Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Sidearm for Elk Hunting

That there's might purty. The only thing it lacks is a 4" S&W 629!

There was one there. Last fall we were deer hunting on the ridge to the right, behind the foreground tree. Some guy in the bottom started practicing with a handgun of some kind. Over 30 min, he must have shot 50 rounds or more. It pretty well cleared the area. All we saw after that was tracks heading over the ridge.

Dick

When I was a greenhorn elk hunter, back in 1982, I carried a S&W .357 Mag in a strong-side holster. My then new Ruger 7mm Mag banged against it constantly, acquiring more than one �character mark� in the process. In addition to being a general nuisance, I didn�t care for the extra weight and decided if a finishing round was necessary the rifle would work just fine. The .357 never went hunting again and was eventually sold.

The next handgun to accompany me was a Browning Buckmark. Carried it once and got a grouse, but after that it stayed in the truck. Again, too much nuisance factor.

These days I have a Ruger .44 Mag Super Redhawk with a 2x Leupold scope. The holster is a �Banditos� from Pistol Packaging Inc. (www.pistolpackaging.com ) The Banditos holster allows the Ruger to ride under my left arm and the weight pretty much disappears. I still don�t carry it when I have a rifle, though.

Here in Colorado we don�t have big bears to contend with, and no moose where I hunt. Blacks, mountain lions and two-legged varmints are the big dangers. In 24 years of elk hunting, I have yet to see a black bear or lion and the only two-legged varmint, who had me in his rifle scope for a seemingly interminable amount of time, was out of pistol range. My wife was on the jury pool (not selected, though) for a murder trial involving a pack of two-legged varmints that turned on one of their own. Seems they were making their �living� robbing camps. There have been other situations in Colorado with two-legged varmints that involved camps and resulted in innocent victims getting shot or killed.

There are lots of good reasons for carrying both a handgun and a rifle, depending on individual circumstances. In my case, the handguns tend to get worn around camp if at all, and the .45ACP is the one most likely to be on my hip. The two-legged varmints are my biggest concern.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dutch, If you haven't done so already, read up on the firearms laws for Idaho.

While pretty free, carrying concealed handgun( if you should go to town etc) requires a CCW.Carrying while hunting doesn't.IF you stow the revolver while out hunting or in town, the risk of it going missing goes up..

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=ID

You also will need to deal with TSA for transporting the revolver and ammo in your luggage( lockable box with proper declaration) and FWIW, ALOT of personal items disappear when in custody of the airlines.

Horseback, I'd carry in a simple-secure belt holster for crossdraw rather than strongside.

Tho for myself, a sidearm while elk hunting is not something I'd burden myself with, ( I'm a walk-in still-hunter rather than a pack-in -by horse hunter) take it along if you wish and don't worry about what anyone else thinks..:).

A small caliber rimfire .22 revolver that could be used for small game or birds for the pot would be more practical out here..:)
Hope you have a memorable hunt.You'll enjoy the country and elk hunting is some of the best there is..jim

Very true...but in Idaho don't use it for a kill shot to the head. Rimfires are illegal and a kill shot is still considered hunting.

Dick

I have never heard so much whining about carrying a gun from what are supposed to be gun friendly people.

Carry a handgun if you want or don't it is up to you. I have been carrying a sidearm for over 20 years while hunting and never felt the burden of it. And, I carry it in a western holster strong side from Kirkpatricks. Sometimes I carry a 4" S&W 44 in an El Paso Threepersons. I experimented with a 6" Colt Anaconda in an El Paso 1942 rig and an additional side arm on my hip while snow shoeing with a 40 pound back just to see if the additional weight would be a problem. It never was and that holster was very comfortable to me.

