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Yes, you should carry a sidearm while hunting...
http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2015/9/30/worldwide-exclusive-wisconsin-deer-hunter-fends-off-wolves-with-walther-pk-380/
Worldwide Exclusive: Wisconsin Deer Hunter Fends off Wolves with Walther PK .380
by Jon Draper - Wednesday, September 30, 2015
On Sept. 23, Matthew Nellessen of Friendship, Wisc., an avid deer hunter and former U.S. Army sergeant who served with the 961st Engineers in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, was scouting a potential hunting area in the Colburn Wildlife Management Area of Adams County when he locked eyes with a wolf only 30 yards away. Acting on instinct he gained from military service, Nellessen immediately pulled his sidearm, a Walther PK .380, and chambered a round.
That’s when things went from bad to worse. As he racked the slide, Nellessen noticed two more wolves approaching from the left.
“It all happened so fast,” said Nellessen. "It was maybe 3-4 seconds and the wolves were on me.”
The first wolf came in from the right, mouth open, fangs ready to rip into Nellesen's leg. A swift kick from the man’s boot landed square on the wolf's face and deflected the bite.
“That first wolf missed my leg by 8-10 inches,” he said.
The other two wolves weren’t far behind. As the next wolf leapt toward Nellessen, the man jumped back and was able to fire a single round into the animal. Nellessen was unsure of the lethality of the hit, but two wolves immediately retreated for the bush at the sound of the gunshot and the third limped away “like a gut-shot deer," said Nellessen.
Despite his encounter, Nellesen said, "I don’t blame the wolves.” He surmised that the perfect wind for scouting also turned out to be the perfect wind for unintentionally bumping into the wolves in what he described as "their living room.”
Nellessen attributes his ability to survive the encounter to his military experience and the small sidearm he carried with him that day.
“I’d be dead without my military experience,” he said. “A single bullet saved my life … a .380 FMJ.”
Phone calls and emails to the Wisconsin DNR confirm: "The Wisconsin DNR along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently investigating a report of a wolf interaction on or about that date. That’s all we can say since there is an ongoing investigation.”
Matthew Nellessen, who says he is now "In the market for a bigger gun,” renewed his NRA membership four days ago.
Worldwide Exclusive: Wisconsin Deer Hunter Fends off Wolves with Walther PK .380
by Jon Draper - Wednesday, September 30, 2015
On Sept. 23, Matthew Nellessen of Friendship, Wisc., an avid deer hunter and former U.S. Army sergeant who served with the 961st Engineers in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, was scouting a potential hunting area in the Colburn Wildlife Management Area of Adams County when he locked eyes with a wolf only 30 yards away. Acting on instinct he gained from military service, Nellessen immediately pulled his sidearm, a Walther PK .380, and chambered a round.
That’s when things went from bad to worse. As he racked the slide, Nellessen noticed two more wolves approaching from the left.
“It all happened so fast,” said Nellessen. "It was maybe 3-4 seconds and the wolves were on me.”
The first wolf came in from the right, mouth open, fangs ready to rip into Nellesen's leg. A swift kick from the man’s boot landed square on the wolf's face and deflected the bite.
“That first wolf missed my leg by 8-10 inches,” he said.
The other two wolves weren’t far behind. As the next wolf leapt toward Nellessen, the man jumped back and was able to fire a single round into the animal. Nellessen was unsure of the lethality of the hit, but two wolves immediately retreated for the bush at the sound of the gunshot and the third limped away “like a gut-shot deer," said Nellessen.
Despite his encounter, Nellesen said, "I don’t blame the wolves.” He surmised that the perfect wind for scouting also turned out to be the perfect wind for unintentionally bumping into the wolves in what he described as "their living room.”
Nellessen attributes his ability to survive the encounter to his military experience and the small sidearm he carried with him that day.
“I’d be dead without my military experience,” he said. “A single bullet saved my life … a .380 FMJ.”
Phone calls and emails to the Wisconsin DNR confirm: "The Wisconsin DNR along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently investigating a report of a wolf interaction on or about that date. That’s all we can say since there is an ongoing investigation.”
Matthew Nellessen, who says he is now "In the market for a bigger gun,” renewed his NRA membership four days ago.
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Replies
FIFY
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
Why would he not had a round in thee chamber and the safety on?
That is one aspect of his military training that did not benefit him. I think it's a guard duty rule, for the average infantryman. It's a little bit outdated, in my opinion.
Young of the year should be able to run away
so came across a fresh kill maybe.
I have no experience with wolves, but I have walked up on coyote dens or feral hogs several times when the wind was right. I can imagine doing that with wolves and getting a more aggressive response.
Unless one happens across one of their 'rendezvous' sites, where the pups of the year are kept together, a bit like a kindergarten class while the adults hunt. It's getting a bit late in the year for those sites/gatherings to still be intact, but you never know.
I think he stepped into an area with pups....
edited to add link - background info on these sites, for those interested:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wolf/rendezvous.html
http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26983879/10-years-ago-6-deer-hunters-slain-woods
Because they don't really teach that to civilians in safety classes. Of course he was ex military, but there's so much out there about carrying on an empty chamber that a lot of people do just that. It's a fantasy that some of us acquire that no matter what the threat that we will have enough time to whip out our gun and chamber a round. This guy just barely got that done, probably due to his military training (So good on that). He was very lucky. This is another reason I'm a proponent of the 1911 style arm because if carried correctly it can be very safe cocked and locked. Don't leave it up to the gun's mechanisms only, because this goes hand in hand with good training and practice.
Now my wheel gun is no issue to me. I carry the hammer down on the loaded round because I know it's not that hard to pull the trigger through in double action mode. AND most double actions have a safety feature built in that won't allow the hammer-firing pin to contact the cartridge unless the trigger is pulled to prevent AD if you should drop it or fall on it. And also, it has a big ol' hammer spur if I want to cock the hammer on the fly. But still, here again, safety comes down to practice and some skill.
Don't wait to circle the wagons until the Sitting Bull and his braves are breathing down your neck. Stay in shape. Go practice. Insure you can pull that piece out of the holster and cock that hammer and fire on the fly, and do it safely.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
My G-20 does all of that, and has more power than your .357 Magnum, and an extra 8 rounds, to boot. Beyond that, I could abuse the hell out of it, were I so inclined, without shedding a tear, because a simple wipe-down would make it look as good as it ever did. :jester:
Also, when I was practicing a lot with it, I could shoot 25 yard targets more accurately than I could with either of my .357's.
I remember that well! Yep I always carry when I am bowhunting, but just for the two legged vermon / meth heads.
There is a matter of legality, though. If you're scouting, or bow hunting, a game warden might not like you carrying a side arm. Also, I've heard tales of those carrying while hunting getting ticketed for carrying concealed if their handgun was under their coat or something. Seems pretty ticky-tacky to me, but I suppose it could happen. I've never had a negative experience with a game warden, but I know those who have.
As for the initial post, it seems a bit contrived to me. I'll reserve judgement until this gets confirmed by a reliable source.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Jerry
Practice your 'draw and re-holster until you feel comfortable carrying with a loaded chamber. It's OK to feel like you are carrying a live bomb for awhile - practice will eventually relieve that feeling. You might even consider carrying an XD, for the added grip safety, until you're comfortable with it.
― Douglas Adams
This
I carry a larger handgun than I would otherwise, when hunting.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester: