Do you carry a sidearm when you hunt?

[Coltdriver]

Do you have a hand gun handy when you are in the field with your favorite rifle??

What do you carry?

Ever use it to save yerself??

I went small game hunting today, whilst walking back into the woods with my little terrier on a leash (he is so dumb that if I ever let him off the leash it would be the last I ever saw him) another fellow comes up the trail with five medium pit bull terriers running (no leash) ahead of him.

The pit bulls see me and lunch and come on over to investigate. We were off the trail and down a hill about fifty feet.

I had a rifle on a sling (trying out a new carry sling). Their owner does not catch up until all five are walking around me, brushing up against me, sniffing my dog and scaring the hades out of me.

I pulled my 9mm revolver and prepared for the worst. First growl or bite and I was going to unload.

Fortunately, the owner began calling them back and one by one they went back down the trail. He had to do some serious yelling at the dogs, they were not what you call well trained.

I usually carry a Browning HP in a shoulder rig but lately I have been carrying a j frame in 9mm in a belt holster. Sure would have had to make every shot count today

 

[priv8ter]

Not me, but...

I have never carried a side-arm while hunting. Partly because I have never really felt the need for one, but mostly because you are not allowed to carry a modern sidearm during Muzzle Loader season here in Washington.

I work with several people that carry side arms during modern season, and, let's just say I don't hunt with them. They have said their sidearms are for self-defence, but they have also admitted that when things are slow, it's fun to do some target practice.

One of them even admitted to me that he had used his Beretta .380(not sure I would consider that a self-defence gun in the woods) to take a shot at some Bob Cats he saw sitting in a tree!

Like I said, I don't hunt with them, and have so far politely turned down all offers to do so.

 

[sm]

Yes

CCW en-route, while hunting, return trip. Things can happen while long guns locked up in vehicle. I may carry a 'hunt specific' handgun for handgun hunting--but I keep CCW on person. Long gun/shotguns, still keep a CCW on person. Ya never know out there.

 

[HeavyHaul]

I'm with "re1973" on this. Full time carry, no matter what I'm doing.


Bill

 

[ACP230]

Yes. While hunting I carry a rifle or shotgun and a Smith M649. The same gun goes along when I'm trout fishing.

 

[thumbtack]

I usually carry a 9mm of some kind, never had to use it. Don't really get to use the rifle much while hunting either.

 

[Bushrat]

Here in the interior of Alaska I never go anywhere without a sidearm. Even when carrying a hunting rifle. It's a bit disconcerting to have a bear or Cow moose with a calf walk up on you, and you've left the rifle leaning against a tree.
I usually carry a S&W mod 29 44 mag. w/ 6" barrel, handloaded with Speer's 300gr bullets.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Usually....

First, I'm often armed when not hunting, this just carries over.

Second, some of the places I hunt have a feral dog problem. A friend was bitten on the leg 2 years ago by one.He had dropped a doe with his bow and the dog arrived at the dead doe the same time he did.

Third, at least half my hunting is all alone. I like to have the ability to signal if needed. I do keep a cell phone on me, but life's taught me to have a Plan B.

 

[Art Eatman]

I hunt in lonesome country, so I've never seen the need for the extra weight. Just not the same potential for problems as in Alaska or in "people country".

If I'm quail-hunting during deer season, I'll carry my Redhawk in case I'm attacked by an irate buck.

I've run across packs of feral dogs a couple of times, but the survivors always ran from the sound of my rifle.

Art

 

[Oleg Volk]

Don't hunt but always carry a backup when out hiking. The rifle might break, so having a pistol is easier than carrying another rifle.

 

[ojibweindian]

I carry my P95 with me. Of course, I carry my P95 everywhere.

 

[Jaegermeister]

I carry Ruger .22/45

While pheasant hunting here in Iowa and across the river in Nebraska, I carry a stainless Ruger .22/45 in an exposed nylon holster on a wide nylon belt. My Columbia pheasant jacket is short enough to allow legal, exposed carry when in the field.


The .22 with hollowpoints works great on close-in rabbits that the 12-gauge would make a mess of. I also carry it in case my field bred English Springer Spaniel gets into a fight with a raccoon or other varmint.

I have used it to give a Rottweiler a few warning shots across the bow. It is also deadly on feral cats out in corn fields.

I've gotten pretty good at holding the Wingmaster in the left hand just behind the slide at its balance point and wielding the pistol right hand.

There are no bears or other dangerous critters here that could not be taken care of with a shotgun blast of copper-plated No. 5s.

