carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

who does this? especially if its bow hunting.i just hate the idea of being out in the wilderness with just a bow or something. im not sure if its predators, such as bears, bobcats, whatever, that frighten me, or just the possibility of a crazy person taking his craziness out on me while im all alone hunting, like things that have been seen on the news all the time. i just hate to be in a situation where i cant defend myself. i know carrying is illegal, unless its on private land (i think) but does anyone have an opinion on this? does anyone get a little shook up when they hunt alone with just a bow

im hunting greenridge this year, and if i do use a bow, it just sort of scares me to be out there without some sort of better protection, especially out there where black bears are frequent, or where drunk a** people can get a little crazy. i will not break the law if i go there, because i dont want to do that, but it does scare me. and i dont want to have to carry a shotgun plus my bow. what do you guys use for protection against the unknown while hunting, especially alone. sorry for long post, thanks

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I do, and I'm legal in Mich. with my CPL..

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

It is legal here in Indiana and I do it. Just bought a new S&W 442 which will be the one I carry this year.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I also carry in Michigan. I carry when I'm bow hunting and rifle hunting.

Tom

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

finally legal here in PA and i carried many days this season...

first year ever bowhunting, first DAY, a guy came running through the woods in the dark screaming his head off ready to fight tellin me that i was in his spot blah blah etc...seriously wanting to duke it out over a hunting spot....im already at the top of the tree settled in waitin on daylight...me being the laid back easy goin nice guy that i am figured whatever, i'll leave...dont wanna tick off landowners or get in a fight over somethin dumb like that...i did make it out without an issue...sent the buddy in who farms the land...he drove his tractor pretty much upto the guys stand and told him what the deal was...he did have permission from the adjacent land owner...permission to park where he did and walk through the fields but not to be in the woods he was in...buddy farms those fields....buddy didnt throw him out or tell him not to come back, but gave him a few of his thoughts...he hasnt been back since....

but that was scary bein in the woods in the dark and having a guy screamin n yellin ready to fight....

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I do not know where you are from or the laws in your jurisdiction. You may want to check to see if there is a legal way to carry during hunting season while you are in the field. If a conservation officer says it is legal, ask them to show you the laws and regulations that make it legal. I can see your concern as wild animals can be very unpredictable. A bear with a cub or a moose with a calf can be very dangerous. IMO, a mountain lion can be one of the most unpredictable (always keep an eye on your backside).

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I know they just passed this in WY....was banned before last season I think.....imagine elk hunting, and running into a griz with only a bow and a can of mace....though they do say the pepper spray works better....

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I carry while bowhunting, but it's mainly for protection from the two legged idiots.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

NH is legal and I carry my Ruger .44mag ~ 10" S.S. barrel ~ Super Red hawk.
I've had two bear, on different hunts, within 25 yards of my tree stand and I never new one of them was there until climbing down.
It scared the ba-jesus out of me!
Also had a pack of 7-10 coyotes forming around me while being two miles in the woods, that's a bad feeling!

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I always carry! Bow or rifle hunting my .38 special is always on my side.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

No but I'm looking at getting a Glock 29 in 10mm for 2 legged creatures and black bear protection.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I have Bow hunted for many years (20+) ANDi HAVE BEEN PUT UP TREES) more times than I want to remember. By wild dog packs, coyotes, other SO CALLED HUNTERS?, and just that erie feeling that didn't seem right? I'm glad that Indiana finally adapted a carry permit! Unfortunately, if I hunt on federal reserve property I can not still carry which is honestly my worst fear! Maybe some day? I hope so anyway? The bottom line us bow hunters aren't going to break the law and shoot an animal with a firearm, if we are hunting with a bow. That's why we are out there to get rid of the noise and panic! I enjoy the piece and quite of bow hunting the most, but I would still like the option of protection if need be!?!
My 2 cents

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

It' legal in Ohio and I carry, either my S&W XD 40 sub-compact or my Ruger SP 101 in .357 revolver goes with me all the time, Way to many crazy people now days.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I carry a S&W .357 Magnum "just in case."

In firearms season I use it for deer when I'm just walking to my spot or something of the sort.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

Nothing is going to get you in greenridge. I promise.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

lol big country... here in maryland its illegal but im gonna be honest with ya i carry my pistol an i dont care! ive ran into 1 one many bears at 5 am not doin it again without a little more fire power.. i dont intend to shoot deer or even shoot at deer with it.. i dont like the fact that someone else it tellin me i cant defend myself... so the ethics police an go ahead an bash me but i wont change!

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I walked up on a coon with her babies one morning in the dark,was not good,she finally left.But even a coon
your not gonna come out on top,either way i was pretty lucky.Now in indiana it is legal.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

I know of no reason you couldn't carry a pistol in the hunting woods, especially if it were exposed. The permit is for carrying concealed and loaded in a vehicle. Most places you can walk around with an exposed firearm legally.

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

That reminds me when I climbed up over 20' to my tree stand and poked my head above the platform and there was a sleeping coon that woke up and as freaked out as me..all I could do is duck under the stand and hope he went up, he did.:eek:

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

a guy i know was hunting public land in northwest IN. and shot a nice buck the last couple of days of late archery and that late in the season its self checkin theres nobody working on the property well anyhow he was draggin his buck out and 3 guys approached him next thing you know these guys started beating the crap out of him and took his deer. all he could do was lay there and watch them take his things and never to be seen again.

i hunt that same place and with my new .45 all i have to say is try that crap on me and see what happens

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

Nig....African American, please. Is what I'd be saying! :D

RE: carrying handgun while bowhunting
 

if it's illegal it isn't even worth carrying because if you do use the gun you may be looking at prison time and a record. i've never had an issue, i've had a run in or two with some dip who thinks he owns all of the public hunting land himself, but it never escalated to the point where i thought i would need a gun although i thought we would go to blows. where i liveblack bears are your biggest predator and they're typically not aggressive, i've seen black bears on hikes a few times, i do keep bear mace on me when bow hunting though.