Do you cary a weapon on your tractor?

[GarageSmoker]

As I push deeper and deeper into the property I am getting into some real tall and dense growth. I am going real slow since I have no idea of the terrian or what maybe laying there such as stumps, logs, irragation pipes, etc. Yesterday afternoon however, I saw something other than those.

About 20 feet ahead of me a large animal was making a beeline for the property to my left. I have no idea what it was since I only saw a bit of it's back abouve the weeds. Wild boar? Bear? (There have been some stories recently about them nosing around residential areas)

Whatever it was kept on trucking, thankfully, but it made me wonder if I should finally get a rifle and learn how to shoot. As easy as the L3010 HST manuvers I don't think I can beat off a charging animal with the FEL.

What are your opinions on this? I have never owned a weapon and only shot one in the AF as a requirement. Any suggestions on what to get if you think I should?

BTW, I used our FRS radio to alert the wife who was working down below where i was. Great little gadgets for staying in touch.

 

[JohnMiller3]

God's creatures will be more afraid of you... than the other way around... I would just let mother nature take its course... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Carrying a weapon on a tractor, is only another way to become hurt... especially if you're not use to them to begin with... /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[gerard]

You'll probably get some different opinions but for the purpose you describe (shooting a charging animal), get a 12 guage pump shotgun with 00 buck or a mix of oo buck and slug. A 30.06 may be more powerful but in the situation you describe I doubt you'll be aiming. More of a point and shoot and the shotgun pattern will more likley get SOME rounds on target (you get 9 .32 cal in a 00 buck). The rifle you only get one and if you miss...........

 

[RoyJackson]

Assuming you are on your property, I'd suggest carrying a .357 magnum revolver with shot shell or a .410 shotgun with a pistol grip if there's a place you can secure it. If you want to carry the revolver, get one the across the chest holsters.

But, most critters are going to run from you...not toward you.

Now, I carry a .38 revolver in my pocket (in a holster)...but I carry almost all the time.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm with John on this one for the reasons he stated and a couple more. I don't get the impression you're at all comfortable with weapons or even with the idea of having, carrying or using one. With all of those things in play I don't see anything good coming of you having a loaded weapon.

Assuming you disregard that aspect and go ahead and get a weapon, the odds of you using it successfully are slim. There is a huge difference between shooting a fixed paper target and shooting a living being headed your way with malice in it's heart. That's what's known as a "stressfire situation" by the pros.

Trained police average only one shot in six on target at a distance of NINE feet in a stressfire situation. I know if I was brush hogging in a wooded area concentrating on looking for stumps and rocks, etc., and something came charging at me I'd be hard pressed to find the brake, much less a long gun secured on my ROPS or a holstered handgun. Add to that the odds of leveling, aiming and getting off a shot, much less actually hitting my target.

 

[beenthere]

I say forget the gun, (and I do a lot of gun hunting) as you should first learn what animals are there, how to recognize them other than <font color=blue>a large animal<font color=black>, and what the animals will do when they come face to face with a person or a tractor. Even if a bear, the attacks on people who are not running away are pretty rare (I agree, not running, or running faster than who you are with, is tough to do). Also, what are the consequences of shooting something out of season or protected by state or Fed laws.

As far as safety goes, normally a weapon on (or shot from) a vehicle is against the law (I assumed for safety reasons). But in Wisconsin, if you are an Indian, you can shoot from a vehicle (Federal liberal judge decided this was a tradition, or something like that). Also, with the recent identification of CWD (chronic wasting disease) in the deer herd, they are telling farmers that they can now shoot deer from their tractors. Hmm?/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Seems what was a policy for safety, now is an easy way to shoot dear.

Note: since the CWD was discovered in WI, the DNR's plan is now to "eradicate" 25,000 deer within a circle covering 360 square miles with the expectation that the 2 percent that statistically have the disease potential (protein prions) will be killed along with the 98 percent that are believed healthy. Because (IMO) it is impossible to kill the 25,000, the chances are zero that all the diseased ones will be eradicated, although a good number of healthy deer will be gone. The killing includes bucks, does, and fawns.

 

[Bird]

I'd have to agree with the other guys; carrying a weapon on the tractor would probably be much more dangerous than the animals will ever be.

 

[knucklehead]

Actually, carrying a weapon on a tractor isn't dangerous at all. No more than having a tractor in the barn makes it dangerous. It's how it's used (sorry for the hair splitting - it's important). So get trained, if you are interested. If you aren't, don't get a gun. My opinion is that everyone should know how to drive, how to shoot, and how to use the telephone as early as they might reasonably be expected to do so (say age six for the latter two, age 8 or 9 for the former, depending upon physical considerations).

I'm not an animal biologist, but if opening your coat makes you look larger to a bear or cat (as we are being told), then I would imagine the tractor would itself likewise intimidate whatever creature you encounter.

If you are interested in firearms, I would encourage both of you to enroll in a safety program, and practice handling and shooting with a .22 or air rifle. I like the shotgun, personally, but I would consult local experts, like fish & game officials, for their recommendations. The shotgun is recommended among the "magazine experts" as easiest for sporting & defense puroposes. As far as other choices, I like the .357, and a .44 in a lever action rifle (right next to the shotgun in utilitarian purposes & what will be mounted to my tractor - especially during deer season). Handguns are harder to control but easier to "pack". Regardless of what you choose, it is mindset and training that will determine the outcome of any situation, weapon or not.

 

[brantley]

Actually what concerns me more is the dogs that get dumped in my area and neighbors dogs. I have already been charged once by a neighbors Pit Bull and Dalmatian who came across the road. In that case all I had in hand was a surveyors tape to try and keep the dogs at a distance. Fortunately the neighbor was out and called the dogs back.
Where I live I am in city limits and in with a collection of 5 acres plots. So I personally do not consider carrying a firearm an option.
I have considered getting something like mace or pepper spray. Would that be effective against a dog coming at you. Are there any other good options. Especially if you are not on or nearby your tractor.

 

[gordon]

Yes I do carry weapons on my tractor. Lynch pins, toplink pins, hammer, prybar, adjustable pin wrench, channel locks, adjustable wrench, chain and a few bolts. All safe but also deadly if used correctly. But the main thing I don't have to worry about a misfire or even worse a missed shot gone into the weeds.

Myself I would not carry a loaded weapon mounted to the tractor. Pepper spray or capstun might be an option if I really thought that there was a danger of being attacked. But a gun would be a last item of hardware I would add to the tractor.

Something to think about. You said that your wife was working below you right? Well lets say you hear a tussle in the brush and see an animal running out. So you shoot your gun, but your shaking and miss. Animal darts the other way into the brush. You call your wife on the radio, no answer, you know why? Cuz you just shot her. Not pretty but stuff like that happens all the time. Capstun would be much safer, I carry it everyday at work.

Gordon