Open carry / firearm handy

[Rustyiron]

I took the OP's intent in terms of a rifle & wildlife. It might be just where I live, (711 acres of woods) but I NEVER see a person while I'm on my tractor, but keep an inexpensive 22 Rossi up in the rack for porkie's (porcupine) eating my trees, and would love to come across a coyote for the sake of the Deer.

Great post James!

 

[Midniteoyl]

Ya, a good 10/22 or Mares Leg Mare’s Leg | Henry Repeating Arms is good to have on hand while working a field/food plot, or on the ATV.

 

[Wagtail]

Suprised the Aussie does not carry, 'bout the only place with more deadly snakes than S Tex. I rarely went out with out carrying (Colt SA 22), Copperhead, Rattler and Cottonmouth, killed MANY riding/walking fence, down at the lake, chicken yard, tack room, you name it...you don't go out without a gun or have one near, you will need it!

Honestly, there is no need to constantly have access to a rifle on your person. Every snake that I've encountered has either slithered away or was 'basking' and I just walked around it.

That isn't to say that we don't have access to firearms, here in Australia. They're just kept in the gun-safe until required... which is mostly for hunting or culling purposes. Culling is required due to the lack of natural carnivorous predators that you would have in North America (bears, wolves, coyotes, etc...), so we're mostly taking care of an overabundance of kangaroos/wallabies or feral rabbits. [Although, baiting and/or a released virus is predominately used for that] There are no foxes on the island State of Tasmania and we're extremely vigilant about keeping it that way.

There are feral pack dogs that need to be destroyed.

Another point that you may find hard to believe is that there is no rabies in Australia. No rabies means, of course, that there are no rabid animals to deal with. Keeping Aus 'rabies free' means strict and enforced quarantine laws (just ask Johny Depp & his wife, who tried to sneak in their two little dogs on a private plane. ).

Personally, I am very familiar with both handling and shooting a variety of firearms due to my 35+ years of Navy service.

I was honest with my initial comment on the OP's question about if I'd ever thought of carrying a pistol whilst on my tractor. The OP wasn't being specific about where in the world his question applied too and, last time I looked, this isn't a U.S.A. exclusive website (I'm not having a go at you 17 Oaks, that's just a general statement).

 

[17 Oaks]

I'm not looking for a fight or saying anything one way or the other - but as a Canadian, even the CONCEPT of carrying/needing a handgun while on a tractor is mindboggling. In fact, I actually thought the thread was a joke when I first read it.
I guess our two cultures - even though we share a 2500 mile common border - are miles apart in that regard. But hey, whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Got Snakes???

Honestly, there is no need to constantly have access to a rifle on your person. Every snake that I've encountered has either slithered away or was 'basking' and I just walked around it.

That isn't to say that we don't have access to firearms, here in Australia. They're just kept in the gun-safe until required... which is mostly for hunting or culling purposes. Culling is required due to the lack of natural carnivorous predators that you would have in North America (bears, wolves, coyotes, etc...), so we're mostly taking care of an overabundance of kangaroos/wallabies or feral rabbits. [Although, baiting and/or a released virus is predominately used for that] There are no foxes on the island State of Tasmania and we're extremely vigilant about keeping it that way.

There are feral pack dogs that need to be destroyed.

Another point that you may find hard to believe is that there is no rabies in Australia. No rabies means, of course, that there are no rabid animals to deal with. Keeping Aus 'rabies free' means strict and enforced quarantine laws (just ask Johny Depp & his wife, who tried to sneak in their two little dogs on a private plane. ).

Personally, I am very familiar with both handling and shooting a variety of firearms due to my 35+ years of Navy service.

I was honest with my initial comment on the OP's question about if I'd ever thought of carrying a pistol whilst on my tractor. The OP wasn't being specific about where in the world his question applied too and, last time I looked, this isn't a U.S.A. exclusive website (I'm not having a go at you 17 Oaks, that's just a general statement).

No worry...

There I was with some folks from work that had moved down from up North somewhere, we are watching the Dallas Cowboys play on a Sun afternoon when I snake come out from under the couch and heads across the floor. I lean over in the magazine drawer and grab my pistol, take aim and get a nice head shot on a Cottonmouth. My 2 friends from work are drop jawed and stunned, she is pale and his eyes are bigger than saucers. He says are you gonna pick up the snake? Not now, I will at half time! She jumps up and says she is getting the **** outta here and he says YES! I said hang on, I think we got a scoring drive...they were gone when I went to look for them.

Shot a rattler coiled up in the corner of the kitchen one time.

Along fence lines you will find small narrow paths, bout 4 - 6 in wide and then there will be an opening and it goes thru. These are small animals, field mice, moles etc. Along these paths are where snakes coil up and find a meal. In the late spring I would drive the tractor and get off and walk the fence tighting up barbed wire, checking for lose posts etc. that ground is FULL of snakes. Rest of the year I would ride my horse.

You got to keep the brush from around the edges of he river or lake or stock pond. Livestock will go down and the young will often get bit in the head and sometimes die, keeping it clean and cleared is important and getting down there and mowing will flush those snakes, if you get off the tractor better be prepared.

Guns: Better to have and not need, than to need and not have!

When seconds count, law enforcement is only minutes away.

 

[Woodeye]

Interesting points of view on a topic that can be quite volatile, yet rather respectful in this group. Thank you.

 

[FTG-05]

I've been open carrying my S&W 329PD .44 magnum revolver since March 2011, which is just over 6 years now (less the two weeks for cracked frame replacement by S&W). If I go outside, I'm carrying, it's that simple. If the chicken littles/professional bed wetters don't like it, too bad, so sad, go grow up somewhere else.

And I've had two rifle holders on my Kubota L4330 for several years now, I started a thread on it when I got it done, see pics below.

And of course the RTV had to have it's rifle holders as well. The only difference is that my Marlin .44 Mag lever gun is now my RTV rifle.

 

[bilrus61]

Well after the state trooper stopped by to tell me about the meth cookers down the road that were using my farm to cook meth on and finding some pot plants and being obviously disabled I carry more than I did. Not every time but I should really. We have a highway bridge that folks like to hang out under and drink on holidays, carrying gives me some comfort when I come around a corner on my farm. Since my mom is 82 I like to have something handy since she lives with me and counts on me for her safety.

I learned from my pool playing days that anyone that is drunk can quickly become very very dangerous. Oh and we have big dogs with big teeth. I've been robbed twice via "strong arm" robbery. It's not fun. Robbers target folks alone in wheelchairs I can tell you.

 

[gwstang]

Wow, I am jealous....my Kubota didn't come with the added rifle option! :thumbsup: That is a nice setup.

 

[mopardude318]

I've been open carrying my S&W 329PD .44 magnum revolver since March 2011, which is just over 6 years now (less the two weeks for cracked frame replacement by S&W). If I go outside, I'm carrying, it's that simple. If the chicken littles/professional bed wetters don't like it, too bad, so sad, go grow up somewhere else.

And I've had two rifle holders on my Kubota L4330 for several years now, I started a thread on it when I got it done, see pics below.

And of course the RTV had to have it's rifle holders as well. The only difference is that my Marlin .44 Mag lever gun is now my RTV rifle.

View attachment 515259View attachment 515260View attachment 515261View attachment 515262

View attachment 515263View attachment 515264

That is EPIC!!

 

[bindian]

Two words...........Wild Hogs.
hugs, Brandi