In the state of Montana you can carry a side arm while bowhunting. You can keep it in your back pack or anyplace else and it is legal. Only in city limits is it illegal to carry concealed w/o permit, which means that in 99.6% of Montana, it is not illegal to carry a concealed weapon. Also, a weapon is only considered concealed, if it is concealed by wearing apparel, whick means you can even carry in city limits if its not concealed by what your wearing,.