Calvin and Coyote Hunter saying their rifles were slung 90% of th time was illustrative.
Different conditions lead to different ways of hunting. Can promise that a guy hunting blacktail how and where I hunt them with a cold chamber and rifle slung (on a 14% tag) will be enjoying Tag Soup.
On the other hand a guy hunting Sitkas where the deer stands there looking at you while you whistle to your buddy, chamber a round in your .357 mag carbine, then shoot it could probably hunt just about any old way and still fill the freezer.
I don't feel like digging back. Wildswalker, did you ever confess what state and unit you are hunting in?