Upland Handguns?

[roy reali]

There have many threads about carrying a sidearm while big game hunting. I want to know if anyone carries a handgun when hunting for upland game?

 

[darkgael]

Upland

I do. This one:

[/IMG]

S&W 317 Ultra lite .22.
Pete

 

[Daryl]

I carry a handgun from the time I get dressed in the morning 'till I go to bed at night. No reason to not carry one if I'm upland bird hunting.

For stuff like that, I like to carry a Single Six in .32 mag, with one round of handloaded snake shot in it.

Daryl

 

[tyrajam]

Why???

I don't, because a handgun would be a distant second to a shotgun at just about anything. I would gladly take a shotgun over a handgun for self defense, for potting small game, for shooting snakes, or for anything else I can think of. They are both short range weapons (at least the way I shoot a pistol!) and I don't see a reason to put a handgun in my waist when I have a shotgun in my hands.

 

[darkgael]

?

Why???

No reason other than I like having a pistol in my pocket. It's a .22 because it's illegal for me to have anything bigger while out Upland hunting (though I wouldn't in any case.)
Pete

 

[tyrajam]

darkgael, that is one light weight looking gun! I didn't mean there's anything wrong with it, its always nice to have a backup, and its fun to plink targets of opportunity when out in the woods. I just don't feel the need to pack extra weapons when I have a shotgun in my hands.

 

[darkgael]

yep.

its fun to plink targets of opportunity when out in the woods.

Yep, ain't that the truth. Y'know, though, I've never fired that little gun while out hunting. It just goes along for the ride.
I used to have a Ruger Bearcat but it was too heavy.
Pete

 

[wyobohunter]

I just don't feel the need to pack extra weapons when I have a shotgun in my hands.

+1

 

[trooper3385]

+2. not much you can do with a handgun that you can't do with a shotgun.

 

[HiBC]

One more consideration.
Lots of times,birdhunting,there are a lot of folks afield.Some in camo.
Drawing down on a coyote and whanging one off might seem a good idea in the moment,but a handgun slug might go a long way.
If I'm 200 yds away and you don't see me,your #7 !/2s are an annoyance,but a .357 slug might kill me.
Don't mean to be preachy,just something to consider.

 

[darkgael]

yep

Lots of times,birdhunting,there are a lot of folks afield.Some in camo.

In PA, a good part of Upland season runs concurrently with deer/archery season. You are exactly correct about hunters in camo being in the woods or at the field edges. Every year, at least once, my dog finds an archer while quartering for birds. They are both surprised; though, I suppose they can hear her coming with her collar beeping.
Pete