For whitetail deer hunting, I carry a full magazine, and a full row of cartridge loops on my buttstock, good for about 14-15rnds on hand in the field.

If I come back with more than one empty case, I either have more than one animal to drag, or I did something wrong. For big game, I haul bolt guns.

When coyote hunting, I like to load up in the morning and not have to load again all day. Having multiple animals come in on one stand, or taking a few shots at a running coyote happens enough that I prefer to be equipped to manage those situations. So for coyotes, I haul semiautos.

I don't count myself in the camp that believes that having a semiauto entices anyone to take irresponsible shots. My advantage on doubles/triples on coyote stands means that the second and third dog haven't covered extra ground while I cycle the bolt, so I have an easier shot. For coyotes, I'm going to take running shots, and I'm ok with that. For deer on a dead run, I'd pass unless I knew I had a less than ideal placement on my first shot that might mean a lingering death. Driving a car that can go 200mph doesn't make anyone break a 75mph speed limit. If someone's prone to want to speed, then sure, they'll buy a car that helps them go fast, but there's nothing about a mechanical device that makes you take more or less ethical shots. I'm actually quite critical of those that say they take ONE BULLET into the field - to me, it's just not ethical, because you have no way to dispatch a wounded animal in the event SOMETHING goes wrong and you don't get a clean one shot kill. Semiautos don't make anybody "spray and pray". That person would spray with a bolt gun too, they'd just be slower at it.

For what it's worth, the only reason I ever load 6 rounds in my big game revolvers is because it can damage your action to fire with only one round in the wheel. There's really no such thing as a follow-up shot in handgun hunting of big game, so I'd have plenty of time to reload a "finishing shot" on a downed animal. Same deal, I walk out with a full cylinder and a speedstrip in my pack, if I come back with more than one empty, I did something wrong.