Here’s another reason for gun ownership. No, it’s not drug-addled criminals, nor is it jackbooted government thugs (though both are good reasons to own a firearm, but I digress), instead it’s moose! Yes, that’s right, Bullwinkle can be just as much a threat as kitty stomping, gub’mint officials.
The past several winters I have had problems with moose on mine and my father’s farm. When the snow falls, feed for moose becomes scarcer. They resort to eating the bark off of aspens and small twigs off of shrubs. But if they find a way into somebody’s hay storage, they will keep coming back for more. They will quickly become territorial and will chase off everybody (moose, dog, and human). Last year my English Mastiff was charged and stomped by a moose. Luckily, my runt of a Golden Retriever, Gus, attacked it and chased it off of her. This all occurred in the time it took my father to unholster his sidearm (no he’s not a slow drawer, it was just lightning quick). Ever since the first time we had problems with moose we carry a firearm when we feed our horses. Normally a Mossberg 12 Gauge.
So If guns were confiscated, what would stop a moose (which after getting a full belly of hay, is in its own way like a drug-crazed person) from attacking me or my animals? How will I protect myself? I doubt a hunting knife or acid would be very effective.
Just another reason why Alaska is one wild, wild place to live.
-JD Melvin.
I hear Moose is delicious.
It’s pretty good. made some moose steaks for dinner tonight. I eat moose more often then I do beef.
I’m jealous.
Moose. Holy crap! I have squirrels in my backyard.
There are moose in Wyoming, but they’re not as big as your moose.
People in Washington who want to take our guns don’t understand things like dangerous moose.
MWD
eh, it’s good and all, but after a while you get tired of it. luckily we can choose from Moose, Caribou, Bison, Musk-ox, Mountain Goat, Dall Sheep, Black Bear (yes, you can eat those), Deer, Elk, or Beef. haha choices, choices, choices.
We have quite a few moose here in New Hampshire. Last March, several were photographed huddled around my bee hives and usually they do little more damage than pissing-off the dogs… we tend to hunt them with our cars with very ugly results.
That moose looks happy. And a little crazy. Maybe like “I’m high on hay and I’ll be happy to eat you too, if you try to stop me from eating more.”
MWD
I’m so glad that we don’t really have killer critters here in Texas. Wild hogs are about as tough as it gets here in Texas. A wounded hog can be very dangerous, but you have to be close to a wounded hog to be in any danger. I don’t have to carry a gun for the four legged dangers, I carry it for the dangerous two legged critters here.
Don’t have to worry to much about the two legged ones up here. not many break-ins because they know alot of people are armed up here. I know a guy who with another guy broke into someones house. He had a handgun, but was disarmed, and both intruders were held into the police showed up, BY AN 86 YEAR OLD MAN!!!!
I love it, when I step outside its not uncommon to here gunfire. some people may think it sounds bad but i like it. I love the sound of gunfire, it sounds like…..Freedom
It used to be like that in Texas. Criminals seem to have lost their fear of armed homeowners. I still chuckle when I hear on the news that there was a home invasion robbery attempt that leaves the would-be robbers in the ICU or the morgue. One happened close to here several months ago. Two guys tried to barge in a house. One made it through the front door to catch a load of buckshot. The other got it on the front porch. If I recall correctly, both died. I have no sympathy for those that get killed in the act of committing a violent crime after dark at someone’s home.
I agree. If you’re endangering me, my property, or other people than I have no problem initiating force on you. You have already initiated force with out due cause. Don’t mess with me, you’re fine. Fuck with me, and get your ass kicked.
There was a guy a few years back who killed a bunch of people, including his parents, with a machete. Just goes to show that violent crimes can be commited even without guns. and if someone there had a gun they could have killed this guy before any of that happened.