Roger, My own personal experience is that I have never had a single situation fishing where I would have had any use for a gun in terms of personal protection. 35yrs (15 in WA).
One thing that never seems to come up in these discussions of armament is what I would consider an intrusion into my fishing by a gun. What I mean by this is, I would think that carrying a gun for this type of protection (I've only carried them while hunting) would intrude on my mindset. One of the main reasons I fish is to get out of "rat race" and achieve a little natural harmony in my mind. If I were carrying a gun with me it couldn't help but change the way my mind worked; even subconsciously "what's that added weight? My gun. Why am I caring it? For protection. From what?..." All of a sudden there it is; a reminder that I need to fear the evil of others. I don't need that to be a part of my fly fishing experience. I don't think there is any way carrying a gun for protection would not affect someone's perceptions of what's going on around them. Situations that might not be confrontational or threatening become so in your mind because your gun reminds you of your need for fear. Maybe the people who carry guns are beyond this problem but I know I never could be. Have fun Paul
