Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What to carry in the Desert

Most of my forays in the desert are to hunt. Will be carrying a shotgun or rifle. Backpack or hunting vest. A 2 -3 bottles of water for me or more if the dogs are involved. Most outings are under 5 hrs. Keep basic needs in vehicle and when on some of the more rugged jeep trails bring a second spare.

Have been doing this for almost 40 yrs. Have seen a few illegals near border over the decades. Love seeing border patrol cruising the jeep trails near border. Cell phones work almost everywhere these days which is great as my friends and I are getting older, nice to be able to call in an emergency.

My go-to field guns are all Ruger flattops, except my Single Six. I have an original .357, a four digit .357 converted to .41 Special, and a recent issue .44 Special. The centerfires all fit in a high-ride crossdraw holster I had custom made.

Carrying a hand gun anywhere you want is fine. That said there's nothing in the desert you need to shoot with a handgun or AR defensively. I've never had to defend myself even on the border.

Kent

Solitude......just because you can....public land...no no trespassing signs

Nuthing like being out there...enjoying the clean open air...

No traffic.....no starbucks.....no driveby's.....no one for miles

Crack open a cold beer by an open fire......why not ?

pic 4-5....been involved in several incidents......thus the need to be prepared & fully equipped

some turned out better than others----

Ya, like 99.9999% of danger in the desert isn't solvable with a gun.

Kent

[quote=TrueGrit]Garmin InReach, I'd sure like someone to know that I need assistance if something goes sideways.[/quote
thats assuming you have radio contact

a discussion at the dinner table last nightl
a young guy we all know assigned as a deputy working out of the dysart division, which is edge of phoenix on the north west sidel this includes over to aquila some distance away, ain't a ten minute ridel which explains the 8ft chainlink around some of the storesl agricultural area lots of illegals and stash spotsl there is no immediate lawl
i have found any number of stashspots littered with beer cans and cacal I have also crested a ridge to fin 30 or so illegals switching vehiclesls

few years ago i was on the old santa fe trestle between ash fork and williams; road took us under a trestle of the old railroad; surprise 40 or 50 illlegals waiting for pickup as it was only a short distance to the interstate I know i am not leaving my camp trailer unattended

Aguila...my relatives have to go through it once a week to go to Wickenburg for the weekly grocery run. Speed limit may be 45 or something...they roll through no less than 75 mph for safety reasons. No eye contact, foot down firmly. You see Border Patrol everywhere else, but never in Aguila.

I spend a lot of time in the desert. Usually several days a week, several hours a day in a truck, gator or horseback. Most important thing to carry is water. I usually carry a sidearm and mostly a Cimarron Lightning in 38 special. In the truck I carry a lever rifle in the same caliber as the handgun. Sometimes I carry a rifle on the gator and once in a while on horseback. My favorite rifle on horseback is a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Also carry a 22 rifle and/or handgun a lot. Main reason to carry a firearm is in case I encounter an animal that needs to be put down or a varmint of some kind. Rattlesnakes I can usually kill with a rock, a stick or the knot end of my rope. Most everything else I enjoy watching - hawks, deer, javelina, quail, coati mundi.

It's the desert why would you go there?

Have driven through desert areas from Wyoming to Brownsville.
And while I agree with this sentiment Wildhobbybobby, and Tikka
make a strong case. It would be a blast in a SxS. You could cover
lots of ground and carry enough crap to make it comfortable.

Gotta say, the deserts and the Swamps intimate me.
That's not a Hillbilly environment

Thinking a Glock, water, communicator, SxS.
Then another SxS, now we can pack like women going on a trip!

Tikka,
You often show some scrubby trees, and a fire in your pics. Is
wood easily attainable, or do you often stop when you find it?
I assume you are burning dead wood? What s the law on that?

Tikka.....

You often post excellent photos. What's your camera?

Aguila isn't close to the border, there's not a border patrol presence in general that far north anywhere.

Kent

Dillon, bone dry dead wood is hardly ever a problem around here. There are not only plentiful dead pinon pine and juniper, but cedar, mountain oak, and more almost everywhere. That's doesn't even count the vast stands of old fire remains. You can break off an armload in minutes. Toss on a bit of sage for its heavenly scent, and savor the experience.

Canon Rebel T6.......about 3 YO now...

I'd say its bare minimum ----plenty of choices in this price range

Lenses include 75-300mm..10-18mm WA...18-55mm which is used most

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_280RT72LNS/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T7-Two-Zoom-Lens-Kit.html?tp=263

Vehicle selection ?

SxS vs full size SUV ?

Most recent trip the 18th......220 mile loop...

58 miles in the dirt aired to 16 psi---saw one vehicle in those 58 miles

The Lexus LX will easily turn 16-17 mpg...where as the Kawi SxS gets 20 ish--hmm ?

Carry much more gear in the SUV....heated/cooled/dustfree...jump in & go

SxS gets around much faster on narrower trails...does have heater plumbed into coolant

Even in the unenclosed cab..hot air feels great on your feet---along with pulling heat from the motor

I spend a lot of time in the desert, those that question why would probably not understand the answer. A Glock, plenty of water and a hat are always there, other toys to fit the activity and the weather.


mike r

State & NP's....no firewood gathering....bring your own

BLM lands...vehicle camping...they suggest bringing own firewood in & not gather

Kind of a dumm law.....plenty of dry/dead wood to use...

Along with using existing fire rings & not build new ones

Back packers are free to gather & burn dry/dead wood

This info per BLM maps...don't believe its enforced much if at all

These Ponderosa Pine canyons thriving on our high desert still amaze me

OK... I shoot Canons too. T6 is a great camera. It's far better than bare minimum. Some of the newer ones have more convenience features, but the T6 is a rock solid great performer.