The reasons I prefer to carry have been mentioned in this forum several times; walking out with game when a "Rifle" would be too cumbersome, 2 legged and 4 legged critters, etc. A fellow I had hunted with was killed by a grizzly a few years ago while gutting an elk. His rifle was not in reach when attacked and maybe a pistol wouldn't have helped, but it is nice to have the option. I have an uncle who was stalked by a mtn lion, I have tracked a mtn lion that was following another hunter, and I have had the 2 legged drunk kind come into camp at night boasting about shooting the previous occupants (us) if we gave them any trouble. So I don't go into the field without a sidearm. It is on my person instead of leaning against a tree. And, yes, I have used mine to finish off animals. Much less messy.

Dutch686,
Are you the only hunter? If you fill your tag, I believe you cant be walking around with your rifle. And you definitely dont want to be out there empty handed. I persoanlly dont like to carry my sidearm while Im hunting, but once my tag is filled, I help the others fill theirs. Definitely take it, and use it if you want. But make the decision once you get there.

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In Idaho, a non-resident with the proper non-resident hunting license, may carry a rifle even if he's filled his n.r. elk/deer tag. The hunting license is for whatever tags the n.r. bought, PLUS he can shoot certain varmits, etc., such as coyotes, etc., after filling his tag(s).

So, yes, Dutch can still carry his rifle around even after he has killed that "big six." All he needs for that is to have that n.r. hunting license. (Just don't shoot any big game animals for which you do not have tags!)

L.W.

Thanks for that very important clarification.
(Id still take the darn sidearm.) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Folks, thank you for all of the responses. I have learned a lot, and I think we have all had some fun. I'm taking my 44,and I'll just make my decision when I get there.

2 points:
In Idaho, a centerfire handgun is a legal weapon for all big game. If it's illegal to carry a rifle, then it's also illegal to carry a pistol.

Also, in Idaho PARTY HUNTING IS ILLEGAL. You can do what you want in your own state, but if I see you helping someone else fill a tag here, I won't hesitate to turn you in.

Dick

I wanted to thank everyone for their comments..good or bad. I've learned a lot, and have had a good time reading all of the posts. I think I will take the 44 mag, and decide what to do with it when I get there. I'm the only hunter in my party. I'm comfortable that the outfitter is familiar with all of the pertinent game laws so no need to get big and bad about turning me in.

dutch;

Good luck, and good hunting.

Dick,
Hold your horses for a minute.
I will always help others fill their tag if I have finished my hunt. That does not mean I will shoot an animal for them. That means I will accompany them, help carry their daypack, help glass for them, and help carry out their animal.
And while Im doing that, Id prefer to carry a sidearm and not a rifle.
Ive never hunted in Idaho, but I dont believe helping a fellow hunter in that way is illegal.

maestro, I suggest that you dream up a new phrase for assisting a friend in his hunt.
I believe that "help others fill their tag" is commonly understood to mean "party-hunting".

Where's the problem with the wording? I understood exactly what he meant. I don't think it's legal ANYWHERE (or ethical) to fill someone elses tag, so that was obviously not what he meant.

I doubt it is illegal anywhere to assist in glassing, packing, scouting, etc. If that were the case, guiding would be illegal, no?

Where's the problem with the wording? I understood exactly what he meant. I don't think it's legal ANYWHERE (or ethical) to fill someone elses tag, so that was obviously not what he meant.

Rock Chuck and I both understood it the way I said, so there is a group of two, so far.

Wisconsin, for one, does allow party hunting for deer.

Idaho's regs phrase it this way-
"It is Unlawful
� To party hunt, or help fill another hunter�s tag. "

And just because it is illegal, or unethical to you, does not mean that other folks don't do it, and people say a lot of odd things on these anonymous boards.

Then why stop at just two when three or four offer even more options? Maybe I should carry a .22 for the grouse, a shotgun for smarter birds, a .44 Mag Revolver for defensive work and the rifle for the main business?

No. Call it �whining� if you want. When I�m carrying concealed I don�t pack a rifle and generally don�t have one in the vehicle, either - no real need and the rifles stay locked up in the safe. When I�m packing a rifle I choose not to carry a handgun as again I�ve decided there is no real need in my case, although I often have one in the vehicle..

I�m not finding fault with those that decide otherwise, just stating my experience.