boondocking safely

[az bound]

Originally Posted by new rver

what about canada. they don't allow weapons ?

You can take a rifle or shotgun into Canada, just have to follow the rules. Absolutly no handguns, not even the Taurus Judge. I just put it in a safety deposit box before crossing the border and pick it up on the way back.

[SharonK]

My son & I will be novice rv'ers next week in Alaska. Since I can't carry a gun on the plane, shouls I get wasp spray and bear spray when I get there?
Any other recommendations? Thanks

[az bound]

You can not carry it on your person but it can be transported on the same plane with you. Check with the airline and they will tell you what you need to do. Most will inspect it and allow it to be checked with other bagage. Some will stow it in the cockpit. Just be sure to have it in a lockable hardcase.
We hunters travel with our weapons all the time, you just have to find out the procedure from each airline.

[leadman]

You can also ship it to yourself to an address in Alaska. I would look for a gunshop in the area you are going to.
You can go on the ATF website to get specifics.

[Robsons]

To the original person posting:

If it makes you feel any better, our family just finished 6 months of driving around the country which included big cities, little cities, towns and seriously remote places including BLM land and stuff like that. We NEVER found ourselves in a scary or compromised location. That probably has a lot to do with Blessing but also didn't put ourselves into compromising places. Even in the big cities we generally parked at a populated RV campground or, in the more remote areas, in a state park or something similar. The areas that were really remote didn't have anyone nearby that would have bothered to come find us - unless you were the unluckiest person around (a criminal randomly driving down an abandoned remote road in northwestern no-where is pretty unusual).

I didn't have a firearm cause the permitting process seemed so onerous and there was no universally accepted permit in the country (and we were going to lots of different states).

Have fun! Boondocking is when RV'ing really gets to be its best. Nothing better than being totally unhooked and staring up at the Milky Way with no one around!!

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by wylie pa

...we were biking and had four hoodlums yelling all kind of things at us for no reason...

And how is this any different than four hoodlums making gestures and the like at the local shopping mall? At Disney World? In your own stick-n-brick neighborhood? Or anywhere in the so-called "civilized" world?

The exact same prudence you (may or may not) use in the so-called civilized world should be followed the same everywhere you go. The fear of boondocking is your own fear of a new and seemingly unknown place. Do you normally carry a gun down Main Street? If not, no need to carry one in the back woods. It's just a new environment to most and at first they are uncomfortable in it.

You'll feel right at home boondocking after the same amount of time it takes you to get used to being in any new place, new street, new neighborhood, "civilized" or not.

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by SharonK

My son & I will be novice rv'ers next week in Alaska. Since I can't carry a gun on the plane, shouls I get wasp spray and bear spray when I get there?

Gun? If you are intending to hunt wild game.
Wasp spray? If you are intending to hunt bees.
Bear Spray? If you are intending to annoy a bear you will not likely encounter alone and face-to-face. It doesn't sound like you are heading into the back country.

In 4 months of boondocking (and back country) AK, solo, I conclude the typical "real" fears of being in AK/YT/upper BC are 1) having no cell phone antenna bars, 2) having no antenna bars for multiple days, 3) being more than 1,000miles away from a Starbucks/McDonalds, and 4) the concept of not seeing telephone poles, other traffic, mailboxes, and other people for hundreds of miles at a time.

Traveling there is an "experience." Enjoy it, savor it, live it - the journey and the destinations - to the MAX!

[azloafer]

What the heck? Hmmmmm? It's better left without a comment.

Happy travels to everyone, Joe

[Renipladlo]

Although I have not gotten off the beaten track, I have read lots about it and since I live in a city, it's mostly common sense. If you don't like the area, it has spookey folks around, your hair rises up, then move on. I won't stay in Wal-Marts, or mostly any large parking lot because I want to keep the campground owners in business, but, many casinos have free camping if you can stand the noise. Turn on the a/c fan only and it drowns out the noise.

I also carry Smith & Wesson or colt, or a big bowie knife. We have not had any trouble, but that is why I have a motorhome, put in the slides, put up the jacks and away we go.

