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Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
There have been a few posts lately on various forums asking about carrying a side arm while hunting. As I am interested in purchasing a side arm for this reason, I thought it would be interesting to know why everyone carries while hunting. Please indicate the "primary" reason you carry a side arm while hunting.
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
And don't forget trespassers/poachers!
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
It's illegal during bow season in WY and my 7mag packs more punch than a pistol, so I don't carry one during rifle season either.
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Nope, I'm not old enough to own one yet. I prolly will once I am older.
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
well i cant carry one cuz im not old enough but i voted for why my dad carries one and i said all the above.
we also cant carry one while bowhunting here in michigan but when you have bears and coyotes around and all you got is your bow its tempting to carry one. |
RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
From experiences iv had if it was legal here I would carry. O yea hi everyone im back.
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
its basically like a condom.... better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I always carry my glock with 15+1, never know what might happen
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I'm not saying I do and I'm not saying I don't!
 But if I were in the market for a handgun to carry while bowhunting, I would choose a tool proper for the task I anticipated I would need it for. -- FLIX |
RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
2 legged people for sure. Around here people will kill ya for a deer
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
If you can't hit them with a rifle, a pistol won't be any better.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I just need to use my fists and a pair of steel toe boots!
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I don't even own one and probably never will. I have plenty of rifles, shotguns and bows but never got into shooting a pistol. I am a deer tracker and extra weight is a real bad move especially at the end of the day when you are trying to hike back to the truck and it can be miles away. Even my deer rifles are all light weight.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Nothing really to be afraid of here in PA. When I'm out hunting, I'm pretty sure I'm the most dangerous living thing around. I guess you could get nipped by a snake, but a pistol won't help you there, b/c the damageis already done...
I'm just not a pistol guy. If I lived around wolves/grizzly/cougars, I'd change my ways. In PA, there's nothing to be afraid of except for maybe a mean dog or an angrycoon. I can take care of those situations without firing a round. People/trespassers really don't scare me. |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I'm surrounded by wolves, grizzlies, and cougars, and I can tell you now I'd much rather have a defender shotgun or my hunting rifle by my side. The only time you have to worry about the bears, other than in camp, is when you're sneaking through the timber, and most guys I know carry their rifles in their hands rather than on their shoulders for than anyways. I have seriously considered buying a defender shotgun or a snub nosed .44 for hiking around in the mountains out of hunting season, though. That is a whole different story, because we all know pepper spray only works part of the time, and its not going to even phase a bear that really wants you. Case in point, a guy here went through two cans on a bear either last year or the year before, and the bear only left after the guy's buddy showed up to help him ward the bear away. Some of my cousins have little kids, so it would be good to carry a weapon while I'm fishing with them in the mountains for mountain lions too.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I carry a light weight 38 revolver. Every now and then you need a finishing shot and I'd rather use a hand gun. There are times bringing a deer home and the general public might see the animal. Just think it looks a lot better with a small finishing hole in the animal then half the head blown away.
We have enough bad PR from the non-hunting public. |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
The primary reason I carry one is to kill deer. The last few years a T/C Contender with 30-30 barrel has taken me a few nice deer.
Although, this year I will carry it as a backup to my new Switcback XT. If they won't come any closer than 35 yards my T/C will bring them within range. By the way, we can hunt here from Aug 15 to Jan 1 with any weapon. |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I've got a handgun on me most of the time. Hunting is no different.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I really try to keep the weight down so I don't carry my sidearm often while hunting, however when fishing I always have my 357 with the first two cylinders holding snake shot. The rest are 180 gr hp's.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I don't and would only consider it if I was hunting in heavy grizzly country.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
i only use mine when trailin deer in thick cover or when im hog huntin .
