Sidearm/Handgun Carry While Hunting With A Long Gun?

[Ugly Sauce]

By the time I get all the other stuff I carry with me on my person or in my backpack, there's just not enough "weight allowance" for another gun.

That's true, and why I have gone to smaller lighter side arms when hunting. My problem is I feel too naked without a sidearm, so I have to have something. Stuff, food and water does get heavy, so one has to decide what to throw overboard.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

During the years I hunted exclusively with my Ruger .44 Carbine, I always carried this .44 Bulldog beater. Or beater Bulldog. It had seen better times before it was given to me. She's loose as a goose. But don't laugh, it produced quite a few grouse with shot loads, and I got a coyote with it once. 50 yards no kidding.

 

[usaral63]

Wondered what happened to Sam's gun.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

So since then, I carry a Ruger Bearcat for the occasional hare or grouse in a cross draw that doesn’t get in the way of my long gun and let the devil take the hindmost if the black powder gun won’t save me.

Pretty much my attitude. If my Musket with 140 grains under a .69" ball won't save me, or my Jeager with 110 grains under a .62" ball won't, then it's up to me and my K-bar (or other large knife)(love my "Jungle Commander") to make the final stand. !!!! But what a way to go. Beats dying on the side of a highway, or in a bed at the old-folks home.

For all you guys banging your rifle stocks against your sidearms, dang...yeah...just carry on the left side, or get a good flap holster. I had a hunting partner that was always banging his rifle against his sidearm. He'd cuss like a sailor every time. I'd say: "John! Carry that pistol on your left side!" He'd say: "yeah yeah yeah".

 

[Armored farmer]

Of this little Iver Johnson that I just bought turn out to be reliable and accurate, it will likely get to tag along on some hunts with me. I also like a lightweight sidearm for my woods roaming and fishing trips.

 

[MacAR]

Sometimes, but not always. If I'm going to hunt short range, brushy country I usually carry my 1894 30-30 and my SAA 357 or 38-40. If hunting open spaces, I leave the handgun at home. Always carry my Ruger Single Six or Colt 1911-22 when I go fishing, but that's for the snakes or occasional varmint I might see along the way. Same with woods wandering; I've come to prefer carrying a lightweight, small caliber handgun when out looking for mushrooms or scouting new hunting spots in the spring vs. the short carbine or shotgun I used to drag along. Leaves both hands free to do whatever's needed, from carrying a fishing rod to swatting 'skeeters.
Last fall, I carried only my 38-40 SAA while hunting with my little brother. It was the first time I'd ever gone deer hunting without a rifle, but I fully intended to not fire a shot unless absolutely necessary so he could fill his tag and we were successful. I will say, a 7.5" SAA isn't really woods friendly but I didn't feel under-gunned at all.

Mac

 

[Southerner up North]

The only time I carry a long gun hunting is while bird hunting. If deer hunting it is with a handgun

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Of this little Iver Johnson that I just bought turn out to be reliable and accurate, it will likely get to tag along on some hunts with me. I also like a lightweight sidearm for my woods roaming and fishing trips.
View attachment 1156781 View attachment 1156782 View attachment 1156783 View attachment 1156784 View attachment 1156785

That was a good find. Perfect match with Aguila ammo. I love that ammo.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I have revolvers in 357 magnum, 10mm, 41 magnum, 44 magnum, and 454 Casull for carry in the woods depending on potential threats. Up to four-inch revolvers, I carry in a leather holster on my hip. For longer barrel revolvers, I have cross-chest leather holsters.

 

[Blue Brick]

Depends on the day.

 

[Plano11]

Buddy had a awesome holster for backpack. His little sig 9mm fit right on left strap by his shoulder. I run 45 s. Mostly when I'm on public calling yotes

 

[41 Mag]

For many years I hunted with a good friend on their river front property. I got in the habit of carrying my Redhawk in 41mag on my left side when we were out mowing or anything else for that matter. We always seemed to bump out some feral hogs and it did a nice job on them.

That said being river bottoms and having access from the river meant you never really knew if you were alone and we had found evidence of a brush covered concealed campsite as well. The weight never really bothered me even when stalking through the underbrush for hours.

I eventually picked up the G40 and 41. I got one of the Kenai chest rigs for them. I usually wear one while mowing or working in the woods on our farm now simply because ya never know when a hog is likely to get up out of the thick stuff and try to slip away.

We don't have much issue with two legged critters yet, but as things are going who knows when we might. I've been on the surprised end of a " who are you" situation more than once and found that something in your hand with a big hole in the end, is a positive thing to have.

 

[Anchorite]

For many years I hunted with a good friend on their river front property. I got in the habit of carrying my Redhawk in 41mag on my left side when we were out mowing or anything else for that matter. We always seemed to bump out some feral hogs and it did a nice job on them.

That said being river bottoms and having access from the river meant you never really knew if you were alone and we had found evidence of a brush covered concealed campsite as well. The weight never really bothered me even when stalking through the underbrush for hours.

I eventually picked up the G40 and 41. I got one of the Kenai chest rigs for them. I usually wear one while mowing or working in the woods on our farm now simply because ya never know when a hog is likely to get up out of the thick stuff and try to slip away.

We don't have much issue with two legged critters yet, but as things are going who knows when we might. I've been on the surprised end of a " who are you" situation more than once and found that something in your hand with a big hole in the end, is a positive thing to have.

Reminds me of hunting on public lands. Even here in the wilds of Alabama, more than one methhead has set up a cook camp in the boonies and folks need to be careful when tramping around in the woods.