Starrman
A side arm is a good Idea. Rifles are a little two hard to swing around and shoot when something is right up on you. I use to not carry one until one day while turkey hunting a buddy of mine had to use his. He had made a blind in a wash out with only one way in and out. He always carried a 357. He didnt see any trukey that day but had a rather large hog crawl in his blind with him. The hog freaked out and went for him, the only thing that keep him from getting hurt was that 357. I now have one with me any time I am hunting on the ground.