I don't carry firearms when I cut wood, mainly because I have enough to carry. That being said, I do carry everywhere else. I have a S&W .45 1911 For cutting wood a cell phone on me is one of the first things I think of for "protection". Everyone who cuts wood alone would do well to carry one of these on them as well: http://www.amazon.com/Ever-Ready-Fi...id=1449670912&sr=8-1&keywords=combat+dressing
I live in Canada so we don't really need to pack guns in the woods, but if I was to ever go down into the US to cut wood in the bush, where I know everybody is already packing, I'd probably want something like this to make sure I had the upper hand.
We don't need to pack guns in the U.S. We just have the freedom to do so and it makes me feel better.
Protection from 2 legged or 4 legged animals? Here in south-western Ohio the worst animal I have to deal with might be a coon with rabies or distemper (and I have run across 1 coon in my life like that). So I'm not very concerned about protection from animals but I do have a teeny-tiny .22lr North America Arms revolver I just picked up and carry when I'm at my place. It'll dispense a critter if I had to, and I figure it'll make any 2 legged critter think twice about what he's doing. If I'm not at my house, I have a S&W 337 that's very similar to the one bobdog posted that's always on my pocket or belt. But like others have said, a cell phone is ALWAYS with my when I'm cutting. I even have a bulky otterbox case that I put it in when I'm cutting to protect it in case a tree was to crush it in my pocket. It's also water (and blood) proof.
No 4 legged critters around here to worry about. Just tweekers...and chances are they'd put one in ya before you even saw them.
I generally do not carry a pistol when cutting on others property. First, the value of the wood does not offset the pure headaches associated with the headaches associated with shooting someone...even if they are in the wrong. Our PC society would somehow make me guilty, even if shooting a savage. On my own property I have my shotgun, not because I am scared but because it is hunting season. Luckily the neighbors and I all get along so being armed is not a necessity.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. Allow me to rephrase that: "I live in Canada so we don't really need to pack guns in the woods to feel good, but if I was to ever go down into the US to cut wood in the bush, where I know everybody is already packing, I'd probably want something like this to make sure I felt better then everybody else." All kidding aside, lots of people up here take their rifles with them when getting firewood in the bush during hunting season.
Why would you ever open carry when you could conceal.... open carry means you will be CERTAINLY be the first target in a bad situation. PA is an open carry state. If you can buy the gun no permit is required to open carry.
I don't bother. I got enough crap to carry. Like others said, if the sight of a 300-lb bearded dude throwing a running chainsaw around isn't enough to scare off critters of any kind, the chainsaw itself provides protection. The cellphone is always with me. If I decided to carry in the woods, I have a Ruger SP101 with Black Talon .357 loads. I'll pack it if I'm just out walking around in the woods, as we have some pretty good-sized black bears in my neighborhood.
The real issue might be if you put your saw down and weren't near it. I have a landscaping buddy that lost 2 backpack blowers that way, he walked behind a house he was at and came back around to see 2 guys grabbing the blowers from his truck.
Ah no offense taken I was just stating the facts. Glad to hear you still have that freedom there too.
x2 Cali, yes, WWW would bring gun, although he has only ever cut in cut zones in the national forest (never had private land). Packed in 15 miles for archery with llamas one year, the dipchit with him was concerned about him bringing his pistol. Last day on the way out both them and the llamas were cornered by giant white dogs. Dipchit was the first ask for help and do you have your gun? (sheepherder called them back in the knick of time.) They were far from cellphone service as well.
I used to service alarm systems. Some my least favorite places were abandoned manufacturing facility's, abandoned buildings waiting for demolition, warehouse, and people's homes. The firsT three of these were by far the worst, squatters and druggie abound in them, people's houses were a whole different issue. I love dogs and have two BIG American Bulldogs, but people think it's ok to just let their dogs harass service people. Barking is one thing but nipping is game over, the good old estwing framer was also always at the ready.