Felt safe until now

[memaquay]

I think you are on to something Alan. I know the next bit might seem like it is not canoe related, but in actuality, it is totally canoe related, and probably explains why a lot of us go wilderness canoeing.

In my first year psych class, many moons ago, we looked at the rat studies conducted by John Calhoun. Basically, he overpopulated a rat cage, but provided them with plenty of food and water, but just put too many rats in one place. I will let AI describe the results:

Psychological and social collapse

• Behavioral sink: Calhoun's experiments provided rats with unlimited food and water but restricted space. The rat population would initially boom, but then descend into severe psychological disruption and pathological behavior.
• Hyper-aggression and violence: Rats will become extremely aggressive, leading to frequent fighting that can cause serious injury or death. Dominant rats will engage in bullying, and overcrowding can trigger hormonal changes that increase aggressive behavior in males.
• Maternal breakdown: Mother rats may stop building proper nests, neglect their young, or even attack them. The constant stress of overcrowding interferes with normal caregiving instincts.
• Increased anxiety: A 2012 study published in PubMed found that chronic overcrowding increased anxiety levels in rats, which was measured by observing their behavior in different test environments.
• Social withdrawal: Rats may become withdrawn, anti-social, or excessively fearful. Some may compulsively hide or develop repetitive, abnormal behaviors like bar-chewing.

People aren't rats, we only share about 67% DNA, but people are often rat-like. It is my contention that city living is a blight on humanity, something humans are not supposed to do. Lots of rat-like behaviour blossoms in cities, less so in the hinterland.

I like Thomas Jefferson's idea - land ownership centers on a widespread distribution of small, independent family farms, with farmers owning their own land to cultivate virtue, independence, and a strong republic. Of course this idea would not work in the modern context, but it sure sounds good.

I think many of us crave time away from humanity, a reconnection with nature, an escape from the actual rat-race, and the perfect vehicle is a canoe. This thread was started because the OP was concerned that violence normally associated with cities was brimming over into areas of solitude. That would concern me too. The reasons guns became involved in the discussion is because some people see them as the first line of defence against the rats dressed in human clothes. Some people are very opposed to guns. I don't know what the answer is, I guess it's a you do you kinda thing.

---

 

[Boreal Birch]

I have seen the rat and he is us!
We got a rat problem.
I had a job that entailed counting salmon. Walking up a stream counting them. I saw lots of bears doing this, never felt in danger. I also got to sit in the back seat of a Super Cub aircraft counting salmon flying low and slow up rivers, also saw lots of bears doing this. This was way more dangerous than the foot surveys. There were only two pilots that I would fly with. There are no old, bold pilots, flying low and slow is the recipe for disaster.
I think driving in cars is the most dangerous thing we do, but we willingly climb into one. They probably kill and maim the more people on a daily basis than most any other cause.

 

[Penns Woods]

The world is changing but I still feel fairly safe back in the Bush, it is out at the parking lot and near others that I watch myself. While nothing has happened to me yet, now that I'm getting older I feel a little uneasy. While I don't believe that guns are the answer and Since I usually go solo this subject interest me and I think we all can benefit from discussing it.

 

[Keeled Over]

I have to go with statistic's on this one.

I always taught my kids to "stop, look, think' and trained them that, statistically, you just have to be a little safer then the other people around you.

 

[yknpdlr]

My dad encouraged me to get my NY State "pistol permit" after I turned 21 and was an air crew officer in the Air Force, now over 50 years ago. In the AF, with an "expert" handgun qualification, I was certified to carry a .38 in my navigator's bag in flight whenever we had any kind of passenger on board the aircraft. Getting a state pistol permit was really not an easy thing to do, even back then. But My dad worked with and was friends with a worldwide/nationally known hunting author who was my personal instructor and mentor, and we also knew the local judge who determines if I am worthy and reliable. Since I regularly headed off into the deep Adirondack wilderness, Dad's reasoning was he wanted me to have something loud for emergency signaling, not to protect myself from other people in the woods. But it was a heavy item, especially if I had to carry enough ammunition to make sense as a signal device over any extended time. After a couple of years of lugging it in the woods I decided was just too heavy for my minimal backpack, but I still have it, plus a few others, even today.

