, she was standing up, trying to get a look at us. Bears do not actually have terrific vision. We looked at her a good several seconds (seconds where I could have gotten a terrific picture) just staring, gobsmacked. Then she started down the hill in our general direction. Perhaps not aggressively, but at least with a high level of indifference. We found that rather alarming, particularly for my friend on the bicycle, and we decided to get out of there.
So we started away, my friend on the bicycle pedaling a pretty good clip. I just entered those trees behind her and was following along, when I suddenly remembered the dang camera. *&$^%@+#! I thought! I need a picture of this!
So I turned my horse around and headed back into the clearing. The bear had come down the hill and was ambling away and my horse was NOT pleased to be separated from the group and was dancing all over the place impatiently, and I was too eager and I tried too hard to zoom in too much with the camera. So THIS is all I got.
I know people who have spent years in the woods, some hunting bears, who have never seen one. I've seen two while riding up there. I think I've run my odds. My feelings are mixed on seeing another one. I don't really want to, but I'd love to get a picture.
There is a bear hunting season in TN. Radio dogs and all.
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