Who packs a handgun while hunting? Or leaves one in the tent/camp? What caliber, barrel length do you like?

The reason I ask is because I am hunting in the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness in September. This area has a high number of grizzly and black bears. Running into a grizz while hunting doesn't concearn me. However having a bear encounter while dressing out an elk does. Everybody with blood on them, and the rifle leaning against a tree sort of thing. Also I thought that keeping a pistol in the tent...to use if you have to go to the latrine in the middle of the night might be re-assureing. Don't think that I am perranoid (sp) about bears. I just like to be prepaired.

I was thinking of a Taurus Tracker in .41 mag or .44 spl Titanium with either a 2" or 4" barrel.

I take a 357 with me for black bears and leave it in the tent when I am hunting. We have had a large bear come into our camp before, luckilly we weren't there, and we are seeing more bears and bear sign every year.

As long as i have my rifle with me I don't worry about but I do like to have it in the tent with me at night.

I usually have my 1911 in the tent or the truck, but do not carry it with me in the field (its not legal to hunt with). I carry it also when I go out of town. No bears that I need to worry about, but those big cats and the man eating ground squirrels

If you own the .41, that's fine... Not that much different from the 44 for what you are using it for.

If not then I would go with any magnum handgun that you have a preference for and are comfortable with.

Think about it this way, most people carry pistols for protection. Very rarely do they think about raw functionallity and purpose. Having the most powerful handgun in the world won't do you a damn bit of good if it doesnt fit your hand, your proficiancy level and your tolerance to recoil. You want to be damn proficient in the instance of a bear charging you.

I hunted there last year and bagged my elk. You'll learn real quik in what its like to hunt and be hunted. Lots of bear signs there and kinda down right scarey bowhunting. Some say that a gun shot is like ringing a dinner bell for an ole griz as there is always food there waiting for them, good luck, Bobby

Smith and Wesson has a good .44 or .357 that is especially light and handy if I recall. I think it's called a Mountain gun or something like that. Tarus also has some titanium models that would work well.

I always carry my Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 Mag. Some comment that it's too heavy but I carry it for the power up front.

I'm packing in bow season, but not rifle season. Sometimes even in bow season I'll leave it at home in no-grizzly/no-range bull country. I hate range bulls.

I hunted that area growing up and I would advise packing 357 mag minimum. Your most likly get into trouble in the night. Just remember w/ a six shooter only put 5 in the bear, save one for yourself. The best thing is to sleep 50yds plus from ANY food. Dont even bring a fanny pack w/ granola in it into your tent.

Forgot to say.. I got a 335BC 6x6 out of there one year so the area can be good. Good luck.