One critical item my instructor told me. On your application, never, never indicate it is "for personal protection" which will guarantee rejection. Instead, it is officially for hunting and sport shooting.

 

[memaquay]

But it was a heavy item.....

That's pretty much the reason I don't take a gun on a regular canoe trip where I am not hunting. It's just a pain to lug around. Plus, I don't feel it is right to leave it unattended at one end of a port, so I would have to carry it all the time. It's Canada, so we are talking about a shotgun, not a handgun. My wife always wants me to bring a gun when we go, but I will remind her that when we want to go fishing, or a day trip paddling away from camp, the gun will have to go with us.

I haven't been in a situation yet where I have been threatened enough by any four or two legged beast to feel the need for a gun. However, I am somewhat of a gun aficionado, I have three cabinets full of them. I really should make room and get rid of some of them.

Any Canadians looking for a good buy on some boom sticks? Lol.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

There are a lot of canoe destinations that require driving thru some nasty cities to get there.
I definitely get a severe "pucker" when I'm driving thru Chicago on my way to BWCA.
It's the TRIP to canoe country that's the most dangerous part of the journey.

 

[Gamma1214]

But it was a heavy item, especially if I had to carry enough ammunition to make sense as a signal device over any extended time

I don't feel it is right to leave it unattended at one end of a port, so I would have to carry it all the time

Those are the two main reasons that I don't even consider taking a gun on canoe trips (or backpacking). Canada, however, has these really cool fireworks called bear bangers that weigh next to nothing yet sound enough like a shotgun that any nefarious wildlife (human or otherwise) will probably scram.

I don't think that you can't buy them in the US... pretty sure ATF considers them "explosive devices". (Yep, sure are & I like 'em!)

 

[scoutergriz]

Those are the two main reasons that I don't even consider taking a gun on canoe trips (or backpacking). Canada, however, has these really cool fireworks called bear bangers that weigh next to nothing yet sound enough like a shotgun that any nefarious wildlife (human or otherwise) will probably scram.

I don't think that you can't buy them in the US... pretty sure ATF considers them "explosive devices". (Yep, sure are & I like 'em!)

I have a flare pencil on my pfd that fires both flares and bangers, the flares to attract attention when needed and the bangers to dissuade that same attention- also when needed, fortunately I've never required to do either.
In fact the only time the pencil has been used has been to provide training to others in it's use. One tip- if you're using it for training, notify the cops beforehand with your name, exact location, and expected time of use, it's not fun having them show up with weapons drawn after multiple reports of gunfire (don't ask how I know)

 

[yknpdlr]

Somehow, after I left AF active duty, I ended up with a bag containing my partial aircrew emergency kit, including a colored smoke flare and flare pen with cartridges. After this many years I doubt either still works, but I would never try either where any of the public or L.E. could withness it.

 

[Erica]

In one of Paddling Pit's books, he describes a situation where a bear was approaching them and Kathleen had a bear banger in her pocket. He described it going off, like a whoosh when she unleased it and then a bang near the bear that sounded like a gun shot and the bear did retreat. It's much smaller than the bear spray. Next time I am in Canada, I will try to get one.

I might be persuaded to carry on Florida trips. Everyone in Florida has a gun or two or three. Traveling alone on a river I can see a potential for trouble. But I have not done it. In general, I try to keep a low profile.

 

[gumpus]

Great!! Just what i needed, Up until now I have always felt safe sleeping in the car or camping while in the Adirondacks. Now I'm not so sure.
NY state Police has a warning for the lookout for Anthony Bechand, considered armed and dangerous. He was last sighted near Thirteenth Lake.
Whereabouts now unknown. I guess even in the mountains you have to e careful.

The bad news is that you were never 100% safe in the first place.

