Woods guns mean different things to different people. I've seen guys carry heavy 500 magnum revolvers in the woods where the bear are under 200 lbs.
For others a small 22 caliber revolver or pistol for plinking is enough.
Yep. Good point of clarification. The requirements of a “woods gun” are going to vary depending on the person, the activity in the woods, and the locale.
I’m a fan of the Desert Eagle (I currently own three of them), but it would not be my first choice for hiking around. The weight issue has been discussed already, and I will add that they can be carried comfortably. Something like a chest rig that spreads out the weight can make a world of difference. There are also aluminum framed “lightweight” models that, while still hefty, are significantly lighter than the steel framed models.
But if carrying for protection against critters or people, it is possible one may need to draw and shoot one-handed, as the other hand may be occupied, fending off a critter with teeth. If you carry the DE with an empty chamber, you need both hands free to cycle the big slide. If you carry cocked & locked, you need to have double-jointed ape-like thumbs to actually disengage the safety. One could carry with he hammer down on a live chamber (not recommended) but thumbing back the hammer is even less ergonomic than disengaging the safety.
For the record, I often hike with a suppressed .22 pistol. I can plink without alarming others in the area, and it’s just right in the event I get attacked by a drug-crazed squirrel.
The last time I hiked in “bear country”, I carried a Colt 10mm. It’s a good balance between size, weight, power, shootability, and concealability.