Who carries a small handgun with them when deer huntin

You can carry a handgun while bowhunting(or any hunting) in Ohio if you are a CCW holder.However you can't shoot critters with it.

I used to, but:
1) I never needed it
2) If I can deliver the coup de grace with a handgun, I can do the same with my rifle
3) If I can't hit it with my rifle, then I damn sure can't hit it with my pistol
4) The extra weight can be a real pain especially when hunting the high country for elk.

35W

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Exactly... I sometimes carry my buckmark or a single six but there is really no point. If I'm out to shoot a deer, squirrels are safe. If my rifle can't handle it, I'd better have my boots laced up or my car keys handy...

HB

Here in Ohio it is illegal to carry more than one firearm during any of the deer seasons and, of course, no firearm may be carried during the archery season. However, it happens that I hunt with a SBH during the regular deer gun season.

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I do believe that the liberals won Ohio didn't they. Come on down past the Mason-Dixon we all for the most part share our love of all guns.

I used my Ruger P90 to finish off my buck today. It was either that or the shotgun. I chose the P90 hoping for a small whole. It worked very well. I have had to finish off deer before, and the less power/smaller caliber is better as long as you use good shot placement.

I always carry a small handgun when hunting, but I answered no cause its not to finish off game. I carry it cause I always carry it.

I carry a knife to finish off game.

i dont, but i think i'm going to during archery season (mostly due to some too-close-for-comfort coyote encounters and wrestling matches i've had with deer with my knife) but i need to check state regulations about that. but as far as rifle season....they'll die the rest of the way by the same rifle that first knocked em down.

I've seen a number of posts stating that they will finish off shotgun or archery wounded big game animals with a hand gun.
I would definatly check and recheck the game laws since I don't believe that would be legal in most states.
In some states even carrying a center fire with rifled barrel during shotgun and archery is illegal.

I carried my XD45, its not exactly small, but I did use it to finish off my 9 point this saturday. I shot him in the spine at about 130 yards with my .30-06 and he was still kickin pretty hard after about 5 minutes so I gave him a shot in the neck and he was all done. I used a 230 grain federal HST +P and it did the job pretty well. The taxidermist pulled the bullet out for me yesterday, it had penetrated most of the way through the neck and stopped before making it through the other side. From the looks of it, it seems to have hit some bone. Other than that it expanded perfectly.

Here is the deer...


If anyone wants to see it I can take a picture of the expanded bullet.

A good shot never requires a finisher. Why pack a pistol when you already have a superior gun in a rifle? Same goes for self defense in the case of animal attack. Why use a pea shooter when you have a rifle?

I always carry a pistol in my pocket, its a 9mm, so I have no hopes of shoting any game, its for protection only, we have lots of black bears, and coyotes. I had a friend encounter a black bear and 3 cubs last year during muzzleloader season, and he had no defense other than that one shot. Fortunatly the bear did not become aggresive, and moved on. I would much rather explain to the game dept. that im alive due to carring a pistol, rather than them explain to my family that i'm not coming home.

357, only had to use it once

I'm going javelina hunting next spring, and the area I'm going to be hunting in is a known illegal and drug runner trafficking corridor. Because of this, I will be wearing my Ruger P90 .45 on my hip during the hunt. While my Saiga .223 ought to be more than sufficient for any threat, I feel better having a backup gun. I won't run into any legal issues, either, because Arizona has no magazine restrictions for handgun hunting and the rules for javelina and deer simply say "Centerfire handguns" with no caliber restriction.

Another big motivator in this choice is that my guide will be unarmed, and in an emergency I can hand him my pistol.

Mike the Wolf said:

going to be hunting in is a known illegal and drug runner trafficking corridor.

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That is the #1 reason why I carry a sidearm when hunting. Drug fields in national parks and forests, illegal immigrants, drug runners, criminals, psychopathic nutcases listening to the gospel of the misquitos, Hogs, rabid animals, cougars, bears, big foot...

Using it as a finisher is something to do with it, but the actual reason is listed above. Also, I like strapping on the cowboy rig.

357

S&w 686-1

A seven shot S&W .357 rides in my hunting pack. It has dispatched a couple of animals and its comforting just knowing its there if needed.

I think if one carries a BUG hunting it should be able to disapatch the intended quarry being hunted and be able to serve in a self defense mode also. For me, the areas and game I hunt a 3" .357 fills that role nicely.


M'bogo

My 1911 goes EVERYWHERE with me...and I have killed several deer with it.

Its not really a small handgun...but I do carry it with me hunting and sometimes (in thick cover) I'll put the rifle on my shoulder and get the 45 out and ready for a quick shot.

When its legal to do so, my 627 v comp is on my hip. I've debated in the last couple of years of swaping it out for a delta elite.


Lots of reasons to take it, only one reason not too.( wieght)

i carry my glock 22. i would rather carry my G27 but even for finishing game it must be legal to hunt with so i am required to use the G22 due to the longer barrel. it dosent add much weight and i have already used it 7 times since deer season started.

And for camp protection when the rifles are unloaded and stowed...

When I hunt, I carry a 357 Mag or 44 Mag as a side arm depending on what mood I am in when I'm packing for the trip and what outfit I'm wearing. Just kidding on the outfit...
Maybe it's just to complete the costume but I've always had a sidearm with me when I'm in the woods.

And for camp protection when the rifles are unloaded and stowed...

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I keep a nice shotgun loaded with OO Buck and slugs handy in camp.

LGB

I voted Yes, but the Blackhawk that I carry isn't small.

Carry a 1911 in the field with me, I've chased a few hogs with it while I didn't have a rifle, and the shotguns had 4 steel shot in them. After those experiences I'm looking at a blackhawk in 45LC or 44 mag

Colt Pocket Nine

The Colt Pocket Nine is my 24/7/365(except for the exceptions) Carry gun. That includes hunting as well. I've used it for finishing off two spine shots on quickly moving hogs. They were down but upon approach would have torn me apart if they could have gotten up. One head shot apiece quickly put an end to that. One other time this past fall I shot a nice 9 point buck at the base of the neck as this was the only shot offered. He went down and never got up. I normally allow 20-30 minutes before I will follow up a shot animal but he was in sight and still breathing. He would have expired soon on his own but there was no need to prolong the inevitable.
Yes, the rifle would have finished them off as well but I appreciate the CCW for the coup de grace when I deem it necessary.

I do sometimes. It is not legal here to have a handgun in your possession during a bow hunt(unless the gun season is also open). If you have a handgun while deer hunting during gun season it must be of legal caliber for deer(centerfire only).