what size pistol should i carry for elk hunting?

[kalamasasquatch]

This is connected to the bivy hunting and bear issue thread i started. I have decided that i will carry a pistol during my pack in bivy hunt. What size of gun should i carry? any advice about carrying during archery season?

[shorthair15]

i carry a 40 cal glock 22. i carry one extra mag with me when im  hunting bear,elk and deer

[PlateauNDN]

I carry Glock 21 .45 with 2 extra mags. because you never know?!?!?!

[Button Nubbs]

Glock 20 10mm. It has some thump and is super accurate. (In my hand anyway)

[actionshooter]

I won't as a general rule, to much weight. I'm not going to go through all the work of cutting ounces and then add a heavy gun that in all probability has a 99.99% chance it won't be used.

 Now the caveat... This year I'm going to be elk hunting (packpack,bivy) in Montana for 14 days in an area where there are grizzly warnings. For the 1st time ever I am considering carrying either my S&W Scandium airweight .357 or bear spray.
 I'm not even sure I'll do either yet.
 

[Holg3107]

Bearspray is lighter than a pistol. On a bivy hunt where weight matters the sidearm stays at home for me. If you are dead set on packing Im partial to my ruger gp100 .357 mag. 4".

[Kowsrule30]

I never leave home or camp without my Glock 22 in 40 cal... Two extra mags in my side pocket..... If you want to keep the weight down to a min you might want to look at some small revolvers that shoot a 44 or bigger.... But my Glock and mags has never slowed me down.... And plus I like the round capacity just in case a bunch of tree huggers try to mug me.....   

[newred]

This year I'm carrying a glock 23 40 cal. A lot of people argue over.40 not being big enough but I would rather have 13 shells ready to go than 5 or 6 and the 10 mm option was to expensive.

[Sliverslinger]

FNP-40 for me. If I can't solve the problem with 13 rounds of the original Black Talons I am pretty much screwed I think.

[rtspring]

I carry a 9mm Ruger, with one clip.

My thinking on a side arm is this, Go through and look at almost all attacks or whatever on humans and you will find that most hunters drop there rifle in an attack and rarely get a shot off. Now most of us don't really know what we would really do until that attack ever comes. Grown men turn into cowards alot of the times. I want something on my hip that I can pull out very quickly and put some lead into what ever is try to get me..

Think about a cougar for example, if he is stalking you like he wants to eat you. You will have little to no time to defend yourslef with a rifle, but in the event he does get ahold of you, its nice to know a side arm is right there on your hip. then atlast maybe you have a fighting chance......

[mtndew]

I have always been partial to wheel guns. I carry my Colt Anaconda with a 4" barrel in .44 mag. Six rounds of 240 grain Black Talons.  

[akirkland]

S&W 44 MAG

[BoomWhop]

S&W 500.  But I would like to trade down to something else. 

[Recurve-Elk]

I heard 40's and 45's are both too low on energy/penetration for bear..  Of course its better than nothing, but I would rather have a .357 mag or better.  Now heres the funny part, I don't even own a handgun besides a ruger mark 3 .22.  So I carry bear spray 

I have had a bear running right at me before by the way.  I was calf calling and the guy came right at me.  I stood up and he took off like crazy.  So did I    The following season is when I started carrying bear spray...

[dlaw]

Carry the spray, its faster, lighter and more accurate. 
I know I will get someone going with that.   
That being said, I carry S&W .40