If you’ve ever been out in the woods and felt like someone (or something) was following you, that can be a very unsettling feeling to shake. That racing feeling in your chest can quickly crescendo to a deafening level of anxiety if you don’t have something to adequately protect yourself. And what if that thing stalking you is a deadly predator?
For me, that threat is wolves. When I’m out hunting whitetail deer, grouse, and other game in Minnesota, wolves are disconcertingly common. In fact, I’ve been that guy standing on a logging trail, miles from civilization staring down a wolf wondering what’s going to happen next.
While many of us carry a pistol daily for defense, something like a traditional 9mm can feel wholly inadequate while out in the wild and potentially facing down larger threats such as wolves who hunt in packs. For that reason, it can be tremendously valuable to backpack with something with more capacity and ft.-lbs. of energy. This is the perfect argument for a firearm like the Springfield Armory SAINT .300 BLK Pistol. It’s compact enough for packing, but powerful enough to face down serious threats like these.
Layers of Defense
For those who hike or enjoy spending a lot of time in the great outdoors, I would fully advocate backpacking a compact, stout firearm like the Springfield Armory SAINT .300 BLK Pistol where legal. Simultaneously, I am not advocating for anyone to do away with their everyday carry (EDC) pistol – large or small. If you are trained and proficient with something like a 911 .380 ACP or even a 1911 .45 ACP, by all means carry it. That will always serve as your fastest and most familiar line of defense.