Several books have been written about this subject, and places where you can do it. I am planning on Alaska hopefully next year, and plan on doing a lot of boondocking on that trip. And won't take the marine highway, since it's 5K for cost. That is one heck of a lot of diesel, so I will check canidian gun laws and see about a shotgun for that trip.

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by Renipladlo

...And won't take the marine highway, since it's 5K for cost...

Here's a tip to cheaply add the "inland passage sea experience" to your itinerary. Instead of packing the rig on a ferry the much cheaper and much more "meet the locals" way is to book a two-way AK ferry trip, say from Haines (or wherever, but i do recommend Haines for this). Make a deal with the RV park to just park your rig for a week (or whatever) book a "euro-rail" type ferry excursion (unlimited on/off for as far as you want to go).

At each stop you can either get off then back on a later ferry that day OR get off and stay in hotel for that night. All these towns are so small walking is easy (there are no interconnected roads anyway) or you can taxi right at the port. Enjoy the local flavor - you won't be cruise ship sheltered on this awesome approach.

Then at the end of the on/off ferry run book a return stay-on-board ferry ticket allowing you to sleep on the ferry all the way back. This way you have 2 chances for clear sailing and seeing, you experience the local flavor, and you save a whale of a lot of dough!

[Me n Slowpoke]

Originally Posted by Campingman

I like the out of the way places also. I do have a weapon or two just in case. I think the closer you are to a major city is where you find the most chance for a problem. When I stop seeing grafitti I figure i'm far enough away of the idiots. It's a crazy world we live in.

It is a crazy world, the weapons may or may not help you, getting past the graffiti may or may not be safe.
Just recently a couple was kidnapped in a state rest area in broad daylight, along with their truck and camper. They had weapons and a rest area in the day time is supposed to be safe, I have stopped at them lots of times, with not even a thought that someone would kidnap or do harm to me. But their camper was found burned to the ground and they were in it, their pets were outside near the camper. These 'idiots' were more compassionate to the animals than the human beings whom did nothing except stop at the wrong rest area at the wrong time.
Crime knows no boundries

[Mike Grimes]

Just a note about firearms and self defense, I have been in law enforcement for the last 45 years, retired state trooper(33 years), now Chief of criminal inveestigation, I have investigated numerous crimes against people and each of you have a point. My first recommendation is be aware of your surroundings, don't get yourself in a bad situation. Be aware of people around you and what they are doing etc. Don't camp or park in places that will leave you at a disadvantage.
Second I have carried a gun on and off duty for 45 years and will carry one until I can no longer do it safely. There are people out there that will take advantage of you and your loved ones and have no regard for human life. But if you cannot or have not made up your mind that you can use a gun to take another life to defend you or your loved ones do not have one, don't give one to the bad guy. I will not hesitate to protect myself and my family. Most people that are around me never know I carry a gun all the time. You don't want to advertise, surprise is a big advantage.
I have carried all over the United States and never had a problem but I have legal authority as a police officer or retired officer, have never been questioned as I don't put myself in suspicious situations, lot of things to be aware of if you are going to have a firearm. Also know how to use it, and follow the law(does take a little bit of effort to know the law). As a law enforcement officer the only ones that I was concerned with having guns is the bad guys.
Be safe, be careful and have fun.
Mike, Susie and Maggie (one very spoiled schnauzer)
08 Winnebago Adventurer 35L

[Renipladlo]

Mike, I cannot agree with you more. First we were instructed in the Military, but I did not carry when in. Second, I have taken several online and classroom instruction courses about gun safety. But before I got my CCP, I wanted hands on again, so I took a gun safety and instruction class so I got the feel of it, how it worked and learned the safe way to carry. Yet, I keep it handy, but don't carry it, and so far I have not felt the need to have it on me most of the time.
I hope I never have to use it, but I am prepared to do so to protect my family and what is mine.

Thank you for the service you do, because you don't receive enought thanks for it.

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by Mike Grimes

Just a note about firearms and self defense...

Excellent, rational, and real, discussion Mike.
Thanks!