I receive lots of joy carrying a fishing rod through the woods to the river. Can't say that about a handgun. There's never been a documented fatal cougar attack in my state (Oregon). It would seem silly to take a gun for them. The day I need a gun to protect myself fishing is the day I take up golf! I've never been threatened by an animal while fishing. I have been threatened by a macho idiot with a gun. Seems I was standing where he caught a steelhead the week before. It took very little brainpower to deal with that threat! A sharp mind is all the weapon you need out there, fella's. Fewer guns on the river would be a good thing.