Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Do you carry when archery hunting?

Curious how many of you carry a handgun while archery hunting. Here in Pa you need your carry permit to have a handgun on you while archery hunting. Reason I would do it would simply be for bear. Brother had one at the base of his tree one year that refused to leave, even after he stood up and yelled at it. That kind of bear behavior kind of freaks me out. There are plenty of bears here in Pa, and besides hunting, I like to walk on game lands. So I am thinking of getting a 10mm something and carrying it with hard cast. May never need it...

Nope, I don’t carry.
Hunted in Alaska and guide had a big rifle.

My wife insists on it.

I have ever since the introduction of wolves.

I don't as much as I should. Also for bears with attitudes.

Got dang, PA is about as stupid as commie Cali. Can't open carry there??

Only if I’m wearing pants, just like always. We can carry for self-defense, but can’t use it for hunting while carrying a bow, not even to pop a squirrel.

Used the little LCP2 .22 to finish a buck a couple years ago. Strictly speaking, it was illegal, but both the buck and I had had enough by then.

Did the same with a doe shot during ML season some years back, but with a snubby .38. Couldn’t get another load down the barrel in the middle of a sleet storm in the dark, so I put the laser on her head and popped her to settle it.

Nope, illegal to carry any firearm while archery hunting here, including cc handguns.

Same here in New York. Just another example of a State that doesn't give a shyt about the safety of it's citizens or their right to self defense.

I did along our southern border...

The way I understand it is we can open carry, just not while archery hunting. The regs state that no firearms permitted while archery hunting unless you have a carry permit, then you may carry a handgun

Yes I do, in my state if you have a license to carry you may carry a handgun when archery hunting. You may carry a revolver or semi auto but you may not finish off your deer with them.

I don’t all the time, if calling elk in grizzly county, I will carry.

We had 4 archery hunters slammed griz in one mountain drainage in just a few days a year. or two ago. Good reason to carry bear spray and handgun.

I carry a 45 for pigs, one of us may need some relief.

To each their own but you have one hell of a lot more faith in your fellow man than I do.

Not a chance in hell I would intentionally put my life in the hands of someone else when I could have the ability to protect myself. I have seen far too many "professionals" freeze up when things got ugly. "Spotlight Rangers" They were big talkers but when it came time for a fight, they froze up.

I will rely on my own ability before that of someone else. I carry a gun any time I am in the woods with predators.

Always. Highly Recommend the Glock Model 20 10mm.
I carry mine with 16 rounds of Buffalo Boar 220 gr Hard Cast Outdoorsman Load.

Funny you should mention the Glock 20, I was in a gun store last week and handled one in 10 mm. That one is the main one I am considering.

A couple of years ago I walked up on a hog I shot in SC. I had given it 10 minutes after it stopped moving like I always do, then gathered my gear got out of my stand and walked to it. I got out my camera and took a pic from the side, then walked to the front and took another picture. When the flash went off that sucker jumped up and was making a growling noise that I never heard from a pig before and came at me. I was only 5 feet away and had my rifle slung over my shoulder but had my Kahr .40 S&W on my hip, I drew and fires at the same time and killed him at my feet with a shot to the head. It took a couple of hours for my adrenalin to subside. Here he is.

Hard to beat, IMO.