For me, it all depends on the situation. If you're hunting hardwoods whitetail from a treestand, what good is an unchambered round? On a crisp foggy morning, how long would that buck hang around while you work the bolt..about 0 seconds flat.
If I'm hunting the west, I see no reason to have round chambered while glassing. If I'm stalking or tracking, there's always a round in there & the saftey is always on.
If I'm guiding, you'd better believe I insist on a client's rifle chamber being boolet-free, unless he or she is making the final stalk on their own.
As far as saftey, my grandpa drilled into me at a young age that every gun is loaded, especially when it's not. I suppose it would be safer to not hunt at all, then again I may slip in the bathtub.
