Spears on Appalachain Trails? Lawful?

What are the laws on carrying spears on the Appalachian Trails or a wilderness? Appalachian trail is a popular hiking trail that is over 2,000 miles. I've read that some states will no allow firearms on some trail. I was wondering if walking with a spear instead of a walking stick would be a good idea. I've read of wild dogs and other animals being aggressive on trails and thought a spear might be a good weapon to have. Are there laws about the length of knives? Suppose I detach the blade from the spear and it becomes a regular lawful knife and hopefully I could build a "snap on staff" system in case of animal threat. Besides, being a "leave no trace" hiker, a spear would dig a great Sh*t hole.

Presbyter

I honestly don't know. Storm Mountain doesn't post here much anymore but he is a regular hiker on the southern end of the Trail.

My personal walking stick has a metal-tipped end that has a sharp point. I bought it in Germany. It's fended off dogs and snakes with no injury to either them or me.

Basically IMO, if you think something might cause a problem, it probably will in this day and age. A snap-on spear head sounds like a great idea though.

Edit: I have carried my Ka-Bar knife in its sheath on every trail I've ever hiked in the U.S., with no problems.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

You'd really need to check all of the jurisdictions that you tend on walking through.

Bear in mind though even if the law says "Yes" it'll depend on the individual LEO you may/not encounter & their mood.

__________________
Terrorists aren't overseas. They're at the gas pump.
********
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Kung Fu-tzu (Confucius)

__________________
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

A knife, a walking stick like SG said, something that makes noise works, or in some jurisdictions, you're allowed to carry a side arm as long as you're licensed and it's in plain sight in holster and unloaded (easy enough to load a clip or cylinder in quick and pop something off if needed)

I know a lot of people who carry heavy canes with brass knob heads and points on walks to use against dogs. No legal problems with canes unless you attack someone with one, and they're a lot easier to use than spears. Solid canes aren't the easiest to find any more, unfortunately. Like everything else, they're all aluminum or plastic these days.

__________________
http://www.meihuazhuang.ca
http://www.jeffreyquinn.ca

For canes, might spend a little more, but it could very well be worth it

Walking Canes & more! - Mobility, Self-Defense, Exercise & Rehabilitation by Cane Masters

Let me give folks some free ex-prosecutor advice about canes, do not buy or carry a cane that has any indications that it is specially designed for "self defense" or as a "weapon". So forget the "death's head" metal caps for the handle, or any engraving of Bruce Lee on the shaft or anything of that ilk. Also no "after market modifications". For example as my friend did, which allowed him to see the inside of the San Diego County Jail for a few hours, do not drill a hole in the bottom of the cane and cram it full of iron shavings then glue the plug back in. It does give the cane a lot more heft, makes it hit a lot harder, just like a sap.............but, it also turns possession of it into a night in the slam and a hefty fine.

Utterly stock, low profile, old man's stout cane is the ticket. Or utterly stock, low profile hikers staff bought at the hiking store not at some martial arts supply place.

Having said all that, canes rock. A very good source is CaneMasters, just get a low profile one.

take care,
Brian

I thought this thread was gonna be about bald-headed redneck women wandering the hills with no drawers on looking for they baby's daddy and they lost recording career!

__________________
Wolfgang says:

I could think of a million better things to do in Japan for a month besides jumping off of picnic tables. - x893

That woman would be on the Jack's River Trail up on the Tennessee-Georgia border. Near one of the many "old/abandoned" (cough, clear throat, cough) whiskey stills.

Or so I've heard.

(p.s. - stay on the trail and don't mess with the stills...)

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

is that advice in the PS from personal expeirence?

Use a cane if you are able

__________________
We don’t have a lot of children in our neighborhood, but we do have a nice old witch that makes great gingerbread cookies!

pulvis et umbra sumus

I'm not an expert on bears or spears but I wouldn't want to be putting my faith in a knife on the end of a stick if menaced by a bear. I've seen people stuck by a spear not massively inconvenienced in the short term and bears are a deal tougher and bigger. What about flares?

__________________
Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you
High mountains are a feeling
I don't need to sell my soul, he's already in me

Flares are a good idea, or firecrackers, the bang and flash have the ability to scare the bleep out of animals, all depending of course...

“	Originally Posted By: john100 I'm not an expert on bears or spears but I wouldn't want to be putting my faith in a knife on the end of a stick if menaced by a bear. I've seen people stuck by a spear not massively inconvenienced in the short term and bears are a deal tougher and bigger. What about flares?	”

I imagine a bear would get mad and swat your silly spear in two. But if you really want to put a knife on a stick, at least this one is meant to do it and only costs $30...BUSHMAN SERIES

I've uh.... seen, a modified flare gun that can accept a standard length 12ga. shell. Rock salt loads from a fat orange handgun and a very loud boom works really well for two legged intruders, and might also work for furry beasts.

__________________
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel