Wild canines offer yet another example of the need for CCW while deer hunting

By Larry S. Moore

Jim Robey’s recent Dayton Daily News article about an encounter with wild canines raised an interesting discussion about the need for allowing concealed carry during hunting. As I recall, Mr. Robey was grouse hunting and could not get to their firearms before being attacked by a pack of wild canines.

This article also drove home a similar experience for me with a coyote. Although in my case, it is not a concealed carry issue, it still drives home the need to be appropriately armed when venturing into the wild.

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This occurred in the northeast corner of Ross County, just north of Tar Hollow State Park. I was pre-season scouting for turkey and using one of our deer ground blinds to do some calling. It was in an area where in previous seasons I had heard turkey. On this day I was having trouble getting any gobbler response. It wasn’t long before I understood why. A coyote came right up to within 10-yards of the ground blind. Actually, since the coyote came in from behind me, I smelled it before I saw it. While not a dangerous experience particularly, it did give me quite a start and made the hair on my neck stand up.

Whether it is wild canines, coyotes while deer archery hunting or possibly encountering something more dangerous, such as an escaped felon or run of the mill crack operators using the back roads and woods to dump their lethal trash, one should be properly prepared when venturing outdoors.

Actually, in Mr. Robey’s case and many other hunting situations, sportsmen with a CHL can be properly armed. However deer hunters possessing a CHL are prevented from carrying a concealed handgun while deer hunting. Anyone who must park near a road and leave their vehicle to walk into their hunting area is exposing themselves to risk.

Last fall, I rolled an ATV in the very hilly terrain of northeast Ross County. I was maneuvering to reach a 12-point buck I had killed during archery season. I was especially dumb to be in the woods that far from home and alone. Fortunately I was not injured. I’ve since joked that, had I been hurt, shooting three arrows into the air as an emergency signal would not have done any good.

However, trusting the CHL holder by allowing us to decide if we need or want to carry a handgun while hunting is no joke. The choice should be that of the individual and not artificially limited by the Division of Wildlife. Ohio’s concealed carry law has been a success for close to three years now. The Division of Wildlife has had the time to see the law work in the general public. It is time to allow hunters who posses a CHL the option to carry a concealed handgun.

ACT NOW: Concealed carry for hunters – your opportunity to make a difference

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a Region Leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award.