Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Do you carry a sidearm while deer hunting?

I have, but not in the last 30 years or so. When I did, I was concerned with poisonous snakes and I carried with a 22, 38 or 45 Colt with shot loads.

I've noticed several of us talking about snakes, and I've had occasion this year to pop some cottonmouth with this little guy when visiting some of my deerstands pre-season. A CCI .22WMR will wrap one up pretty well at 8 feet. I'll also stick in my pocket in hot weather when cutting firewood or doing tractor work around the house.

Haven't until the last few years however lions are on the increase in several units I hunt..

Doesn't bother me much, most of the time they're trying to avoid even being seen however there are always exceptions..

Usually my side carry is either the 41 or 45 colt..

Almost always. Usually my 3' Ruger GP100 in 44 Special. I especially like to have one when dragging or hauling out a animal since it is a lot less cumbersome than a rifle.

Yep, in my pack for coons and squirrels.

It doesn't seem to scare WT's that bad. I've shot coons, occasionally several times as Subsonic's don't whack'em that hard. May take several shots to zap one. Weighed down with enough lead, they aren't as fast.

And, after all that, have had deer come into the food plots. And sometimes not too long after a coon shooting.

DF

No.I have enough problem dragging a 7-8 pound rifle around. If I need extra fire power, I take 5-6 more cartridges for my rifle.
I use to carry a snubby .357 in ML season.After not firing it for 6-7 years.I gave that up too.Maybe in grizzly or cat country I might rethink it though.

Dang....what are you using for a holster?

Always. These days it is usually a .44 Special with a couple of shot loads in case of rattlers or a .40 S&W M&P.

I hardly ever carry, especially if i have a loaded centerfire rifle slung over my shoulder, i tried carrying a few CC mouse guns for a while but i was never comfortable and seemed more trouble than it was worth...I do keep a handgun in my truck at all times though...Good luck....Hb

Carrying while hunting vs carrying while packing out game is different. My rifle is usually back at camp in the truck.It goes in the first trip out and then I carry my Ruger Security Six,.357 mag. No grizzlies here. Just like unbalanced panniers on a pack mule, carrying 4+ pound revolver on you hip will soon or later get to you.

Of course....why wouldn't you?

Neither a bolt rifle nor a muzzleloader make a very effective defensive weapon. I'm not worried about critters, but people suck and have a tendency to show up where they ought not be.

My son carried his SIG P220 when he hunted in the Croatan NF in NC. One day another hunter saw him loading up to leave and asked why he had a pistol? He told him, "I won't shoot someone over a deer and I'm not going to get shot over one either". He had ran into to many slob hunters running dogs that were bullies. My son figured they were the type that had been kicked out of hunt clubs for their BS.

I’ve carried a sidearm since the early 90’s. I use to carry a small revolver, then switched several years ago to sporting a Glock G20 in a GunFighters, Inc. chest rig. Extremely comfortable, and fits perfectly under my AGC bino pack.

Most animals we kill are in a spot where taking a rifle down to retrieve the fur would be a hindrance. Pistol provides a little piece of mind against long toothed and claw pests.




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I carry a Glock 19 or 26, can't see a reason not to. There's evil everywhere.

I carry either a S&W 66-1 on a belt holster or a 28-2 in a tanker rig.

A 66-1 for me also or a LCR.

Don't you???? RZ.

That's what i do also it's a habit.

Always xd40

I do in Archery and Muzzleloader but never in Rifle