When I was younger and hunted closer cover, I often carried a handgun with which I shot a few close range deer. I don't often carry a handgun these days as I prefer to carry that weight in "comfort items"(snacks, thermos, extra coat). I don't feel a need to display my handgun prowess anymore and in fact, probably wouldn't hit a deer beyond contact range anyway.
One on occasion many years ago, the handgun was very useful. Opening morning of deer season I was sitting on an elevated stand overlooking some harvested cropland. Just after daylight I saw a pickup enter the field and drive through 1/4 mile of standing crop to park near where my friend was in another stand. I own the property and the crop so was fairly upset so I went to where the pickup was parked but the driver had left to hunt further into my place. New vehicle, temp plate, no ID and the doors were locked so I popped the hood and pulled the dist cap(this was back in the "old days" BTW). Couple of hours passed and the driver returned to find his pickup wouldn't start so he accosted my friend who was quite obvious in his blaze coveralls. Friend pointed out my position and the trespasser stomped through more standing crops to confront me. By the time he arrived, I had taken my 357 from it's holster and laid it in my lap, leaving my rifle propped against the side of the stand. Mr Trespasser was having a fit and even after I explained a couple of important issues to him continued to rant and threaten. Finally, he began waving his rifle around and telling me what he'd do if this happened again. At that point, I displayed the 357 and told what I was going to do right now if he didn't desist with the threats and LEAVE. He realized immediately that he had made a serious mistake in trespassing, threatening a landowner on his own property, and damaging valuable crops. I instructed him to unload his rifle, return to his vehicle, and never return. I can't say where the confrontation would have gone w/o the handgun but it seemed to be an acceptable outcome giving the 357 due credit.