What sidearm do you carry when hunting?

[The Heretic]

The first handgun I carried was a High Standard Sentinel:



Then the last time I went hunting, which was about a decade ago, I carried a CA Bulldog in .44 Special.

I don't hunt anymore - I can't walk as much as it would require - but if I did, I would carry my S&W 329PD.

 

[salmonriverjohn]

High standards were and are an excellent firearm, not to be confused with high point here ladies and gentlemen.

 

[The Heretic]

Wolves are the only animal on earth that kills for fun, other than people.

Dogs, especially feral or loose dogs running in a pack, kill a lot more wildlife and attack a lot more humans than wolves ever have.

I have never seen a wolf kill for fun - dogs, yes.

I have had dogs try to attack me - never been approached by wolves, bears, cougars or coyotes - even though they are all around and probably on my property from time to time.

 

[YukonPedro]

Glock 21. Plenty of knockdown power, and it holds 13+1 rounds of .45 ACP

 

[jjackffrost]

Uberti 45 Long Colt Single Action Revolver

 

[Mbeef61]

Colt trooper MKIII .357 revolver

 

[Joe13]

Wolves are the only animal on earth that kills for fun, other than people.

I carry a G34/17, but I will probably be buying a G20 to take over that spot this year.
It amazes me you guys that don't carry a back up in the woods. Even if I go on a day hime a pack. Not for the cougars, wolves, badgers, etc it's a the two legged beast that roam among us

Dolphins also kill for entertainment... Never heard that about wolves though.

+1 for a .357 mag.

 

[rdb241]

I have never seen a wolf kill for fun - dogs, yes.

Where do you think domestic or ferral dogs got there instinct? Wolves were around well before any dog. Yes wolves kill for fun. They, most of the time, leave almost all of the carcus they just killed. Then move on. Very rarely do they eat the entire animal.

 

[The Heretic]

Where do you think domestic or ferral dogs got there instinct? Wolves were around well before any dog. Yes wolves kill for fun. They, most of the time, leave almost all of the carcus they just killed. Then move on. Very rarely do they eat the entire animal.

I am well aware of where the instinct comes from - but dogs will kill and then leave their prey laying there, not eat it at all.

Few predators eat all of their prey - they usually leave a lot of it for scavengers. That is they way it works. But that doesn't mean they kill for fun - they kill when they need to eat. Feral and domestic dogs kill because it is fun. Domestic dogs aren't hungry - they get fed every day. Feral dogs get hungry, but they go on a killing spree and kill multiple animals.

A lot of the livestock kill that is attributed to wolves and coyotes was more likely killed by dogs.

 

[Jamie6.5]

Dogs, especially feral or loose dogs running in a pack, kill a lot more wildlife and attack a lot more humans than wolves ever have.

I have never seen a wolf kill for fun - dogs, yes.

I have had dogs try to attack me - never been approached by wolves, bears, cougars or coyotes - even though they are all around and probably on my property from time to time.

Wolves very frequently kill to teach their young how to do it. It's a matter of survival for them. Anyone that has never seen it, or the results of it, and says it doesn't happen, is naive in the extreme. Is it for fun? Not if you consider the teaching aspect. But that doesn't mean they only kill for food either.
More sheep and lambs and fawns and does and calves are killed in wolf country every year than ever gets reported by the media.
And their carcasses are often unmolested after the kill.
Cats do the same. Even house/barn cats that get fed daily, and have food available 24/7. I know, I've watched them do it multiple times. The mouse/mole/vole doesn't get eaten, it becomes a toy for the kittens.
This is one of the joys of having a barn and its living contents.

Now, as far as dogs killing livestock, yes it happens, and that's why it's legal to shoot them in Oregon if they are chasing/harassing livestock of any kind. More often than not though, the dog(s) run the animal to death. Yes there are feral dogs that do feed on livestock, but they don't last long in ranch country. Their lifespans tend to be shorter that a coyote's, and they are more of a scavenger,, like the coyote, which is only a real threat at lambing time.

Unlike the wolf that needs to teach the pups to tear the throats out of their prey after crippling it with a ripping bite to the flank or hamstring.
Too bad the ranchers in Oregon aren't allowed to treat wolves they way they're allowed to do with dogs.
See one chasing cows/calves/sheep/lambs in the pasture?
Shoot it.
It saves the livestock and teaches the wolves to train their young elsewhere.
Win-win for all concerned.

 

[Mbeef61]

From sidearm carry to wild vs domestic dog ethology. Maybe start a new thread? Lol

 

[rick benjamin]

Buck 110

 

[salmonriverjohn]

Yep, back on point. Again I'll say .357 S&W stainless magnum. I found out the hard way that the .45 acp was lacking in a bad way when it came to a moment with a huge, angry, wounded boar blackbear. Just saying.

 

[Joe13]

With Hornady bullets (just grabbed it off their site)

.357 mag is 50% more power then .45acp

Not much of a comparison, especially with big animals.

 

[Fast Eddie]

My woods gun is an S&W 686 plus.

 

[orygun]

My woods gun is an S&W 686 plus.

Mine was a 4". Loved it. Shouldn't a sold it...

 

[swoop]

S&W 586 or Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag.

 

[Backfire]

When varminting, I often use a stainless 9-shot Taurus .22RF revolver with 4-inch barrel.

 

[Fast Eddie]

When varminting, I often use a stainless 9-shot Taurus .22RF revolver with 4-inch barrel.

My cousin has a 6" tracker that shoots .22wmr, it's a really sweet shooter. I'd love to own one.

 

[Backfire]

Fast Eddie, I had a S&W Model 48 in .22 Mag years ago, and it's one of those I should NOT have sold. A shooting colleague uses a Ruger in .22 Mag, and he's delighted with it. My .22 revolver is about the size of a J-frame Smith & Wesson and I often forget it's on my belt, but readily admit a good .22 Mag would be useful for some of the shots I take.