Ironbender. Not with a firearm in my hand that created an unsafe condition. Condition your mind right and you can keep good muzzle control even a$$ over tea cups. You might break something, but not shoot yourself to boot. Besides,most bolt guns,all you have to do is lift the bolt so it won't fire. Sure don't have to unload it.
I firmly believe that the carry cold camp have created a problem when none exist or at least that there is such a low acceptable risk that it doesn't matter. Ironic that it looks like all the cold carry camp are younger hunters. Don't know for sure, just from reading a lot of past post from others for a number of years.
The poster relating the hot carry about shotguns in high weeds vs stealthly stepping through not so dangerous areas has it about right. JiminOregon has it about right too. Wonder how many of our lads in Iraq carry cold. About 400,000 troops can't have it too wrong or you would here a lot more about it.
The most dangerous hunting activity is turkey hunting. More people have been killed turkey hunting than any other aspect of the sport. Amost all from either stalking someone calling or mistaken red and blue colthing for a turkey head. It has nothing to do about carrying hot or cold. By the time the trigger was pulled they could have been either way a minute before.
Last edited by saddlesore; 11/21/07.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
