Ive gone out alone and with others often, i live in a big section of woods, im out alone most days. I always have a handgun or knife, a heck of a knife, a member here named RainShadow made me a beautiful KaBar like knife from D2 steel and i can shave with it. A bit "tactical" for my liking but I got a good drop leg holster for the handgun, that works great, its fast and keeps the gun from being up inside my jacket. It also helps with noisy Gortex pants, the holster keeps the gortex from rubbing together, same with gators around your boots, it holds the Gortex so it isnt noisy.
I would hate to think about snakes and poisonous stuff, everything is big and fuzzy here. Ive only got black bears around, grizzlies would be a different story. There arent supposed to be cougar around but in the last 6 years ive known someone who has seen one each year, my neighbor just saw one 3 months ago, 2 years ago my dad had a monster male in his back yard. When im alone I look behind me more often.... But I work as a farrier, wrestling horse and mule legs, Ive lifted weights as a hobby most my life, if something is going to eat me while im armed to the teeth... well... probably better than being run over by a 16 year old texting and driving....
