Carrying a handgun while archery hunting

[2MANY]

Cougar always make me feel unsafe so I always play it safe and wear a condom.

[sticky]

I don't care much for the idea of carving on a freshly tagged buck without my pistol at my side. Too many hungry predators out there that would love to have a meal of venison & human.

[Fl0und3rz]

My brother had a couple of dudes in a pickup case his campsite at around 3am.  The sum of their behavior could hardly be anything other than that.

If you're going to carry ever, why wouldn't you carry in the woods where there are sparse authorities and witnesses that might otherwise deter untoward behavior?

[getreal711]

And didnt the WDFW just add to the regs allowing a sidearm during archery or ML season for personal protection( even during modern) . Cannot be used to dispatch game but for self defense. I have been doing it for years its just now being made legal.

[addicted2hunting]

I rarely go anywhere without a pistol. hunting or not. I'd like to see you get into a situation with an armed man with just a bow... Don't bring a bow to a gun fight my friend.

[270Flat]

Last season was the first archery season I hunted for deer. As it turned out I had a run in with a big black bear with another member on here. Neither of us were carrying anything to stop him from charging if he wanted too. Needless to say I have fitted myself with a sidearm for this season. I will be in the woods without my rifle this year as I made the full switch to archery for both deer and elk.

[de0827]

To SteveMiller - you asked 2 questions. First about my post last July stating it was going to be my first year archery hunting. That is correct, but I decided to not archery hunt last year because I hadn't practiced much & wasn't confident in my abilities. I went rifle hunting again instead. However, I committed to my son we would archery this year, so I have been shooting consistently most weeks since January.
Second, you got my name correct, but I have never been an attorney & never plan to.

Just curious why you are asking?

Thanks everyone for all the posts - much appreciated!

[stevemiller]

Good choice waiting until you were confident.as for #2 if your not him well your not him.(its not a bad thing).

[OOptics]

This is my first year archery hunting (I have hunted with a rifle for 30+ years), and I'm thinking about buying a handgun to have while hunting.  I am curious how many of you do this or don't, and why. 
Thanks.

This will be my first year carrying a pistol while bow hunting.  I think it was against regulations before but a year or two ago they finally made it legal.  My thing is that you never know what you will run into when out in the woods (especially by yourself like I often am).  In my opinion it is better to be prepared for anything.  If needed you can get a shot off a lot quicker with a pistol than you can with your bow for protection.  Plus a pistol will supply stopping power when we all know bows don't.  It is important to note that if you shoot an animal with a bow, you cannot "finish" it off with a pistol.  You must use your legal hunting weapon.  But I would say it is smart to carry a pistol with you while bow hunting.  Just my opinion.

[Jellymon]

A few years ago it said specifically that you couldn't carry for archery or muzzleloader in the regs. A couple years ago when they changed it, the sentence saying you could carry for personal protection was in red, meaning it was a new rule.

Someone last year sent a letter to wdfw  asking if you could shoot grouse with your handgun archery hunting. The response from the wdfw was no. So if isn't legal for grouse its not legal for cougars or bears either.

It's in the first paragraph of the archery rules.  Lol

1 Rules pertaining to all archery hunting seasons:
a It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery, big game hunting season

[CedarPants]

Page 57 Steve:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CDsQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwdfw.wa.gov%2Fpublications%2F00468%2Fwdfw00468.pdf&ei=Tu3lUf34HonkiALcsIGoCw&usg=AFQjCNEDt6NqxI__O33dyZ38ysUYdjDciA

[Smossy]

Alot of you know my background and this is a serious question as to Ill only be archery hunting and this in fact will also be y first year out, hunting period... If you were in my shoes, unable to handle a sidear what would you do? I just want to hear what others have to say about it.

[buckfvr]

Id not give it another thought..........enjoy your hunt.

[CedarPants]

Page 58 for the 2008 season, when it specifically stated you couldn't carry any firearm while archery hunting

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00469/wdfw00469.pdf

[stevemiller]

Alot of you know my background and this is a serious question as to Ill only be archery hunting and this in fact will also be y first year out, hunting period... If you were in my shoes, unable to handle a sidear what would you do? I just want to hear what others have to say about it.

Just go with a hunting buddy(your girl) she can carry and watch your back