Is carrying a side arm necessary?

[hogslayer]

I know it's nice to have a side arm with you when your way back in the woods solo, but is it necessary?  It's nice to have one and not need it, rather than not have one and need it. But who has had an experience while hunting that needed to use a hand gun for self defense?

[jackelope]

Many people bow hunted for many years without handguns. With that said I always have mine now that it is legal.

[grundy53]

Short answer, No. While it is definitely not "needed" most of the time I bet you you would be glad you had it if you ever found yourself in the unlikely situation that you did need it.

[rasbo]

I have never used my handgun for defense,but when calling bears out of season for practice and a rush, I have pulled it while yelling at a bear to back off,that being said the ol better to have it rule I always standby

[seth30]

I have used it once but all that was necessary was putting my hand on the but of the gun to get the person out of my bubble.  A very intense situation that I hope to never relive.

[ghosthunter]

No

But I always have one. Most think of self defense but there other reasons to carry a handgun.
Many years ago I was deer hunting steep terrains . I spotted some deer belw and moved across a rock face covered in snow.
I had rain pants on. Well I slipped and down the face towards the 10ft drop of.
My rifle went flying.
I hit the snow chute and ripped down it at Mach speed. Slamming into a tree across the chute.
My hands were cut up from the sharpe talus and I was pined under the tree.
A rock I had knocked loose in the fall was bouncing down the chute towards me.
I managed to wiggle to the side and let it go by.
The only thing I had was my handgun strapped in the holster on my hip.
I fired three shots and my partner was able to locate me and help me off the mountain.
Carry a handgun. It's worth the weight.

[MLBowhunting]

Sets what happened?

[TommyH]

I called two cougars in last year elk hunting, I had my pistol so I was not to worried(well  ) less worried than the year before that when I had a cougar at 50 yards, and my bow strapped to my backpack, and it was the one day I didn't pack my pistol !  It's good to have, you never know what may happen.   

[JJB11B]

I feel naked without a sidearm so...I always have one...I never have to worry about it. I do change what firearm I am packing depending on where I go....

[longwalker]

Haven't carried one hunting in years and I've never carried one bow hunting. I spend the season packed into the wilderness solo. Two weeks , no people, no gun. Never do I sleep better

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

yes it is.. 100% , my wife had a huge tom follow here in the dark 2 years ago after she had shot a elk.... we took 2 shots at it.... it just looked at us and continued to walk w us step for step......  you better have one on you in Northern Idaho as well... unless you enjoy being near packs of wolves with just a bow. 

[RadSav]

Many people bow hunted for many years without handguns. With that said I always have mine now that it is legal.

We hunted for decades with no pistol and avoided any trouble.  Never felt as though I was ever in any self protection danger while bowhunting.

But - I believe things have changed.  We now have wolves again, we don't have room or money to keep people in jail that should be in jail, Facebook has brought animal rights whackadoodles together and some post bounties on hunters head, it seems as though we have more hot head pho-military morons, and our fast food/entitlement society has brought a whole new level of greed combined with a whole new disregard for self control.

Today I still feel safer in the woods without a gun than I do going to the grocery store.  And statically I believe we are.  But, why not carry if you got it?  My luck is 80% bad and 15% indifferent so I'm bound to find trouble at some point in life   When that happens Id rather go down with a fight!

[turkeyfeather]

I think of it as insurance. I may not ever need it and it may be a little bit of a pain but the day may come that I am glad I have it.

[mfswallace]

I have never used my handgun for defense,but when calling bears out of season for practice and a rush, I have pulled it while yelling at a bear to back off,that being said the ol better to have it rule I always standby

No indictment on this "practice" but if you had to use it and killed a bear I wonder if it is considered poaching

Any leo's care to shed some light to this kind of a scenario?

[rasbo]

I have never used my handgun for defense,but when calling bears out of season for practice and a rush, I have pulled it while yelling at a bear to back off,that being said the ol better to have it rule I always standby

No indictment on this "practice" but if you had to use it and killed a bear I wonder if it is considered poaching

Any leo's care to shed some light to this kind of a scenario?

I cant do it anymore but Im sure I would be in trouble if I did shoot one toying with them,I have found that growling at them is bad juju lol I might add if I did get in trouble in that situation I would expect a ticket......