Why do you carry a sidearm while hunting?

[yorketransport]

The thread about what do carry as a sidearm got me wondering why do some of you carry a sidearm?

I've never carried one for self defense, for me it was always an alternative weapon for targets of opportunity. Maybe I'm carrying a large caliber rifle and want something smaller for critters like rabbits or porcupines. Other times I'm carrying a smaller caliber rifle while out for coyotes and I might want something bigger in case I have a chance at a bear.

[jdb]

When recreating self defense is really pretty low on the reason I carry an handgun. Mostly it's because I like to shoot stuff, sometimes that stuff is vermin sometimes it's rocks, or cans. Like York if I have a big rifle I probably have a small caliber handgun and vice versa.

[buglebrush]

In the NE corner and North Idaho I carry 100% for self defense.  I have a plethora of predators including many Grizzlies on my game cameras.  I have also had some hair raising encounters and killed predators with my sidearm.

[Sutherland]

💯 percent self defense. Out in the woods a lot archery  hunting. Got to have something for my safety as I do a ton oh hiking in and out while it's dark to get to my locations where I spend the day or sleep over in the high country.

[KFhunter]

Only once did I wish I had it when I didn't, and I don't ever intend to have that happen again.

[fly-by]

When predator calling I've had animals appear well inside optimal range for a scoped rifle but perfect for a handgun. 

[WapitiTalk1]

Only when going back to a kill for subsequent loads in grizz country; too cumbersome when just hunting.

[bornhunter]

Not just while hunting. All day, everyday. Rather have it and not need it, you know the rest.

[SGTDuffman]

Mostly for 2 legged predators, but after an uncomfortable situation with a bear and only a bow, I decided something that kills a little faster than an arrow would be good.

[MADMAX]

Why ?
Because I can

[bearpaw]

I never used to carry a sidearm most of the time, except I did when hunting cougar and bear, now that there are so many predators I carry far more often. One of my neighbors was attacked by a wolf that stalked him for quite a ways, he shot it in mid air leaping at him, confirmed by WDFW, but almost no media about it.

[ghosthunter]

Back in the 70s hunting we had cb radios but they were big and bulky. We all carried handguns to single to each other. We had differnt shot codes to say we had a animal down, to get  picked up. Or call for help.
Now days I carry in case of a fall.

In the 80s I took a bad fall off a slippery slope rock face. My rifle  ended up some where else but I still had the handgun to hep my buddy locate me and help me off the mountain.

Since than I am never without a handgun.

[BigGoonTuna]

Got mine after a cousin of mine had a run in with a cougar guarding a kill in one of the areas we hunt. Nice to have a back up when hunting muzzleloader season, and a lot more convenient than packing a rifle while berry picking.

Like I said in the other thread, I don’t usually bother packing while rifle hunting, but I have been thinking about getting a nice .22 to carry along for targets of opportunity.

[Oh Mah]

I carry because most predators like cougar try to get you from behind,If i get jumped on from behind by 2 or 4 legged predators the rifle wont be of much good.If i'm fighting something off while on my back on the ground i want to be able to fit that handgun into the scenario some how. 

[dreadi]

For my personal protection.