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

[Talyn]

Hunters spend a great deal of time outside, often in isolated, remote places. The game we pursue tends to be in the wilder parts of our world, and when we enter those areas, there is some risk involved, where we are often not the only predators. A rifle is a pretty good tool to confront a threat, but what if you’re hunting with a bow or a rimfire?

The noise of a running creek can allow you to unknowingly get dangerously close to some animals. Let’s go over the reasons a person might want additional self-defense tools when hunting or even fishing.

https://www.guns.com/news/2026/03/05/self-defense-while-hunting

 

[Onewolf426]

A BFHG.

 

[Faulkner]

I've been hunting for over 30 years and it's rare that I carry anything as a sidearm other than a .22LR handgun.

 

[Talyn]

In my area it's prudent to carry something potent in addition to bear spray.

 

[Onewolf426]

The type of wildlife in the area should dictate what size sidearm is necessary.

 

[UC_Guy 1971]

When I hunt I always bring a handgun/ammo combo that would be legal to take game. I don’t want to get jammed up over anything.

This has been a Taurus Tracker 627 (4" .357 mag). However, my next hunt I plan to carry either my Glock 20 or M&P40 1.0.

 

[Jester560]

If in woods scouting or just for fun, I carry a Springfield XDm10 4.5 OSP loaded with 200gr coated at over 1200fps.

If hunting deer, I carry either said 10mm or my 454 Casull with 300gr jhp at 1500fps.


If turkey hunting, I carry the 10mm.

 

[Anchorite]

I believe mission and environment dictates one’s load out.

I’m on the northern fringe of the Gulf of America. For me, my SP101 with 180s fills that role nicely.

Were I anywhere else east of the Rockies I’d take my 3 screw 41M.
West of the Rockies (and North) I’ll pack a snubby 44.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

Assuming Im hunting four legged animals (not two legged), Id opt for my 7 1/2" Freedom Arms (SA) 454 Casull in a crossdraw flap holster. It carries well, and will stop anything in N America. If Im humping a lot of gear, I might opt for my 5" version, still in a crossdraw. The sorter barrel doesnt change the weight very much bit it "feels" smaller.

TWO legged prey require a different load out

 

[HayesGreener]

My eldest son is a serious hunter. When he was living in Alaska he was bear hunting in a tree stand overlooking a bait station. After a while not much was happening so he climbed down to make adjustments to the bait station. He leaned his .300 Winmag against the tree while he was working. Of course that's when the bear showed up in the clearing. Fortunstely he had his 10mm pistol on him. I had replaced the barrel on his Glock with a land and groove rifled barrel. He carried hard cast bullets in his 10mm. Mrs Greener was visiting at the time. They ate the bear and the hide hangs on the wall in his house in Virginia.

Like the old saying goes, some days you eat the bear, and some dsys the bear eats you.

 

[HayesGreener]

I had planned to go hunting in Alaska with my son and equipped myself with a .338 Winmag rifle and this 10mm Sig. He moved so the hunt never happened but I still have the Sig, which I have used to great effect dispatching feral hogs in traps.

 

[ECS686]

When I hunted in bear country in Montana or my property here for Indiana white tales I carried a S&W 686 357 with some variety of 158 grain pills

Some peolme put way to much thought process anything from 9mm through 44 or 45 don’t you will probably be ok!

But if you want an excuse to buy anither gun that’s cool too!

 

[HayesGreener]

When I hunted in bear country in Montana or my property here for Indiana white tales I carried a S&W 686 357 with some variety of 158 grain pills

Some peolme put way to much thought process anything from 9mm through 44 or 45 don’t you will probably be ok!

But if you want an excuse to buy anither gun that’s cool too!

But of course! Forumites, you are hereby enabled!

 

[835mag]

In my state which is a straight wall state when deer hunting, if carrying a handgun it must meet the handgun rules for deer hunting. Minimum 4” barrel and .357 cal or larger. So if I carry my hellcat inside my waist band for defense purposes and carry my 350 legend to hunt, I could be citied for carrying a gun that doesn’t meet hunting requirements even if I have no plans of using it to take a deer with. DNR’s can come up with some stupid rules.

 

[Bear007]

Never use to carry a sidearm while hunting. But after being charged by a bear while hunting by myself on an unusually warm and quiet day in the woods, while sitting behind a few downed trees.

I never heard the bear coming but saw him when he was about 20 yards away coming fast on my rightside, my totally deaf ear side. I quickly spun towards him, pulled my rifle up and safety off. He, or she lol, was now 10 yards away and still coming fast. As I jumped to my feet and pointed the barrel down at the bear's head, the bear finally realized what I was. It spun just as fast and with all 4 paws covered me with leaves, twigs and dirt clawing at the ground his very best to get away from me as fast and as far as he or she could.

After the scare was over ... I think the bear saw my orange, didn't know what it was, and was just coming over to investigate or play.

With my poor hearing I now carry a Taurus mat black 6" .357 mag in a chest holster and sit in a treestand ... for those times when I'm not in the stand and lean the rifle against a tree for a moment or 2. Yea, I know a bear can climb a tree but I will definitely have much much more time to react.

For 4-5 years my trailcam was capturing bear pictures all around my stand. 2 years ago caught a momma bear with 3 cubs that were almost as big as she was. I definitely don't want to get between them because a little bear spray I don't believe will stop momma from aggressively protecting her babies.

In PA you can not use any semi-auto rifle or handgun while hunting big game, so revolver it is.

 

[Annihilator]

My eldest son is a serious hunter. When he was living in Alaska he was bear hunting in a tree stand overlooking a bait station. After a while not much was happening so he climbed down to make adjustments to the bait station. He leaned his .300 Winmag against the tree while he was working. Of course that's when the bear showed up in the clearing. Fortunstely he had his 10mm pistol on him. I had replaced the barrel on his Glock with a land and groove rifled barrel. He carried hard cast bullets in his 10mm. Mrs Greener was visiting at the time. They ate the bear and the hide hangs on the wall in his house in Virginia.

Like the old saying goes, some days you eat the bear, and some dsys the bear eats you.

dsys…..dsys…….

 

[HayesGreener]

dsys…..dsys…….

 

[belladonna]

When we hunt up north (MN) I carry my M&P 2.0 .45. I had thought about going to 10mm but we have so much 45ACP that it doesn't make a lot of sense to introduce a new caliber into the mix. Now I'm thinking about it again.

 

[KillerFord1977]

When we hunt up north (MN) I carry my M&P 2.0 .45. I had thought about going to 10mm but we have so much 45ACP that it doesn't make a lot of sense to introduce a new caliber into the mix. Now I'm thinking about it again.

Buff Bore .45+P 255 gr HC flat nose will leave big ol holes. Just switch ammo. Its not an everyday training round, so a 1911 can handle the few rounds a year to ensure cycling, reliability.

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN

www.buffalobore.com

 

[Hertervillian]

For my purposes it’s been a Ruger SP-101 chambered in .327 Fed. I keep a few .32 longs available for grouse/bunnies. It’s light enough I’ll take it with me.

If I’m elbows deep in an animal a pistol on my hip might be nice if a lion or wolf showed up. When honest about this the 32 longs are certainly more used, and the rifle is more useful. The 327 gives me options that a 357 or 22 don’t.