How do you keep yourself safe outdoors?

RON (PA)

RON (PA)

Silver Member
Sep 9, 2004
2,847
61
Pittsburgh, Pa
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Compadre & Tiger Shark
one of the most important things you can do is to stay alert to what going on around you and watch where you park at -- don't make yourself an easy mark -- keeping one ear cup off to help hear the rattle of a rattler or rabid dog or a two legged snake coming up on you is a good idea --( a strong sharp digger is like a knife --use it like one if need be)--- they do make one ear models of headphones *** which is a great idea --- think of where your going to be at ---is it remote far from help? pack the proper protection according to the area you'll be in -- alot depends on your personal shape , how willing you are to scrap it out and if need be will you kill to protect money and self. -- these are questions that you and only you can answer -- I know what I'm willing and able to do --- you need to think out your "game plan" ahead of time --your attacker will have -- if you haven't though about it -- hes already "ahead" of you --- which is not a good thing --- like the boys scouts say "be prepared" --- ie think it out ahead of time what you will do --- its called situational awareness --- if your female NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF be removed from the area via a vehicle --- 90% of the time *** if a woman leaves the area in a car she is found dead if at all --- the attacker is attempting to transport you to a remote area where he plans on leaving no witness to his crime --- your being taken to a remote place to be robbed , raped and killed then buried or dumped in the woods -- plain and simple its fight and flee or die -- so know that your fighting for your life and act accordingly -- do any and everything you can to get away from him by any means you can --- Ivan
 

I carry a gun with me as a rule, but I realize that not everyone can do that and not every state allows it. I would suggest that you always have a partner with you.... if you are going to be in a remote area. Sad to say.... this world is such that you just can't relax and enjoy the MD when you are all alone. I also bring my dog with me when I am in the woods or far from other people. Trust your instincts. If it feels funny.... re locate right away.
 

I carry an older Taurus .38 spl. loaded with snake loads in my goody bag for any "Mr. No-shoulders" that may get kicked-up. I keep a small framed 9mm auto tucked inside the waistband of my pants loaded with 10 rounds of +P hollow point for any 2 legged snakes that might show up.

And, yes, I DO have a concealled carry permit; although I carried concealled BEFORE I got my license. It's too late to worry about things if you run into trouble with no means of self protection. It's a sad commentary on today's situation. When I was young (50s and 60s) you could go anywhere without problems. Today, you've got to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If some puke is willing to die trying to take what little I have, I'm willing to kill'em to keep it. THEIR decision is what will get them hurt because I've already made MY decision before I left home.

There is one thing I've discovered since I started to carry concealled weapons and that is, it seems to be a whole lot easier to avoid troublesome situations now. So if someone absolutely PUSHES the situation, he has no one to blame, but himself. 'Nuff-said.
 

I am fortunate to not have this issue where I live. But if you have concerns like this, just be sure to not to have credit cards etc in your wallet. Personalize your detector in some way that its absolutely unique for WHEN it shows up at a hawk shop (which will be near by, cuz the crackhead needs his stuff quick). The serial # on it is not an easy enough distinction. It'll show up.
If you don't put up a fight, you generally won't get hurt. A gun beats four aces in a card game, so if that's what your facing don't try to defend yourself. If I were this concerned I would get a concealed weapon permit, but stay safe.
 

In most States there is an older law that says if carried in plain sight ... it's not illegal.
The problem is dealing with the cities that decide to be "PC" and do away with the second amendment.

O D
 

bring a friend ::)
 

NHbenz said:
I am fortunate to not have this issue where I live. But if you have concerns like this, just be sure to not to have credit cards etc in your wallet. Personalize your detector in some way that its absolutely unique for WHEN it shows up at a hawk shop (which will be near by, cuz the crackhead needs his stuff quick). The serial # on it is not an easy enough distinction. It'll show up.
If you don't put up a fight, you generally won't get hurt. A gun beats four aces in a card game, so if that's what your facing don't try to defend yourself. If I were this concerned I would get a concealed weapon permit, but stay safe.
Click to expand...

I agree and same here.
My only worry is hurting myself, which I carry a cell phone for.

a Colored Smoke bomb or 2 in your Pocket to alert a Search party or Search Chopper
wouldn't hurt either. unless you live in a Fire Prone area.
 

air horns are a ripper
 

i was always told never tell anybody you own or have a gun
the fact being they would never be able to one up you
 

i always carry a cell phone, and if i will be in an area that i think is a little shady, i wont hunt it alone. i also carry a knife.
 

Being female is an added issue in terms of safety. I tend to detect in very remote areas but I do it alone. I don't carry any kind of protection except a lesche. So far so good. Although I did look up from digging to find myself staring at a shotgun once (turned out to be a neighbor of the place I was detecting).
 

