Mountain hunting sidearm

If I’m in bear country, Glock 40 10mm either in a Gunfighters Inc kydex chest harness that sits under my bino pack, or in an Ivory Holster kydex that snaps into the molle webbing on the belt of my backpack.
 
How many of you carry a sidearm while mountain hunting? The weight seems excessive for the benefits. Seems like bear spray and then unslinging my hunting rifle would do the job. I have a Glock 20 and hunt sheep and goats in south central AK. Thanks.
I used to carry a G20, but have switched to a hellcat, it is a compromise that I’m comfortable with. It’s always on me, and I don’t ever plan on using it for defense of any kind, but it’s small, light, and always handy

I carry it most days winter steelhead fishing too, I am hoping to one day have a close encounter with a lion, and fill a tag wearing waders, a unique surf and turf situation

For that purpose it’s less about self protection and more about opportunity, there is never a downside to carrying it, so it makes sense to me.

The G20 was heavy and bulky and I found myself carrying it less and less. I may or may not change my perspective hunting in brown/grizzly, but I doubt it. I have never been concerned about the local wildlife, but I also haven’t hunted alone among brown/grizz bears
 
I used to carry a G20, but have switched to a hellcat, it is a compromise that I’m comfortable with. It’s always on me, and I don’t ever plan on using it for defense of any kind, but it’s small, light, and always handy
Yeah, I've backed off the heavy pistols in most areas too.

At first I carried my SW629 classic .44 but it's a dang boat anchor.

The G20 isn't too bad....but if I'm in Black bear country with only a chance of bumping a grizzly I take a compact 9mm. I was going to pack my Shield but it had some FTF's with the hard cast ammo I had at the time 100% so I mostly pack my G19.

It's not as compact as I would like....but the G19 is 100%, 15rds and shoots well.

I still carry the G20 in areas around Yellowstone and in Alaska but the rest of the time I prefer a compact pistol.
 
G19 or G47x with shield mags in a chest rig with 1 spare mag. It’s about rounds on target and I am so much more accurate and faster with a 9mm compared to my 10mm.


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I’m right there with it’s about about rounds on target. And a chest rig is the way to go 100% if you want the best fast access to your sidearm. But packing a spare mag into the mts??
 

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