Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Arizona > Tucson
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 02-12-2015, 03:02 AM
 
5 posts, read 5,703 times
Reputation: 10

Advertisements

Thanks for all the replies; I was just trying to get a feel if there's any perceived need to carry in those areas (I'd read a trip report from a backpacker camping at Josephine Saddle who mentioned some concern over drug smugglers in the area - though admittedly, they tend to avoid the higher elevations).

I've carried spray in bear country, but uncertain about how effective it might be with big cats, or if confronted with several two-legged critters ... I'm trained and very comfortable with firearms, but never carry; laws in the Northeast make that virtually impossible, so this will be a new experience. I've checked the AZ laws, and there are no restrictions for non-residents (a situation I hope to correct some day). If I do carry (this will likely be a day-of decision), it will be discrete but accessible; I realize not everyone's comfortable with seeing guns out in the open, but hopefully in AZ it won't be too much of a spectacle.

Thanks again for the input, it's appreciated -
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 02-12-2015, 01:27 PM
 
8 posts, read 32,680 times
Reputation: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by stiffnecked View Post
Just carry one. There really isn't even any need to ask for an opinion on that. I carry one all the time. Seldom on my hip where everyone can see but very accessible. I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
+1

Sound advice.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-12-2015, 08:35 PM
 
Location: Cape Cod/Green Valley AZ
1,111 posts, read 2,799,667 times
Reputation: 3144
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik View Post
In Arizona you do not need a permit to carry openly or concealed.
No permit is required for either.

To the OP: Whenever I am about in the desert I carry a sidearm. Most of the fauna out there will leave you alone. I've seen rattlesnakes. They are were they are supposed to be and I take photos of them, never would hurt them. Same with any of the other critters out there. Javalina can be dangerous. Do not approach them! There are large cats out here. Most will not bother you, but "stuff" happens.

Human issues are another matter. Most folks won't harm you. If you run into a bunch of guys carrying large bundles with one or two of them packing AK-47s, look and walk away from them. Your handgun will be of little help if the situation turns bad. The folks just trying to evade the Border Patrol are, generally, not out to harm you. They are seeking work mostly. Just ignore them (not likely you'll see either group, just saying).

Enjoy your hiking in AZ. It's a beautiful state!

Rich
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 10:31 AM
 
Location: SW US
2,841 posts, read 3,199,649 times
Reputation: 5368
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichCapeCod View Post

Human issues are another matter. Most folks won't harm you. If you run into a bunch of guys carrying large bundles with one or two of them packing AK-47s, look and walk away from them. Your handgun will be of little help if the situation turns bad. The folks just trying to evade the Border Patrol are, generally, not out to harm you. They are seeking work mostly. Just ignore them (not likely you'll see either group, just saying).
Have you actually seen smugglers in the Catalinas? It would surprise me if they were there. The Santa Ritas maybe
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 02:03 PM
 
Location: Cape Cod/Green Valley AZ
1,111 posts, read 2,799,667 times
Reputation: 3144
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker2 View Post
Have you actually seen smugglers in the Catalinas? It would surprise me if they were there. The Santa Ritas maybe
I haven't, but guys I go out in the desert with have run into illegals on a number of occasions. I've seen lots of water containers and backpacks lying around.

Once the guys had to call the Border Patrol as the fellow was in bad shape (dehydration). One time the guys were driving along the border near Lochial (a ghost town) and twenty minutes after they passed one spot two guys, armed and on horseback, jumped the border fence (very low fence) and robbed a bunch of illegals walking in the desert, then jumped back over the fence.

Bad things can happen out in the desert!

Fence near Lochiel. You can step over it.


Fence goes for miles and mile as you see it.


Border fence near Sasabe.


Sasabe.


Just outside of Nogales. Much more substantial and much higher.


Nogales fence on the east side of town.


Rich

Cape Cod/ Green Valley

Last edited by RichCapeCod; 02-13-2015 at 02:22 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 02:07 PM
 
Location: Tucson, AZ
612 posts, read 1,021,148 times
Reputation: 1153
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichCapeCod View Post
I haven't, but guys I go out in the desert with have run into illegals on a number of occasions. I've seen lots of water containers and backpacks like lying around.

Once the guys had to call the Border Patrol as the fellow was in bad shape (dehydration). One time the guys were driving along the border near Lochial (a ghost town) and twenty minutes after they passed one spot two guys, armed and on horseback, jumped the border fence (very low fence) and robbed a bunch of illegals walking in the desert, then jumped back over the fence.
Lochiel I understand, being right on the border, but the Catalinas? I spend a ton of time there and have never seen any evidence, nor heard of any such thing there. Whereabouts are you seeing water containers and backpacks in the Catalinas?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 02:23 PM
 
Location: Cape Cod/Green Valley AZ
1,111 posts, read 2,799,667 times
Reputation: 3144
Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaAZ View Post
Lochiel I understand, being right on the border, but the Catalinas? I spend a ton of time there and have never seen any evidence, nor heard of any such thing there. Whereabouts are you seeing water containers and backpacks in the Catalinas?
Sorry if I didn't make it clear; I've only seen the things I mentioned around the Nogales/Sasabe/Lochiel areas.

Rich
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 02:41 PM
 
Location: Tucson, AZ
612 posts, read 1,021,148 times
Reputation: 1153
Phew! No worries - I was trying to figure out why they might have used that as a route ... anyway - great pics of the border area!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-13-2015, 03:31 PM
 
16,393 posts, read 30,287,859 times
Reputation: 25502
There are several passageways for illegals between the westernmost neighborhoods of Green Valley and the mines. Several neighbors have reported seeing tents, backpacks and the like. However, they consciously avoid the various neighborhoods as sight of strangers will lead to calls to the Pima Co. Sheriff or the Border Patrol.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-15-2015, 06:06 AM
 
2,842 posts, read 2,329,046 times
Reputation: 3386
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik View Post
In Arizona you do not need a permit to carry openly or concealed.
I believe the law is that if you are a resident of AZ you don't need a permit to carry concealed. However, if you are a non-resident, you need a CCW permit from a state that offers reciprocity in order to carry concealed.

I'm not 100% sure that's accurate, but it's something you might want to look into before risking it.

Either way, enjoy your trip OP. AZ has some amazing hiking trails.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Arizona > Tucson

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:33 AM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top