What's Your Go-To Sidearm While Hunting?

[Hillbilly Zen]

Browning buckmark for grouse, or no sidearm while hunting.  Why bother with the weight when I have a .308 or a lever gun in my hands anyway? I’m no quickdraw artist.  I can get a shouldered rifle into action and on target far faster than I can get a holstered handgun out.  I’d carry two glock 19’s but I haven’t practiced shooting sideways while jumping in awhile.  😆.   I do carry a 10mm when hiking with the kids. 

[BigGoonTuna]

  I should’ve added that I bought mine for a backup while muzzy hunting, after my cousin shot a cougar in one of the areas I pack a smoke pole around in.

 I don’t feel much need to pack a handgun while hunting modern, even my smallest deer rifle(a .250 savage) would pack a pretty nasty punch on an aggressive cat at close range, wouldn’t be afraid to use it on a black bear if I had to, either.

[konradcountry]

I'm currently between the Glock 23, Walther PPQ in .40, H&K VP40, and Sig P320 in .40. Opinions on which one of these would be the best are welcome.

All fine choices. I like Glocks for the third party market though.

I carry a compact 40 with xtreme penetrator a lot of the time unless I am bear hunting. Even the Glock 23 size is too bulky for me with the side holster. Just not my thing, I prefer to go light.

[jrebel]

Bear hunting is a 454 casull in a chest holster.  While bow hunting it is most always a ruger lcr in 357 mag on my hip.  Just in the woods for a hike....well it can be just about anything. 

[buglebrush]

My current carry is an XDM 10mm with Underwood Hardcast in an Exo-Ivory Holster right on my pack belt.  I've also carried a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag and an XD .45 Tactical for many years.  Living in the NE corner I never go out without a handgun.  Even the rare times that I'm rifle hunting I still pack a pistol.  Good luck bringing your rifle to "bear" when a Grizzly barrels out of the brush and bowls you over in the dark.  I made as much concession to reducing carrying weight, by replacing the .44 with the XD's, as I'm comfortable with.  I also shoot them better, and much faster.  Spray is a joke in many of the real life scenarios I've seen predators in.   

[mountainman]

329 PD

[Stein]

Bear hunting is a 454 casull in a chest holster.  While bow hunting it is most always a ruger lcr in 357 mag on my hip.  Just in the woods for a hike....well it can be just about anything.

The .357 I carry is the LCR as well.  That thing is a barking Chihuahua to shoot with hot loads, but man it's easy to carry.  I have switched to carrying that in town most often as well as I can carry it on the side, appendix, pocket or ankle.

[konradcountry]

Living in the NE corner I never go out without a handgun.  Even the rare times that I'm rifle hunting I still pack a pistol.

It definitely depends on where you go.

I wouldn't do the NE corner or Idaho without packing heavy.

In some areas of the west side I would prefer a high cap since you are more likely to run into a creep.