I carry almost all the time while in the outdoors.
What I carry depends on the weapon I'm hunting with at the time.
Archery or muzzleloader: I carry either a Taurus 709 9mm auto or my Ruger SP 101 .357.
Rifle: usually my Ruger SR22 or the S&W 63, both are .22LR.
I had a black bear raid my pop-up blind one year. It took everything out of it except the chair and chewed on it. I put it all back and set up to watch for game. He it comes! It stopped at the spring to grab a drink and then wandered over to the blind again. I sat with the 9mm in my hand and let it get to about ten feet from me before I told him he should go away....
He did.
Frankly I worry more about trespassers than animals - another good reason to open carry.