Wow, people from other countries must think we are still the Wild West. I just wonder where you all are detecting so I can stay clear. This is just a hobby for me and not worth dying over. I wouldn't do it any more if I had to go out packed like Rambo for some clad. I love my Minelab but don't think it is worth my life. I would just buy another one. I once lived in a bad area so I decided to move to where I felt safe. It's a big country. If I felt I had to walk around carrying a gun, it wouldn't be a safe enough area for my family to live. Unless you were robbing a criminal first, they would already have you lined in their gun sight, taking your detector and your gun. Do you really think you could out draw them? Just think, anyone desparate enough to rob a man of his detector at gunpoint for $50 at a pawn shop, is more than willing to use the gun on you. He needs the money more than you need your detector. Give it up and live to post another day. Good luck, keep your heads down and stay safe!!!
 

Stay Alert! Stay Alive!

Ok.... I am only speaking for myself here so please do not think that I believe that everyone should think like this. First.... we all MUST know our limitations. Some of us are older, weaker and/or have physical issues (knees, back, etc) that prevent us from being effective in a full on fight. Now here is the kicker. I happen to believe that if a person is willing to pull a knife or a gun on you.... they are willing to take your life. I am not a guy who believes that its, "your money OR your life." These days... it's "Your money AND your life."! I speak from much experience and have made the decision long ago that if a person has designs to threaten my life while I am out MD and enjoying my life...... he will pay dearly for that. As others have said... it's HIS decision. My point here is.... please consider NOT playing nice with a guy who confronts you while alone in the woods MD. My suggestion is that you have a plan NOW... embed it into your brain and if that situation comes up....execute your plan with everything that you are. This is your life that we are talking about here. Guess what.... your life is very very cheap these days. I have seen people kill others for the shoes on their feet! Screw that! If they find me dead in the forest while MD.... they will find whoever killed me, laying in many pieces around my body. Its a mind set. I will NOT allow anyone to take my life!!!

Anyway.... I hope that was not to much drama, but all of us (especially you women) must know that if you have no plan in your head now... when your brain searches for an answer to a threat..... it comes up empty. That is when you will panic. Panic is not a good thing. Believe me..... in a life and death situation, your brain WILL remember the plans that you set today and that is what you will automatically do.

Stay safe.
 

Most of the responses make sense for the individual that suggests same. If you have a carry permit and/or carry a weapon you'd better be up to date on your shoot-no-shoot laws. We have an idiot DA that has tried to prosecute anyone who shoots another regardless of the circumstances. No, he hasn't got a conviction yet on a self defense case, but the people involved have been out thousands of dollars in attorney fees. Not only that, you open yourself up to a lawsuit from the a$$hole you had to shoot....and some of them have won big judgements! Yes, I have a carry permit and no, I have never had to shoot anyone or even pull my gun. That doesn't mean I wouldn't. And, if you are a female and it is clear the bad guy wants more than your money or your equipment, never under any circumstances get into a vehicle with him, even at the threat of death. There's about a 90% chance you will die if you do! And if you are being forced into a vehicle, fight like hell and make all the noise you can. Those are cold hard facts. Just think how many "missing" women are eventually found in a shallow grave somewhere. Brrrr.. I've worked a few of those myself and it ain't pleasant.

On a lighter note, always carry insect repellant, the defense I have had to use many, many times. Those dang sabre toothed mosquitos can run you clean off from a good site if you don't. And ticks. Oh my God how I hate those nasty little blood sucking pests. You are in a lot more danger of contracting some disease from ticks than getting hurt by a two legged rodent. Take a basic first aid course, usually offered by the Red Cross for free a couple of times a year. Carry a small first aid kit and dress appropriately for the weather conditions you might encounter. Be sure you have plenty of drinking water on hand in the summer time and drink often on really hot days. Never enter a cave, cellar hole or crevice if you are alone, and let someone know where you will be detecting if you are in a remote area. Even an old vacant house can have a cistern beneath the floor and once you fall in you probably can't get out unassisted. Never tie weights around our waist when hunting and wading shallow water. One drop off or rogue wave can do you in before you can get extra weight untied from your body. We lost a fellow a little over a year ago that way. Mainly use common sense and you will probably be OK unless you are accident prone like me! Monty
 

The mosquitoes and ticks are my biggest problem, so i use insect repellent.
Next is weather, so dress accordingly
Snakes are usually as eager to get away from you as you are to get from them.
And occasionally i stop and chat with someone passing by.

During the summer i travel quite a bit shooting fireworks and sometimes get into some really rough areas of the downtown sections. Here you learn quick that there are day people, and night people and it is two different worlds.

This makes me appreciate how fortunate i am to live where i can get UPS to leave a package on the porch and expect it to be there when i get home.

In my hometown i have never found the need to fear for my safety from other individuals while detecting
 

In a perfect world one would never need to fear for his/her own safety. Sadly we don not live in a perfect world, as such I have a CCW permit and carry daily. I have never had to use it and hope I never do.

Some here have stated "It's just money or a detector, not worth dying over". Perhaps this is so, but in today's world it often doesn't stop there. My wife and or daughter are often with me when detecting, their lives and 'dignity' are more important than anything, therefor I choose to protect them.

Carrying a pistol makes that a bit easier and evens the odds a bit. In my opinion the 'thug' chooses his destiny, I just help him fulfill it...ymmv... ;)
 

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Good end of year story!

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