robm10093,

Does your hunting area allow handguns? The farm I hunt on is split by the county line, North side is shotgun only and south side is rifle. I carry a 7mm-08 Encore pistol with a 3-12X Burris ballplex and a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag with iron sights.With practice the Encorepistol is just as accurate as the smoke pole for long rage shots, while the revolver is great forstalking on the way in and out of your stand.

J