Why do you carry a sidearm while hunting?

[TheStovePipeKid]

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. 

I carry a SOG combat knife in my turkey vest as well as my side arm after a cougar ruined a day of turkey hunting a few years back. I figure same scenario, on my back and can't draw my pistol I have another option.

[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. 

I carry a SOG combat knife in my turkey vest as well as my side arm after a cougar ruined a day of turkey hunting a few years back. I figure same scenario, on my back and can't draw my pistol I have another option.

Never hurts to have a plan b or c. 

[Jellymon]

I saw this movie......   

[NorseNW]

If I may be so forward - Top 3 answers on the board:

Jellymon
Madmax
bornhunter

[hunter399]

I don't carry one.If I'm hunting I already have a firearm.
The only way I would carry a side arm is if they brought back bear baiting and I was just checking baits before season.
357 mag.

[Jpmiller]

I carry because I don't want to need it and not have it. I carry a G19 pretty much everywhere because I'm comfortable with it and shoot it well. I do have a couple of spots I carry a .22 with sub Sonic's for grouse and rabbit when I'm out in the woods but in all reality I figure the .22 and the 9mm will both get my point across in all but the most dire scenarios, four legs, two legs, or no legs.

[fishngamereaper]

Honestly because I carry all the time. The woods are no different for me.

[RB]

Why ?
Because I can

 

You beat me to it!
But seriously it is usually because I can and to be prepared for anything that may go wrong while in the outdoors vermin or other wise.

[Lincoln4]

Why would the woods be different than anywhere else?

[mountainman]

After run in's with cats and bears both, never head to the woods un armed. Around town either more and more lately.

[jasnt]

My side arm has saved me twice from a cougar attack.  Both times it was less than 5 yards away.  First time it was in thick cover where you could not have maneuvered a rifle fast enough.  I have also harvested many grouse and rabbit and coyote with my pistol.  Multipurpose I suppose but you won’t find me without it.

[Bluemoon]

I bird hunt in Grizzly country. I want something heavier than a load of #6's

[buckfvr]

I honesty think here in newa youd be a fool not to.

[Fl0und3rz]

Honestly because I carry all the time. The woods are no different for me.

That and with small children and the increased threat of pack predators.  Have you ever encountered a pack of teen girls?

[Stein]

I used to carry a .22 revolver because I had this pipe dream of shooting a grouse.  It somehow emitted a force field with a 100 yard radius that prevented any grouse from getting near me.  Surprisingly, when I added archery hunting to my bag of tricks, a $10 small game arrow had the same effect, but not a $30 hunting arrow.

Most of the time I carry a .357 for the same reason I carry it around town.