As a kayaker, it is essential to have a knife on board, as you can't shoot your way out of an entanglement (commonly called strainers), or should you need to cut a seat-belt after a traffic accident transporting to or from a launch site, etc. My knife is always with me, is a 3" switched locking blade design made by Smith & Wesson, actually has a safety, and stays VERY sharp. I don't expect to ever need my gun OR my knife to save my life, but I carry both for that contingency. I've also hit three deer while driving in my life, and only two of those were clean kills where the animal didn't need to be put down afterward. Just never know what the need will be, but not having the right tool at the time is not what you want.