[Helinut1970]

Originally Posted by adavis99

I've always hiked with a good sized stick and figured I'd fend off an animal with it...I'm a being naive?

If I were to get a gun, can you reccomend a handgun that is not too expensive, will work with one shot, and the ammo is inexpensive enough that I wouldn't go broke getting comfortable with it at the range?

I really dont think a stick is going to do much for ya. You are really not taking into consideration how fast and powerful these animals really are. Yea its a great thought to have a gun while in the park but there is no firearms allowed in National parks. ?? Go figure. If that Lady did have a gun and shot the bear before it did any harm to them, PETA would have been all over that along with all those left wing tree hugers. She would have been put in prison or something along those lines. I always keep the Kimber custom Ultra Carry 45 at the campground well hidden. I dont care what park its in. I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by six or be the one of the six carrying one of my family members. As for what gun to carry? It really depends on what your experience with guns is. And how big you are willing to go. If you are hiking you would want something light like a Kel-tech 32. There is alot of options out there. Just remember that just the sound alone of the gun is probably going to scare whatever animal is after you. So I would be willing to say that you dont have to have a big calaber gun with you while hiking. But it sure would help if the sound doesnt scare it. Just remember that the smaller the gun gets the less accurate it will be especially with rapid fire. (IMHO)Unless of course you have the absolute best gun out there like my Kimber custom!!