Most of my outdoor experience has been in Arizona and the generally dry portions of southern California. I have had lots of rattlesnake encounters (thirty plus?). I recall using a 357 Magnum to eradicate one diamondback that was real close to the trailer in which our three year old was living - I should have used a shovel which is far more effective if the snake must be killed (it usually doesn't) or rocks...<br> I own and use several firearms, and I have had occasions when their presence was highly reassuring, so they are part of my general kit. But they are not particularly useful, or worth their weight, in nearly all outdoors situations. Carry water, a little bit of rope (a la Sam Gamgee), or first aid gear - it will be more useful.<br><br>Some year ago, fresh from my first lead climb - a very moderate ascent of Weaver's Needle in the Superstitions, I and my buddy rounded a curve in the trail to confront a couple of gentlemen, one of whom had the drop on us with a 45 auto, whose barrel from my perspective was about the size of a highway culvert. I achieved new hieights of graciousness and courtesy in our subsequent discussion, during which I assured this noble fellow that we were only poor but honest mountaineers and had no intentions toward the gold that he sought at Weaver's Needle. Our discussion over, we set some sort of record as we hurtled down the trail toward our car..<br>A few months later the papers carried reports of a fatal encounter between two rival groups withconflicting claims in tha area. The USFS then placed the area off limits to mining claims..<br>I have thought about that encounter many times since, and I don't think that my carrying a firearm would have done me any good in that situation. <br>To carry or not to carry, that is the question.. Usually, in the outdoors, it is better not to carry.