ORIGINAL: Elkcrazy8

I never carried a pistol while bowhunting. Until last year. I always read stories about things that happened to OTHER people. I do ALOT of elk hunting in the back country. The area that I hunt is a controlled bear unit. Meaning that there is bears around every corner up there. I killed a bull and had it in the creek. I was laying in my sleeping bag trying to rest until morning to pack the bull out. Just as I started to go to sleep, the bushes next to me bagan to move and out walked an old sow, and was standing not 10 feet from me. I jumped out of the bag and grabbed my bow as did the guy that I was hunting with who, fortunately had a tag and could shoot rather well. He ended up shooting the bear in his underwear standing on his sleeping bag. The very next night I was at the gun shop buying a 44 magnum for future hunts. Also, there have been many reports of wolves coming in to guys elk calls. My brother in law was surrounded by them. He also hunts a controlled bear area, and the bears will come in to calf calls also. He too now carries a pistol. We don't want to and will not become the OTHER guy. Even hard core bowhunters( when legal) carry a pistol for protection. I know that I want to live to hunt another day.