Glock 19/17 for open woods carry?

I switch off between my 1911 and my Glock 19 as my carry gun. I feel safe with either tucked in my waist band. I think you would be very happy with the Glock. The 19 can be a little easier to hide then the 17 but you can always use the 17 magazine in the 19.
 
A black bear with a 9, maybe, a meth head, absolutely, a feral hog, no way. 10mm would be the minimum platform I would trust for all 3 of those critters. I would consider a 357 with heavy (158 min) cast bullets stoked at high speed as an alternative, but something in at least the .4 range with a heavy, non HP bullet would be best IMHO.
 
IMHO The Glock 19 fits right in the middle of everything, as most compacts do. But you did say G19. So I think the 15+1 round capacity of a G19 loaded with FMJ's or Flat Point FMJ's would stop most bears in TN. I have carried a G17 and a G22 when carrying a badge and in the woods, they are great. But the Compact 19 and 23 perform double duty as a woods gun and offer a little more concealibility than the full size frame.
 
I carry my CZ 75 out in the woods, usually when I'm worried about hogs. A 9mm is not the first cartridge I would use just for that duty, but I have the gun and I know I can shoot it well. The only thing you listed that I would really not want to trust to a 9mm would be bear, but I'm not all that familiar with bears myself. Only ever seen a handful.
 
Bears are rare around here, I'm more concerned with 2-legged predators (not the hockey team, well, I'm concerned about them, in that I want them to win but not that they might high stick me in the woods) and maaaaybe a hog.

Anyway, I bought the 19 tonight and I'll probably buy the 20 soon enough.
 
Hunting a bear with a handgun from a stand or blind would be an easier task than stopping an attack by a bear with the same handgun and calibre, I would think.
 
I carry my G19 everytime I go into the woods. When I hunt, camp, or hike I carry that gun (open carry for hunting, usually concealed for day hikes and camping trips). If I had a larger caliber handgun I would carry it - but as it is I have only 9MM and .22 in my handgun lineup.

I live in the lower penninsula of Michigan - there are a smattering of bears and maybe a cougar or two - but really that gun is there for defense from two legged predators, not 4.

I will say this though: there was a report of a bear near where I was hunting whitetail this year. One morning as the sun rose I saw a shadow that looked distinctly bear like - and I felt pretty undergunned in a small tent blind with a crossbow and 9MM... It was just a shadow - and honestly if it had been a bear the chances of an attack are so small it probably isn't worth mentioning, but still, for about two seconds I was a tad nervous. (just a shadow though)

You should be GTG unless there are very large predators in your area. If there are... shoot that's a great excuse to but a 10MM (or a big bore revolver).
 
Hunting a bear with a handgun from a stand or blind would be an easier task than stopping an attack by a bear with the same handgun and calibre, I would think.
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Exactly.

People sometimes don't seem to get the difference between a charging, angry animal and one that is unaware of your presence.
 
that's a great excuse to but a 10MM (or a big bore revolver).
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The fact that I may happen across a bear or feral hog is not an excuse, but a justification. No different than trying to pull a 10,000 camping trailer with a Ford Pinto. I'm sure, there are folks who have done it, but I don't want to be the guy eulogized in the coffee shop with "what was he thinking".........
 
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