Do you carry a sidearm while hunting/fishing?

[HoLeChit]

While I tend to hunt “light”, I always carry a sidearm. This is about 1/2 of the reason why. It’s a pretty wild read for sure, and a good example as to illuminate the fact that being out in the woods isn’t a place to let our guard down entirely.

https://www.themeateater.com/conser...3JuiNTENQ-ENe22y3uJf-7aZlCNn6f1s1Omixt74f_5M8
Do you guys carry a sidearm in the woods? What do you carry and why? Have you found yourself without it, and needing it? Or a time when that sidearm was used?

I tend to carry my SW610 in 10mm while I’m hunting squirrels. It allows me the chance to take out a pig if I come across one, and is plenty effective for self defense.

when fishing, or scouting, I’ll carry my SP101 with snake shot and some self defense rounds. Funny, I find I need that snake shot more when I’m hunting, but it never seems to be there when I need it.

when I’m up in Wyoming/Colorado hiking and hunting I carry my 4.5” XDM in 10mm, in case of bears and for self defense. I like having 15+1 chances of hitting and stopping a bear in the unlikely event that I’m being charged, as opposed to my N frames 6 shots. Also, the additional shot volume would help cover up the sound of my crapping myself.

 

[thaHooligan]

I carry my Canik TP9SFX 9mm with me on all hunts. I wasn't sure if it was legal to pull it out and shoot a hog with it while bow hunting deer or not, so I usually just shoot them with the bow when I see them. lol

Surely someone here will know...

 

[TedKennedy]

I made a poor shot on a running hog and followed it into a thicket one evening. The hog was probably 200 lbs+ and standing up looking angry when I caught up to it. Fortunately it stayed still long enough for me to put another round in it (I was very close, with a scoped rifle).

Had it decided to move forward on me, I'd have never made a good hit with a scope in that distance. Always carry a pistol now.

 

[Iron sharpens Iron]

I always carry a 9mm handgun for backup. You just never know when a hog or something might roll up and want to dance.

 

[MacFromOK]

I made a poor shot on a running hog and followed it into a thicket one evening. The hog was probably 200 lbs+ and standing up looking angry when I caught up to it. Fortunately it stayed still long enough for me to put another round in it (I was very close, with a scoped rifle).

Had it decided to move forward on me, I'd have never made a good hit with a scope in that distance. Always carry a pistol now.

Had a similar close encounter with a skunk.

I was staked out late one evening near a dead bovine, hoping for a shot at a coyote. Caught a glimpse of movement beside and a little behind me. A skunk had came out of a burrow about 10-12 feet away and was ambling my direction.

I hurriedly stood up and took a hasty shot with my scoped .30-06. Actually shot right under the skunk, and it blew him about 5-6 ft up in the air. He hit the ground spraying, and never got up again, but kept spraying convulsively for several seconds until I guess he ran dry or died.

I'm a bit more cautious about "abandoned" burrows now...
___

 

[RickN]

357 was my sidearm of choice. Even when out at the gun club at night collecting brass. First 2 up snakeshot, rest +P hollow points.

 

[Okie4570]

Absolutely, and it's not for rabid animals. Hunting in the middle of nowhere and can't see my vehicle from my stands, usually can't hear anything due to the wind, so it's always interesting approaching my truck.

 

[dancer4life]

I always carry my Glock 20 (10mm) when I am in the woods.
Generally my G43X when in the boat fishing.

 

[rockchalk06]

Hunting is really no different for me than going to work. Only difference is I may carry a 45. Brick v's Baseball debate.

 

[jackary]

I normally always carry my 45 or 40 when hunting.