 

[P95Carry]

I carry my P95 with me. Of course, I carry my P95 everywhere.

Couldn't have put it better ojibweindian !!

I do also at times put on the Super Blackhawk, if I think I might find something interesting ... but mainly it's backup...... come ''finisher'' if such were needed.

 

[BIGR]

Just like putting my clothes on everyday. I always have my sidearm nearby. There are too many critters where I live. Not had to use it yet to fight off any crazed animals. A friend of mine just recently got ambushed by a crazed 5 point buck in rut. This sounded funny at first but I guess he could have been badly injured. He had walked away from camp and had no weapons at all. He saw a buck walking towards him stomping the ground as it approached. He ran and got on top of a nearby picnic table and yelled for help. The buck was trying to climb up on top of the picnic table.All my friend could do is yell and swat at the deer with his cap. Luckly a fellow hunter heard him and came to his rescue. The buck also chased the other hunter. After a few shots of buckshot the ordeal was over. This is a true story that happened this deer season. My friend says he will not go unarmed anymore while out in the wild.

 

[444]

Sure, I always carry a sidearm while hunting. Out here in the wild wild West big game hunting (at least for me) means camping for a week or so, maybe 50 or more miles off the beaten track. Again, just for me, I usually hunt alone. I put on a handgun when I leave home and take it off when I return home. When I finish hunting in the evening, I put my rifle in the truck unloaded, but I always have my handgun at my side. It provides a certain degree of comfort around the camp and in the tent. There are some real dangers, but it is mostly psychological. Living 99% of your life with four walls and locked doors makes sleeping out under the stars a little disquiteing.
Three years ago, I shot a nice 5x5 mulie with my '06. It dropped instantly from the shot. I took off my backpack and laid my rifle on it. Removed my coat. Rolled up my sleeves, got out my knife etc. I then walked up to gut the deer. When I got about 15 yards away, the "dead" deer jumped up and took off. I drew my Ruger P89 and shot it three times, this time dropping it for good.
My normal field gun is a Ruger GP100 stainless 4" with a lined, full flap holster, although I may take my 3" S&W Model 629 the next time I draw a tag.

 

[labgrade]

Carried an M29 when first out here CO-way (& a lot more "extra' weight). Wised up & started shedding stuff - no handgun for years. Always figured a .30 cal something'd do the trick.

Ran across one of those S&W 317s & will always have that thing on my belt - at the least - just too handy not to.

'Course, when not hunting, there's always something hanging off the belt.

I feel, & b'lieve, that I'm much safer in the woods than in anything urban .... that something hanging off the belt is appropriately sized.

 

[Zorro]

Always.

.22 LR when I am heavily armed.

.44 Mag when I have a .22.

 

[KMKeller]

Full time carry no matter what. HK USP .45 Compact, and either a Smith 340 or a Beretta 21A.

 

[WYO]

Lately, I have been carrying my Kel-Tec P11 backup gun in my front pocket.

 

[ojibweindian]

"Couldn't have put it better ojibweindian !!"

Thanks P95Carry! Being a former Boy Scout, I do like to be prepared.

 

[Bottom Gun]

1911 or 629 . . . . . . .always.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Hunting is the only time I CAN carry in Minnesota.

.22 for small game if I have a rifle or bow.

.44 mag and no rifle if I'm still hunting/driving in deep brush and feeling lucky for deer. Haven't yet been lucky with the .44 though.

I used to just carry a shotgun when scouting, building stands, etc., but all the wolf tracks I saw this Fall make me think a .357 would be a good hiking companion.

 

[Mr Bill]

I deer hunt where there's mountain lions and I typically hunt alone. I carry a S&W 687 Mountain Gun (.357 Mag) while hunting just in case I have to shoot one off from me. Noticed this past year that the exposed smooth surfaces are terribly reflective in the sun. I'll probably have it glass beaded this year to matte the surfaces.
I never target practice or shoot at anything with it while hunting, one might as well bring a buggle and blow it if they do.
Bill

 

[wun_8_seven]

in '01 while hunting on some land my family owns in western okla. three guys i chased off for trespassing, came back that night drunk & decided to drag me out of my tent to get even. they opened my tent flap grabbed me by my feet & started pulling me out, but the springfield 10mm pointed between the first guys eyes convinced them it was a bad idea. 187

 

[JGReed]

I always bring my .45 to camp with me, but just for CCW when not in the woods. No need to carry the extra weight while actually hunting, and my .30-06 is a lot more effective stopper.