Carrying while you hunt?

[darkknight]

how many of yall carry when you hunt? Ill be hunting in moutain lion, black bear, and coyote land and i think it would be a smart idea to have back up for when TSHTF situations that could appear. im thinking either my p220 or borrowing my dads .357 colt python. what are your opinions should i carry or no. thanks for the help.

 

[BIGR]

You dang right I carry a sidearm when hunting and when I am not also.

 

[spooney]

I subscribe to the theory that your handgun is there to fight your way to your rifle and if I am hunting I already have my rifle.

 

[ocharry]

for everyday carry i like my 1911,,, for the places you just listed i would take my redhawk 44 1st. pick or the super blackhawk 44 2nd. pick,, got a real good load worked up with 320gr. bullets that hit real hard,,,,, i always like enough gun!!! just my .02 YMMV

ocharry

 

['Card]

When I'm bowhunting, sure.

 

[WolfMansDad]

Why?

You're already armed, and any pistol you carry will be much weaker than your rifle or shotgun.

If you're really worried, just carry extra ammunition for your long arm. If you have a shotgun, slip three or four slugs in an inner pocket somewhere, and you're "loaded for bear."

 

[hockeybum]

we go hog hunting. we take shotgun. whenever we go into the woods, my dad always has on his belt:

1. multitool

2. pistol, S&W

3. falshlight, and some other junk

 

[22-rimfire]

Depends where you are hunting and what creatures you are trying to protect yourself from. I hunt with a revolver most of the time. So, I don't carry a second one. IF I did, it would be a pocket revolver.

For general purposes, it is hard to beat a 4" 357 magnum revolver. Carry bigger caliber in big bear country.

 

[Twycross]

I do carry while hunting, but I'll admit it's much more of a 'comfort' item than anything else. I've never had to use it for anything, I have a rifle, and I'm not that great of a handgunner, but it just feels nice to have a pistol on the belt.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've been known to carry a Redhawk when quail hunting. A fella never knows when an irate buck will attack.

Otherwise, it's just excess weight.

Art

 

[rwc]

No.
If 8-20 rounds of .308 won't keep me safe a pistol isn't likely to add much more than peace of mind. I might feel differently in thick cover with big bears.

 

[javacodeman]

While I don't hunt, I do know that certain animals (Mountain Lions for a prime example) will stalk human prey and pounce. They can jump about 18ft high and cover 30ft . In this situation, you may have your long gun knocked from your hands. You may find your face with large incisors around it. So if it were me, I'd definitely have something readily accessible that will stay with you if ambushed.

 

[gbran]

I hunt quail up in the mountains and carry a scoped 22 handgun for squirrel and misc varmints. I don't like shooting squirrel with a shotgun.

 

[ChefJeff1]

This was my first rifle hunting season and I toted my Ruger sp101 the whole time.

 

[formerflyer]

Always carry a handgun in the field. I've had my primary gun go down on me several times, and that's what the handgun is for: Backup. Also it's nice to use for finishing off bigger game, or potshooting smaller game. The scandium S&W's are a godsend for packing.

As someone much smarter than I am quoted, "Two equals one, one equals none."

 

[Polishrifleman]

I lugged around a .45 Full Size Semi-auto until my 642 came along. I don't even know it is there and no one or critter does either. If it isn't in the way and doesn't cause trouble why not????

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I carry a pistol quite often when hunting with rifle..

It's not that I don't trust my skills with rifle at all. Often I'll go from scoped rifle territory to thick brush. A scoped rifle is almost useless there. So, the open sighted .357 or 44mag comes in handy. I've shot deer at close range with pistol while rifle was still in the other hand. I finished off a Bear with pistol after I hit him with rifle round. Yes, it's extra weight, but shooting the head off a Grouse is much easier with pistol than scoped rifle at close range. Occasionally I'll just carry a .22 pistol or my 1911, just for small game while hunting big game. For safey, in Bear or Kitty cat country in thick terrain, the pistol brings piece of mind. It's more of an effective signal tool too.

Other times, I've been known to leave camp, leaving the rifle behind, just hunting the brush with SBH or RH in .44mag. Been successful several times with open sighted pistol too.

-Steve

 

[MCgunner]

Yes, I like a .357 magnum for outdoor carry especially when hunting where there are a lot of rabbits. Rabbits make good camp meat and light .38 wadcutters are great rabbit medicine... I also have a favorite Ruger .45 Colt 4 5/8" Blackhawk if I feel I might need it for a wounded hog in heavy cover or out in bear country, but the .357 is plenty most times and lighter to carry and just as accurate. My 4" Taurus M66 is uber-accurate with said wadcutter load, easy to carry, GREAT outdoor gun!

 

[buzz meeks]

Bird hunting, yes. Antelope and deer probably not. Elk hunting no way. It is far too strenuous and every single ounce matters.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I carry a G20 while out in the bush. Especially down here since I'm in illegal country! I want something more than a shotgun if I run into a 2 legged Coyote!

 

[Art Eatman]

javacodeman, for the last 34 years I've been playing around in an area where we're right at being bum-deep in lion poop. I'll "never say never" but one thing I don't worry about is mountain lions. I regularly see lion tracks around my garbage burn-pit. Sometimes I'll put out bait to see if Handsome Stranger is visiting Cigar Mountain Mama in order to make more baby lions.

So far, lions seem to worry more about me than I do about them.

Lion meat is very tasty.

Art

 

[Idano]

darkknight IMO you should always carry when you are in the mountains, hunting or hiking. When I hunt or hike my standard equip includes a 44 mag Colt Anaconda with 8 extra rounds, a fanny pack with calls, cover sent, a knife, water bottle, lunch, and binoculars, and I also carry a day pack that includes the following

• A couple dried meals
• Water filter
• Bone Saw
• Extra knife
• Extra maps
• Rain gear
• Extra socks
• Flint
• fire cube
• 20 rounds box for my 06
• 2 Glow stick
• GPS
• Extra batteries
• A small amount of rope
• First Aid kit with super glue

You never know when something will happen while you are out so go prepared in case you have to spend a night or two on your own.

 

[waffentomas]

Lotsa bears and cats where I hunt elk, and so we ALL carry SHTF guns.

I carry a Glock 20 with 6" barrel and a nasty 200gr lead bear claw round from DT ammo. Sure, that grizzly my buddy saw last year may be a little much for a 10mm, but 15 rounds of it may work out OK. And if one gets on you, what do you have to lose? Rifle ain't a very good option at grappling range, but a side arm MIGHT just save your stinky bacon.

Tom

 

[Harve Curry]

I always carry my Colt SAA 44, it is a piece of excess weight that I like

 

[carterbeauford]

I don't carry anything other than a rifle when I hunt. Why? The PA Game Commission says I 'aint allowed.

Good thing there were no game wardens in the area today because I apparently 'aint allowed to target shoot during deer season either.