Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

How many of you guys carry a handgun for safety while bow hunting? In my state it's illegal. I'm only asking because I could certainly see the benefits of being armed. There are alot of wild dogs and coyotes where we hunt. Not to mention all of the feakin meth labs scattered throughout our county. I'm not trying to start an ethical debate. I'm just wondering how many of you feel about this.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I wouldn't!

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Why would I carry a handgun for safety when I've got a bow and a quiver full of razor sharp broadheads? Not to mention I can shoot a bow better than I can a handgun.;)

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

If I was hunting dangerous game and it was legal, I would. But since I am hunting Whitetails and it's illegal in my state then no, I don't.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I wouldnt carry one for dogs or yotes my arrows do just fine but i do carry one when i hunt hogs in the off season just cause its hard to draw your bow and run. If the meth labs are that bad i would search out new hunting woods and fast.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Not legal in Pa.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

ditto. if it were legal i would but it's not where i hunt.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I do pack a handgun when hunting in MT. Normly its a 22 but if I am in some places I do pack my 41 mag. There is many reasions.

1you can bear hunt when elk hunting.

2 you can kill grouse allso :}

3 Grizz and wolves and not to skeerd of people.

4 And last and most inportant. I CAN it is legal.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Not legal in South Dakota. The only time I would carry would be if I was hunting where mt lions lurked (aka - black hills) I did carry my handgun this spring turkey hunting out there, I was using my bow as weapon of choice with my 40 S&W as Mt. Lion medicine.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Not legal in GA.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Only if I were hunting grizzly's from the ground and it were legal. Not that a handgun would help that much in a bad bear situation, they move pretty damn fast and areTOUGH.... so I hear

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I would if it were legal here. Not worried about the coyotes and dogs... they will pretty much stay away. It's those 2-legged varmits that will give you trouble.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Bet yer butt I do!
[:@]As for wild dogs....
I got tree'd last year by about 6 or so of them.
While going to my stand in a afternoon hunt I seen
3 of them heading my way,well 2 of them split the pack and went to each side of me,the leader was doing the hunt crawl while growling real low.
I drew back and hit the one in front of me and hit'em good.
Well, it was on!!
the other 2 chased me to a tree which I was lucky to get up before they got to me,then they started to tear in to the wounded dog!!!!
Before I knew it there was 3 or 4 eating!!! the dog I shot!!!![>:]
Since then ,I've carried my 9mm pistol with Mag Tec hollow points!
Also I have 4 dead dogs to date!!
however ,I had noticed the lack of game in the area where I hunt(Turkeys,rabbits, ect..)
Guess that could have been the reason:eek:,along with Bobcats,yotes,
mountain lions.
I'll be damned if I'm gonna be hunted!! By anything!!!!!!!!

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

#1 It looks like you might be # 2 in your woods.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Same here.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Illegal in MN, but...

I for sure would if I could. I have seen the same thing as #1 said, running dogs that are very bad customers to mess with.

And for those that ask why would you need to when you have a bow and anquiver fullof broadheads, well when it is dark at night or in the mornings and your going inor out, I would rather be rapping off quick shots with a pistol than trying to shoot my bow in the dark, and trying to knock another arrow while the next dog comes in.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who would prefer not to be hunted. Has anyone ever heard of coy-dogs (coyote/dog mix)? I'm not sure if they exist or not but i've heard stories of them treeing hunters in the area where I hunt. One of my hunting buddies told me that several years ago, while bowhunting, he saw 7 or 8 dogs all around his tree after the sun started to come up. He had no idea they were there. I'm a former police officer and always carried my off duty weapon while gun hunting, just in case. Tomorrow morning will be my first bow hunt and I'm drawn as to whether I should carry a handgun. I have a state concealled carry permit but I'm not sure how that applies to Bowhunting. Thanks for your replies. I wasn't sure if I was just being paranoid.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I always carry when hunting, and keep a .357mag in my truck at all times. Far as I'm concerned, its my god given right to carry protection whenever I see fit, if it wasn't legal here in Montana I would carry anyway. Animals are only part of my concern, there are a lot of freaks out here, lot of bad things to run into in the mountains.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

murley69- amen

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I do too here in VA. As long as you have a CWP in Virginia, you can carry while bowhunting. I have a small Taurus .38sp snubnose that I carry from time to time.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I agree 100% I dont leave home withoutmy 40, and luckily it is legal in Texas to bowhunt with it if you have your CHL.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Not leagle here in MO. I'm not sure on the conceal carry permit though. I went thru the course, but have'nt got the permit yet because of the $100 it takes. But I don't remember anything in the course that would permit one to carry while bowhunting. MO. huntingregs specificly states that a firearm is prohibited while hunting with a bow. Wonder if walking to and from the stand would be considered hunting?

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I would not because it is illegal in my state. I agree with Arthur P, why would I need one with a quiver full of razors.;)

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

My knife is sharp and so is my decision making.

Handgun = NO

Broadhead = YES

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I would but I'm not sure if its legal to carry during bow season! Anyone in Wi know the law on this. I looked in the book of Regs and no help!

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

It is illegal in my state.

I'm not letting any bunch of druggies, Hmongs, or other self centered jerksrun me out of any where. Public land is for use by the public and I bought a hunting license, and pay taxes, and live in this state and I am going to hunt it.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

If I am hunting dangorous game, I am going to have more than sticks and blades!!!!!!!!!

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

I used to have the philosophy that I didn't need a handgun in the back country, until this year I had a bear come in to raid the meat sacks full of elk meat. He was walking not 6 feet from the end of my sleeping bag with me in it. Sleeping bags are not condusive to shooting a bow and arrow. Wolves are becoming a bigger issue all the time here in the rockies. Though there are only a handful of documented attacks on people, I don't intend on being the next one. A handgun can be used to signal search parties if I ever get a busted leg or get stranded also. I broke down and bought a 44 magnum for my pack when I go into the back country now. It fits just right under my pillow at night and lets me sleep with the added comfort I will not become a chew toy while sleeping under the stars.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

You can carry a handgun in while bowhunting in WIbut can not be concealed. It has to be visible to all persons. I carry my Taurus .44Mag as self defense against a possible bear attack. We have had numerous bear sightings throughout the year on our property. I would never intentionally use the gun to just shoot a bear for the heck of it, but its there for cyotes, and other varmits. So yes I carry mine with me all the time. Even if im going for a nice walk in the woods.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

It is also illegal here in Michgan to carry while bowhunting. However, if you have a concealed weapons permit, then you are allowed to carry a handgun while afield. I debated this with a guy the other day.We eventually setteled it by calling the DNR office. Aslong as you have a legal CCW Permit you may carry in the field.
Never had the problem with the wild dogs and the coyotes seem to run more then anything. I did have a large black bear growl at me from 10 yards two years ago, but when he saw me move he ran as well. I then ran to the crapper.

RE: Would you carry a handgun while bow hunting?
 

Not legal in MI, but if it were I would not anyway as we do have wolves and black bears but have never had any problems with them. I have never hunted grizz country but I probably would not there either as I think I would just make a grizz madder by shooting him:D. I would carry pepper spray in grizz country though.