That little revolver is often the only thing appropriate I have on me when I need something like that.
We definitely have reptiles in the Gunshine state, but you quit seeing them around Nov. here. Of course, this is only Fl in the legal sense. It's really more like LA- Lower Alabama.
I'm not saying there is a thing WRONG with carrying a handgun when hunting with a long gun. As I said before, I just don't think its necessary for me, at least for most of the hunting I do here (hogs being the exception). I carry concealed in all other situations- a S&W shield on me, AND a Glock 19 w/ 2 spare mags lives in each of my vehicles. In fact, hunting with a long gun for critters other than hogs here (deer, dove, turkey) is about the only time I don't have at least 1 handgun on me and/or immediately accessible. When I hunted black bear in Maine, I carried a 45 as extra insurance. I feel a centerfire rifle or 12 gauge shotgun are sufficient for not only the critter being hunted, but also for 2 legged "surprises". Yes, I keep a couple 00 rounds in my pocket when hunting with a shotgun. A shotgun with pretty much anything in it is more than adequate for legless critters. Hunting somewhere that security of my vehicle and contents is "sketchy"? I'll put the pistol in my backpack, or do something else with it. I guess it's mostly me trying to cut down on unneeded weight as well as things that may make noise in the stand/blind. I'm going to start duck hunting this month with an experienced friend- may carry a pistol then, due to gatorsauruses. I'll have to ask him about that.I carry concealed. I can legally carry my M4 down main street, but I'd probably stick out like a sore thumb and I likely would have a hard time going in restaurants and such with it.
As for carrying for self defense in the woods, why not? I carry my NAA .22s for self defense.
I don't think the military issues THEM, either.
I wish I could still do it. I could if I didn't have to walk so far through the muck. It's just too hard on me anymore. I might still book a goose hunt now and then, but I do like calling the ducks.
While I don't necessarily agree with it, there is some logic behind that reg. The idea is that the hunting weapon is only supposed to be loaded during legal hunting hours. Helps the GW be more confident that you weren't hunting illegally if the gun isn't loaded. When CCW permits became a thing in Ohio 15 years ago, it threw a monkey wrench into things and for a while, we couldn't carry concealed while hunting. That got changed but it's still with the caveat that your concealed carry weapon is not a hunting implement.
Stupid law right there. I would think the absence of gunshots, q-beam, and bloody critters would be sufficient evidence of not night hunting. I want to do everything that makes noise (like loading a gun) well BEFORE entering the woods.
You haven't used a well configured drop leg then. I'll agree that the Lara Croft style isn't much good for anything other than accenting attractive legs, but a good single strap drop leg rig that's set up right works fine for long distance walking.
As I said, I don't necessarily agree with it. And I can assure you that very few people are actually waiting to load up till shooting light.
I assumed you were forming your opinion based on experience with a double leg strap holster of some sort. The single strap Safariland's are worlds better, IMO. As you say, to each their own though.
We had the same ones in 2001- and before. After we realized they weren't the right answer- not just for all the humping we did in the mountains (not unlike a lot of elk hunters) but also for riding in vehicles with the entire inventory of a REI and an army surplus store. You know what we did? We disassembled our safariland leg holsters from the S&M harnesses, threw away everything but the holster itself, then ordered and attached the belt drop assemblies, and turned these things into pretty much the same holster every cop in the US carries. because those guys spend some time walking around, and a whole bunch of time riding in cramped vehicles with a bunch of stuff too. That configuration is still in use with those guys today, except they are multicam and there is a different pistol in it than we used in 2001.
