I still have some spines embedded in my leg from an encounter with a cactus several years ago. The only way to remove them is with microsurgery and I keep putting this off.
Best advice I believe is wear cactus proof leather boots as high as you can get them.
If and when I start actively bird hunting again I'll probably go with those Rattlesnake guards and kill two birds with one stone.
Jim

The 2nd Amendment IS an unalienable right.