Back country camping trouble

[newfisher]

Living in the NW and not camping on asphalt or pavement puts us out in the boonies often. Here's what we do.

We have 2 dogs. They are great protectors of thier area. They bark, they run up on you when you get close, but become a puddle of fur when strangers act like they are going to pet them. Don't trust your dog to protect you.

I carry a carboard box, folded down with a range paper target taped to one side. I unfold it, set it near camp and visible from the road that leads to where we are. I fire a few rounds into it. I put the firarm away and enjoy the rest of our weekend. Yes, you will get people that heard the shots and investigate ( I would too). They walk up, see the target and walk off.

Even on Meth, 2 large barking dogs, sounds of gun fire and a target with a tight group, 99% you will keep walking. MAGA

[candyman]

The best odds to lower the risk of "adventures" with local folk is to avoid any and all camping on memorial day, fourth of july and Labor day weekends. Total amateur hour. And they are out in droves. Having said that, we still camp on those weekends but we just know where to go to avoid them

We camp atleast 80-100 nights a year, mostly renegade camping as we have lots of open space. But we do occasionally stay at improved sites when traveling for convenience purposes. We have had more "adventures" with people at the improved sites then the unimproved primitive sites.

[levi]

I had an issue once while camped out in the woods, so I slapped his ass good.

Then all his buddies found out about it and ganged up on me, man was THAT a mistake.

Lesson learned, dont slap at a bee in your face, they release chemicals that their brothers and sisters recognize as an attack, and they'll come git ya.

This will be your best tip of the day.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[Merian]

I wouldn't rely on just "a gun" for protection from meth-heads, thieves, Bundy-ized nutballs and what have you.

Before you camp, pick a high point, surveil the spot, lay in some mortar fire to soften up the area, and only then would you drive in with guns ready.
_________________
....

[SCM]

Candyman and Levi have offered some of the best advice in this thread.

I'll go on to add my favorite form of "protection" - always wear work gloves when chopping wood, rehabbing fire pits, playing with fire, handling hot cookware, and miscellaneous "drunkard games".

I can't count how many times I've returned from camping trips with gnarled up hands before I learned that.
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[schenks13]

Prevention is the best protection. Maybe we could get a list of the isolated spots in the middle of the woods, that have the biggest threat of drugged up gangs attacking.
_________________
******************************************
'87 Syncro High Roof
'07 Rabbit
'94 Jetta
Old Town Tripper 172
Mad River Courier

[photogdave]

[SCM]

[candyman]

People dont realize how dangerous shooting into water is. The bullet can skip like a rock if it hits the surface just right. Hopefully no one is camping anywhere near the other bank

[schenks13]

"That would depend on where my friends and I are camped at any given time."

I'll have to just chose the right color attire then, I guess! What's your gang color? Is that Bordeaux Red Metallic, or Titian Red?
_________________
******************************************
'87 Syncro High Roof
'07 Rabbit
'94 Jetta
Old Town Tripper 172
Mad River Courier

[Farf]

We've been heading north out of Baja for several days. My wife's comment this morning, "You look like someone we should be afraid of."

[photogdave]

[86scotty]

[bluebus86]

[E1]

We've been out 44 months and have no desire to carry a gun. Unlike the nutters of this world, I tend to actually read than live in paranoid fear, and statistics show you're safer without one.

But we do have bear spray and a nice two by four.

To elaborate further, anyone thinking they need a gun to feel safe will probably assume I have one, too. Fear can be our friend here. In practice, follow your gut, leave if it tells you to, it's smarter than the scared nutters.

Avoid areas of meth use. Be nice to them if confronted. Act like you're like them. Don't look down on them.

Of our 44 months, only three were in the Southeast, and to be frank, gut said to leave -- so we did.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[bluebus86]

[kamzcab86]

[Scubavw]

Guns are not allowed in most government run campgrounds. I was camping at a US forest service campground and the ranger told me about some guys shooting off some guns in the campground a couple of night before and they were all sent to jail for it.

[Syncro Jael]

I have never had problems camping in the backcountry.We usually find places that most people don't go to, or are more difficult to get to than the average person will attempt. That is one reason why I love our van. It takes us just about everywhere we want to go. If others show up that don't meet with our interests, I just put the top down and move on. It is not worth the brain damage to have an altercation with someone you don't know. Concealed carry is ok with me, and I have never had to even think about using a gun.

Get out there and go camping!

_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat)

[IdahoDoug]

Jack,

Not necessarily, it could be for any reason at all if you sense ill intent. I guess what I'm advocating is what any person with the skills to handle themselves will tell you: Don't act like a victim. If confronted by someone with bad intentions in a 7-Eleven parking lot in broad daylight, or a pickup full of drunks in the dark woods, have a plan and execute it immediately. That requires thinking about it in advance before you leave home. At the 7-Eleven it makes sense to scream, yell and bring attention of others. In the woods, that's not a good idea - best to get back to your van and make a stand. Once its clear you are going to get physically attacked, hopefully you have a plan. I do.

But the best plan of all is one you don't have to deploy. After all, nobody wants to spend the next day filling out paperwork, right? So as noted above pick your camping spots, leave if asshats arrive, and know that holiday weekends bring people and alcohol out into the woods in droves.

Everyone has their own philosophy and presumably it works for them. For me, I don't relax when I bring my family along unless I have made provision to be able to defend them with an absolute winning plan. Then I don't give it another thought the whole trip - in the city, in the deepest woods, or the most remote lake. A perfect example is my seatbelt. I put it on and don't give it another thought. But if something bad happens, it's already in place.

Doug
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader