I just picked up bow hunting and I think its a blast. I am too young to own a handgun, but I wouldn't carry one into the field anyway. And as Rob said, it's also illegal here in PA. In my area, I don't feel there is a need to carry a handgun while bowhunting anyway. If I lived in grizzly country and if I was old enough, there would definatley be a .454 Casull at my side. An arrow wont stop a charging bear, but a 300 grain bullet might <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> You said guys steal deer, where do you live? Stealing deer, how lazy (and unlawful) can some people get?