How Do You Carry n the Field?

[Altjaeger]

I am not talking about carrying concealed in public, but when you hunt long gun carrying a sidearm as well for whatever reason.

I have always carried either in a day bag or or a belt holster on the rare occassions I carry a pistol at all. For me though I find holstering on my right side a nuisance. Instead I wear a right hand holster on the left side slightly low in a crossdraw position.

But truth is that especially the older I get the pistol stays in camp or the truck to destoy those ferocious coke cans and paperplates at lunch time.

[Smokey]

I always carry a handgun when long gun hunting. Normally it is a 22 caliber revolver in a right hand hip holster worn on the left side.

The only exception to that is when I hunt in very southern AZ for coues deer. I then carry a CZ P40 in a shoulder holster.

[Scout]

I tend to always carry strong side.....a regular belt holster when in the field....and an IWB holster when carrying concealed. My dang arms are too short to carry crossdraw!:D

[MOGC]

Not all that often truthfully. If I do I pack opposites, in other words if I have a centerfire rifle then I'll have a rimfire pistol and if I have a rimfire rifle then usually I'll have a centerfire handgun.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Most any time I'm out I carry cross draw on the front of my left hip. The grip rides comfortably and the muzzle is alway pointed out and in a direction that I can control. Obviously I only carry on my own property or with the permission of the property owner on places other than my own. Normally I carry a 357 mag on my place and a 22 revolver otherwise. When duck hunting (usually very warm weather during teal season and the cottonmouths are still out) I carry a 22lr revolver with snake shot.

On one notable occasion I was carrying on my right side and was confronted by a Killer Raccoon up in my deer blind. I was reaching for my pistol but couldn't find it on my left side. There are days I forget I'm wearing a pistol and there are other days when it seems like it weighs 100#. I'm glad I don't have to pack one every day everywhere I go.

Alan

[Bill Gunn]

About the only time I carry is when I'm not hunting.
If we go out setting up stands, just scouting, and sometimes fishing, I either carry a S&W 66, or a Ruger Single Six in a holster on my right, or a NAA .22 mag in my right pocket.
Ya know how they say most accidents happen close to home?
I got attacked head on by a foaming' at the mouth, rabid skunk back in the woods right across from my driveway! It died 3 feet from me from a 16ga. deer slug, and it was still coming at me full blast, snarling out it's teeth when I hit it. Rabies is fairly common around here at times.
You seldom go into the woods without a gun after that happens to you. I will freely admit that it was the most scared I EVER was in the woods, and I've been 5 feet from a large black bear with only a fishing rod in my hand!

[Bushman]

I always carried my S&W J-frame .22 on my left side, butt forward, cross-draw style as I thought that it stayed out of the way of my right handedness that way. While I've got four larger pistols, I've never made a good case for carrying any of them if I've got a rifle or a shotgun along.

[Altjaeger]

Interesting responses. Seldom do I even carry anymore and truth is if I do its likely the only firearm with me. One hunting buddy and his son always carry and they do on the right hip. I found my right hand constantly swinging against it.

I seldom see anyone carrying in the woods and when they do it is on the hip of the dominant hand. It is that much more interesting that apparently most here carry crossdraw. I find it less obtrusive, and honestly more natural to remove from the holster aided by the left hand if needed.

By the way I only have one handgun these days though I have traded around over the years. It is a Ruger Mark II .22 LR. If I got another it would likely be Ruger single six with a .22 LR for plinking and the .22 Mag shot load for snakes. Thats all I need for killer cans and plinking around the woods.