I don't live in bear country or anything but i am pretty sure you should never go in the woods hunting or hiking unarmed. I am looking to get something inexpensive for this purpose but not sure what to caliber or pistol to get. I would say a snakes, coyotes, possible rabid racoon would be the only threats. I am looking at a ruger 22/45 target, a s&w m&p .45, and a rossi 971 357 mag. I do already have dies for 38/357 and a ton of 38 spl loaded ammo and have 45 acp dies. Thank you.
For bang-per-ounce in a weatherproof gun, consider one of the Kahr polymer pistols... I've owned several. My favorite was the P45. Don't get a P40; that is one tightly-wound snappy be-atch. BUT this only applies if a long smooth trigger pull work for you. It really doesn't for me. So I've switched to Glocks.