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
had close encounters with mountain lions two archery seasons in a row and that made it an easy choice to get a .357 mag. and the bear population is increasing quite a bit where i hunt and at least one is a griz.
but if i run into that griz the pistol is probably gonna be more for me than the bear. |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
ORIGINAL: wyotimberghost I'm surrounded by wolves, grizzlies, and cougars, and I can tell you now I'd much rather have a defender shotgun or my hunting rifle by my side. The only time you have to worry about the bears, other than in camp, is when you're sneaking through the timber, and most guys I know carry their rifles in their hands rather than on their shoulders for than anyways. I have seriously considered buying a defender shotgun or a snub nosed .44 for hiking around in the mountains out of hunting season, though. That is a whole different story, because we all know pepper spray only works part of the time, and its not going to even phase a bear that really wants you. Case in point, a guy here went through two cans on a bear either last year or the year before, and the bear only left after the guy's buddy showed up to help him ward the bear away. Some of my cousins have little kids, so it would be good to carry a weapon while I'm fishing with them in the mountains for mountain lions too. |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Well it depends on what you call sidearm, I always carry a knife, thats good enough to scare anything away. If your a tresspasser on my land and your not scared, you should be, big knife, VERY sharp blade.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
carry a sidearm because its left over from my days in law enforcement like a credit card don't leave home without it:D
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I carry a sidearm always, hunting, fishing, driving, bathing, etc.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
ORIGINAL: Garminator ORIGINAL: wyotimberghost I'm surrounded by wolves, grizzlies, and cougars, and I can tell you now I'd much rather have a defender shotgun or my hunting rifle by my side. The only time you have to worry about the bears, other than in camp, is when you're sneaking through the timber, and most guys I know carry their rifles in their hands rather than on their shoulders for than anyways. I have seriously considered buying a defender shotgun or a snub nosed .44 for hiking around in the mountains out of hunting season, though. That is a whole different story, because we all know pepper spray only works part of the time, and its not going to even phase a bear that really wants you. Case in point, a guy here went through two cans on a bear either last year or the year before, and the bear only left after the guy's buddy showed up to help him ward the bear away. Some of my cousins have little kids, so it would be good to carry a weapon while I'm fishing with them in the mountains for mountain lions too. |
RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I carry mine just in case I run into Jimmy Hoffa
dd |
RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I had a wild hog woof at me coming out of the woods from bowhunting in the dark. Two weeks later I had a .44 mag 6 1/2 in barrel. Now I carry that while walking in the woods. That one night scared the hell out of me especially living in WI and not used to hogs.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Ever seen deliverance! I have a concealed permit so I always carry. My motto is "Rather have it and not need it ,then need it and not have it"
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Personal protection against other humans.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I watched to many western movies and found out that when you run out of bullets you can throw your sidearm at what ever you can't hit with the bullets..It's like 2 weapons in one....:D
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
ORIGINAL: smokeman I watched to many western movies and found out that when you run out of bullets you can throw your sidearm at what ever you can't hit with the bullets..It's like 2 weapons in one....:D  |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
ORIGINAL: smokeman I watched to many western movies and found out that when you run out of bullets you can throw your sidearm at what ever you can't hit with the bullets..It's like 2 weapons in one....:D |
RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
I don't carry a pistol while hunting but I wouldn't mind. It's strickly for protection. You can't shoot a rifle fast enough when it's up close and personal.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
My primary reason is that I hunt with a handgun
I like to hunt squirrels and deer with a handgun I watched to many western movies and found out that when you run out of bullets you can throw your sidearm at what ever you can't hit with the bullets..It's like 2 weapons in one.... 
And beat the snot out of what you were shooting at ;) JMHO |
RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
YEs - Jimmy might need it!
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RE: Do you carry a side arm while hunting?
Because I hunt in the highest population densityof g-bears in the lower 48 states. And I'm just not going to sit there and let one chew on me if in the very minute chance I get one irritated enough to jump on me.
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RE: Why do you carry a side arm while hunting?
ORIGINAL: smokechaser had close encounters with mountain lions two archery seasons in a row and that made it an easy choice to get a .357 mag. and the bear population is increasing quite a bit where i hunt and at least one is a griz. but if i run into that griz the pistol is probably gonna be more for me than the bear. |
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