Oregon has an Abundance of wild life, Cougars Bears and so on. And FYI .. Moose an Grizzlys live in our Neighbouring States. Idaho , Montana an I even Belive in Washington. .. Take Your Gun if you'd Like.
Cougars are sport killers, who will hunt for the challenge even when not hungry - humans are always on the list of thrills for them. A desperate cougar (sick, starving, etc.) will not flee, so...all the best. Not to be a scare monger, but rare odds of cougar attacks don’t matter when you catch one stalking you. Respectfully speaking, it’s not your business if someone wants to carry protection for themselves or their loved ones. I hike with my wife and 3 kids (currently 4 yr, 2 yr, and 11 mo). Children crying or wining sounds like a wounded rabbit and is a beacon to hungry predators. I’m honestly more so concerned with all of the druggies and psychos out here. Our nature here is gorgeous but is also a hotspot for criminal activity. I dare not suggest you trust people on the trails who are carrying to be of good intention, but likewise don’t assume they’re up to no good. Keep your wits and keep your cool.
The last documented Grizzly kill in the North Cascades was in 1967, roughly 52 yrs. ago. For over 2 decades there have been no "confirmed" Grizzly sightings in the North Cascades. PCT hikers have claimed to have seen some, and I have no reason to doubt them but again..unconfirmed. That said, of course carrying protection in Grizzly country makes perfect sense. Hell, Ive hiked and lived in rattlesnake country, the few times Ive encountered rattlers they were busy moving away from me after a warning "buzz". The original topic of this conversation was Oregon hiking not hiking in the Bitteroots, Selkirks or Far North Cascades. The fact remains that there are those who manufacture, stoke and live in constant fear, in order to justify carrying loaded firearms every place they go and twist every conversation even remotely mentioning guns into another chance to shout..."The 'Gubment is Cummin' ta Git Our Guns!" Id rather just go for a hike far from that noise.
You sound stupid😂😂 if anything I'm bringing a gun to protect myself from people like you.
Take your choice of protection - wildlife, human monsters, whatever you want to call them. I bet there are a lot of people in boxes wish they'd made a different choice before they left home. I'll keep my right to protect myself and mine and bring it with me where I please.
No Grizzlies here!
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