Self-Defense While Hunting: What Handgun Should You Carry?

[Belt Fed]

I mostly hunted with an AR, always had a 20 round mag or 30 round in it. no need for a handgun

 

[Retired Bum]

Bird hunting in Southern AZ was always fun. I never carried anything smaller than a 44 magnum on my belt, and I carried the small nine as a backup gun.

What? Why, you ask...

The illegals were parading thru Cochise cty, and West of Nogales, the illegals went to interstate 8and came the West way to Phoenix and beyond.

A hunt partner lost his transfer case and we got stuck in a canyon unable to drive out. We counted 7 groups with flashlights and I don't know how many in blackout... Az still has a couple of cases of unsolved murders of hunters, and I've never been camped that I didn't get approached by someone wanting food...

It's the Wild West out here...

 

[BarryinIN]

I haven’t hunted in a while, but in my woods wanderings it seems I’m more likely to run across someone’s “secret” marijuana patch as anything mean and furry. If it’s there, someone is protective of it.

 

[BarryinIN]

When I hunted back in the 80’s-90’s I did carry this Astra Terminator in .44mag, used Hornady 300gr XTP’s

View attachment 112837

I haven’t seen one of those in a while.

 

[Annihilator]

I haven’t seen one of those in a while.

Don’t currently own it, sold it a few years back, it was a handful though

 

[Gofer]

I’ve never carried a handgun while hunting. If I still lived in Texas or Arizona I suspect that would change.

 

[Anchorite]

I haven’t hunted in a while, but in my woods wanderings it seems I’m more likely to run across someone’s “secret” marijuana patch as anything mean and furry. If it’s there, someone is protective of it.

Or meth cooking operation.

 

[Talyn]

In my AOPS, 98.6% of the time a 10mm.

After that, a 329PD or a .357.

 

[Anchorite]

In my AOPS, 98.6% of the time a 10mm.

After that, a 329PD or a .357.

Chest holster?

 

[Talyn]

Yes, on all three.

Best way to carry when wearing a pack which I always do whether hunting or just on "walk-about" in the hills.

 

[Anchorite]

Yes, on all three.

Best way to carry when wearing a pack which I always do whether hunting or just on "walk-about" in the hills.

I have a chest pack I use. Not holster, but I drop my G22 in and have a few other items in there as well.

 

[Talyn]

I also use a chest pack for carry if I'm hiking in an area where there's lots of snowflakes and/or out-of-state "tourits" that will freak out if they see something.