imported post
I've been bummin' around the mountains in the NW (Cascades, Olympics, Wallowas, Clearwaters, etc) since I was a little guy and I've not worried much about predators.
That said, here's what I've gleaned from my little bit of experience out and about...
Bears will mostly leave one alone, though if it's a concern, a shotgun or rifle is probably the most effective weapon against one.
Cougar attacks are exceedingly rare, but I am confident that a strongly penetrating handgun round would be sufficient if necessary.
Moose are not animals to just shrug off...if you have a population of moose in your area, watch out! They
can be aggressive in certain circumstances...and they're BIG.
I've got some friends with hilarious stories of being chased by moose here in N. Idaho. Seems it's hard to outrun them, but they aren't too bright...standing very still behind a tree sometimes works.
Wolves are becoming a problem up here. I don't go out in the woods without a rifle anymore simply because I'm no match for a pack of 'em and a handgun isn't much good against multiple 150 pound dogs (yes, they
are that big.) Lone wolves aren't a big deal...but a pack is a completely different story.