The only handgun I'd consider carrying while carrying a rifle would be my little 3 inch 317 Smith, .22 LR. That would be for those dumb, high mountain grouse.
If I'm ever unlucky enough to tangle with a grizzly, I pray that I have a rifle, not a handgun.
I have carried a Smith 29, 4 inch while bird hunting. Came real close to shooting a small buck or two. If they had been much bigger, I may well have done it.
I also like to pack a decent handgun, like a 10mm, or, if the small game seasons are on, a 1911. .45 ACP while stream fishing w/ a fly rod.
When I'm out and about in our mountains, I always have a gun, usually a handgun. Lighter, easier to carry on those long, tough hikes in the high country. E
