I hunt, fish, kayak, and camp. I also conceal carry when I’m not inside my house due to a few reasosns.

Moved recently, but my kayaking was in the deep South, often in swamps. I open carried a .22 single action revolver with ratshot when kayaking, strapped it to the milk crate on the back. There were water moccasins as thick as my forearm and I’ve heard of them climbing in a kayak.

Only time I’ve ever drawn my concealed handgun was when a mountain lion got curious after dark. It wasn’t afraid of me. I growled and hissed at it and it went away. It was wild.

When I’m in the woods I also carry a medical kit including epi pen and tourniquet, bug spray, a fire source, and water.

The thing I’m most afraid of in the woods are ticks, Lyme disease or alpha gal would be horrible. I treat my clothes with permethrin. There are bears, and I think there are mountain lions in my new home. Two legged predators in the woods is also always a risk, but a minor one.

I do agree that we need mandatory training and better gun control.