Originally Posted by
Mountain_Hunter
If 3-4 pounds makes that much of a difference then its time to get in better hiking shape or drop some other gear imo.
I'm not sure the type of places you all hunt, but I go miles into the woods and into places that most likely wont see human foot prints until I return the following year. To not take a pistol would be moronic on my part.
What if I fell down the mountain side and injured myself, forced to spend the night in the woods and possibly on the ground. What happens if you lose the long rifle during the fall? If something crazy were to happen and I had to run from someone/something I'm dropping the long rifle and covering ground while still having my pistol for protection.
Further more, if you're not taking it because you don't think you are good enough with it, then my recommendation would be to practice more.
If I'm hunting in a more populated area then I might not carry my pistol, but in the very remote areas I hunt, I actually worry if I don't have it on me.
Couldn't have said it better.