I'm curious as to how many of us carry a side arm in addition to your hunting rifle. My dad tought me how to hunt when I was young and one of the things he told me was to NEVER go a'field without a side arm. he was from kentuky, but i was born in central california and thats where i learned to hunt. there were alot of rattle snakes around.

I carry a .357 with a 6" barrel, its enough to reach out and "touch" something. I've used it once and took two doe. i was walking back to my jeep after a long cold windy day and hadnt seen a thing. Before i started my hike back i unloaded my rifle thiking the day was usless. about 75 yards from my vehicle I saw a heard of deer as i was walking up over a hill. i dropped to my knees, drew my .357 and dropped two doe. so here is the question

do you carry a side arm?
what kind/caliber?
your reason?
have you ever been in a situation to use it?

to make it interesting, do you carry a pistol when your not a'field, aside from law enforcement officers and leagly of course<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>? if you do, do you carry it always, like a wallet? or do you carry it on occasion? i read a post where a guy had stated that he alway has a pistol in his truck. i would be parinoid that it would get stolen!