Is carrying a side arm necessary?

[christopheri]

 I bow hunt on the west side and spend 10 to 12 days Elk hunting by myself. I always have bear spray handy but have never really felt the need to carry a side arm. I may rethink that now that we have more wolves showing up on the west side.

[boneaddict]

Very rarely carry one.   I have used it on an attacking bear, but I had my camera, not my bow.   I have had multiple encounters with wolves with just my bow.   I can kill pretty fast with it if need be.  Two legged predators are worse.

[PolarBear]

I've never carried one while bowhunting (30 years).  I figure that if a situation comes up and I can't launch an arrow fast enough then it was just my time to go. I just don't want the added gear to worry about or to mess with.  Keep it simple and minimal.

[T Pearce]

If hunting archery, or just woods bumming I pack.

Modern firearm season, no. I feel the rifle is enough.

[dreamunelk]

I've never carried one while bowhunting (30 years).  I figure that if a situation comes up and I can't launch an arrow fast enough then it was just my time to go. I just don't want the added gear to worry about or to mess with.  Keep it simple and minimal.

In a close situation an arrow with a razor sharp broad can do a lot of damage real fast!

[PolarBear]

Yep

[jeffro]

Considering I carry, all day, every day,
why wouldn't I have it while hunting.
Hi cap 45 for suburbia,
4" .44 mag for wilderness.

[pianoman9701]

I always carry, everywhere I go. It's like a parachute: the first time you need and don't have it'll likely be the last time. Wolves, tweekers, zombies. Pack a sidearm.

[JJD]

Most big critters can cover 10 yds faster than most guys can draw and effectively shoot.  Probably double that if they see you first and have a head start.
I have read that a human attacker, in even reasonable shape, can cover 20 feet faster than most can draw and effectively fire.
The number one thing in a fight is the will to survive.  While you may not walk away unscathed, a handgun may scew the odds of surviving in your favor.

[turkeyfeather]

Couple years ago I was walking up a mountain in southern Arizona for the summer archery deer hunt. I had it in case I ran into drug smugglers. Boy was I surprised when the face I saw on that steep climb was a mountain lion at about 10 yards 

That'll make ya mess your shorts won't it.

Honestly I just sort of stood there frozen. The surprise kind of kept me in limbo--trigger happy as I normally fancy myself. I didn't see a mountain lion--I saw a face looking right at me. Its like when you walk up to someone and you're studying the pattern between their eyes and mouth to see if your recognize them. He was out of sight before I realized I shoulda been poppin' caps. Its one of those steep, nasty mountains that I had to go to my 'happy place' to climb up, which certainly didn't help my state of awareness.

He ran up to the top of the hill. I looked down and realized I was standing near his lunch--a buried deer that he either killed there or drug up hill and buried with grass. I do (and say) some brash things, but decided to head down the mountain after a few minutes of glassing.

Yeah I know... puss 

You held out longer than I likely would have. 

[stevemiller]

Most big critters can cover 10 yds faster than most guys can draw and effectively shoot.  Probably double that if they see you first and have a head start.
I have read that a human attacker, in even reasonable shape, can cover 20 feet faster than most can draw and effectively fire.
The number one thing in a fight is the will to survive.  While you may not walk away unscathed, a handgun may scew the odds of surviving in your favor.

This is very true,Scenario time,Your pounced on by a big cat,your rolling around fighting it off best you can,You reach to your side and pull out your side arm you Put one in it, fights over,Now are you glad you had your side arm?Very hard to defend yourself in this case with a rifle at zero range. 

[turkeyfeather]

Most big critters can cover 10 yds faster than most guys can draw and effectively shoot.  Probably double that if they see you first and have a head start.
I have read that a human attacker, in even reasonable shape, can cover 20 feet faster than most can draw and effectively fire.
The number one thing in a fight is the will to survive.  While you may not walk away unscathed, a handgun may scew the odds of surviving in your favor.

This is very true,Scenario time,Your pounced on by a big cat,your rolling around fighting it off best you can,You reach to your side and pull out your side arm you Put one in it, fights over,Now are you glad you had your side arm?Very hard to defend yourself in this case with a rifle at zero range. 

  And that is exactly why I carry even during the modern season.

[stevemiller]

Most big critters can cover 10 yds faster than most guys can draw and effectively shoot.  Probably double that if they see you first and have a head start.
I have read that a human attacker, in even reasonable shape, can cover 20 feet faster than most can draw and effectively fire.
The number one thing in a fight is the will to survive.  While you may not walk away unscathed, a handgun may scew the odds of surviving in your favor.

This is very true,Scenario time,Your pounced on by a big cat,your rolling around fighting it off best you can,You reach to your side and pull out your side arm you Put one in it, fights over,Now are you glad you had your side arm?Very hard to defend yourself in this case with a rifle at zero range. 

  And that is exactly why I carry even during the modern season.

This is the main reason I carry as well,Whether Im hunting or just walking around with the kids.This and BIGFOOT that is.Ive heard that he fears handguns more than rifles. 

[turkeyfeather]

Most big critters can cover 10 yds faster than most guys can draw and effectively shoot.  Probably double that if they see you first and have a head start.
I have read that a human attacker, in even reasonable shape, can cover 20 feet faster than most can draw and effectively fire.
The number one thing in a fight is the will to survive.  While you may not walk away unscathed, a handgun may scew the odds of surviving in your favor.

This is very true,Scenario time,Your pounced on by a big cat,your rolling around fighting it off best you can,You reach to your side and pull out your side arm you Put one in it, fights over,Now are you glad you had your side arm?Very hard to defend yourself in this case with a rifle at zero range. 

  And that is exactly why I carry even during the modern season.

This is the main reason I carry as well,Whether Im hunting or just walking around with the kids.This and BIGFOOT that is.Ive heard that he fears handguns more than rifles. 

Now that is information you just can't get anywhere.    

[stevemiller]

Only on the Hunting Washington Forum lol.Thats right everyone you heard it here first.


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