Whether I carry locked and loaded depends on two things:A. Probability of immediate encounter with the game being pursued; B. The terrain.

If the terrain is not particularly difficult, and game is probably close by, I will carry locked and loaded. However, when traversing thick brush, climbing a mountain (up or down), or on steep terrain covered with stone or shale, I will carry an empty chamber, often wqith the rifle slung across my back so bth hands are free. If the rifle is a repeater, I will leave cartridges in the magazine. If it is a single-shot, I will carry it empty with a round quickly accessable.

I don't trust safeties. So when carrying a rifle with a round in the chamber and the safety on (or on half-cock), I have to be able to absolutely contro where the muzzle is pointing at all times! If the going gets so rough that I can't do this, I empty the chamber! A deer, elk, moose ot bear is not important enough to risk anyone's safety!