The good news is that people never worry about the right stuff.

Don't go lookin for trouble
Trouble will find you
And you sure don't have to look too hard
-Steve Goodman

 

[gumpus]

In one of Paddling Pit's books, he describes a situation where a bear was approaching them and Kathleen had a bear banger in her pocket. He described it going off, like a whoosh when she unleased it and then a bang near the bear that sounded like a gun shot and the bear did retreat. It's much smaller than the bear spray. Next time I am in Canada, I will try to get one.

I might be persuaded to carry on Florida trips. Everyone in Florida has a gun or two or three. Traveling alone on a river I can see a potential for trouble. But I have not done it. In general, I try to keep a low profile.

in Florida the river may be the safest place

 

[Erica]

in Florida the river may be the safest place

Drinking beer and shooting guns and having a good ole time. Cat calls. Seen it many more times on the river than at the grocery store.

 

[Gamma1214]

I guess I can see where shooting guns at the grocery store could be problematic. Drinkin' beer & having a good time though? That's got grocery store tailgate party written all over it! Best of all: no DUI on the resupply run (you don't lose driving privileges for "public intoxication")

(usual warning: I'm not a lawyer... don't even play one on tv)

 

[ppine]

Guns and alcohol? I am leaving as fast as I can never to return.
Meet your neighbors. Make friends with people when you can.
Trust your intuition. Keep your radar on.

Late last fall I was camping in my RV at a local spot. I was the only one there with my dog. A loud old van shows up towing a junk trailer. The guy parks right next to me. He has 2 German Shepherds. We have a conversation and I packed up and left. "Are your dogs friendly?" "No, they are vicious." See ya. .

 

[Odyssey]

Yes, read the room, at all times, rural and urban. But at the same time judging people by their appearance (a book by it's cover) can sometimes be so wrong. The smiling friendly one can be a flaming nutter, the dull one with their shutters down can actually be a sweetheart. Don't live in fear, but live on alert. Stay reasonable and humble, but not meek and compliant. Quietly confidant, but not alpha brash. Just generalizations.
The drive through traffic is always where the most danger is. Like they say, it's the other guy.

 

[Odyssey]

A strange thing. Perhaps owing to the likelihood that the vast majority of people are nice somewhere underneath, that's what I've found anyway,
but my social navigating has revealed some curious happenstance. I'm pushing 70 but my hair is still only salt n pepper, even tho my facial hair is all white. And it helps I'm sure that I'm about the size (and appearance) of your average garden gnome. So no matter how much I swagger I'm really no threat to anyone. When I had a very short brush cut and full white beard I could stop traffic (unintentionally) just by looking at crosswalks. People would wave from behind their steering wheels "go ahead ol fella, it's okay". Then, when I grew my hair shoulder length, the traffic respect/pity ended. No more Mr and Mrs nice guys. They would shake their heads and worse. Having gotten fed up with pony tails and fuss I recently got shorn, and guess what. The nice people are back. What the
Sitting in the kitchen the other night with my missus I suggested she wash out her colour and wear her grey with pride. (oops, I was supposed to be fooled into believing she was still 30). I said she'd benefit from some of this ageism thing going on. She wasn't impressed, so I'll just let that go.
It's too bad this doesn't apply to driving, because in this rat infested part of the world too many folks drive like they're mad; mad as hatters and mad at somebody, anybody, you buddy. I refuse to go 140 in an 80 zone, otherwise I drive fairly close to the suggested speed limits posted. And still I get angry feckers losing their self-entitled princess snowflake cool because I'm using up valuable asphalt real estate. Maybe I ought to invest in a convertible, so they can see my pitiable old garden gnome situation, and show a little respect. End of rant.

 

[Alan Gage]

The guy parks right next to me. He has 2 German Shepherds. We have a conversation and I packed up and left. "Are your dogs friendly?" "No, they are vicious." See ya. .

You fell for the oldest trick in the book. That's what I used to tell people about Sadie when I wanted the place to myself.

Alan