What and how do you carry your sidearm in the highcountry?

[TrinityAlps]

Do you where your seat belt? Has it saved your life? Mine hasn’t but i certainly wear it. My sidearm has allowed me to put bear down at another kill site as well as warn other predators away. Stalked by mtn lion multiple times provided another avenue to possibly de escalate a bad scenario. To each there own.

Exactly the first hand stories I was looking for. I think your seatbelt example is a good one to understand the relative risks. Fatal car crashes are extremely common (about 1 in 93 in the US). Bear attacks are estimated at 1 in 2.1 Million at least according to the National Parks Service. I understand that hunters are putting themselves in situations which increases the chance (ie more time spent in grizz territory, quartering game, ect), however even with hunters, death by animal attack or bite is extremely rare (8/year in US). You are far more likely to die in your vehicle in a collision with a wild animal (440/year in US) than being attacked in the woods.

 

[69Switchbacks]

Glock 43 which is small and compact. Carry it in a waist pouch that attaches to my pack.

 

[Beendare]

Does anyone here have firsthand experience where a sidearm saved their life while hunting?

I've had at least 20 Wild hogs charge me.....though I can't say I've ever heard of anyone dying from a hog charge. I know of 4 guys seriously hurt from hogs charging them...one had to be airlifted out....but no deaths.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

FN502 tucked into my bino harness. Sits well with the little Warlock suppressor sticking out. Obviously don't carry it chambered. If a wild sheep hearder gets loco I'll shoot his damn eyes out quietly with the subs.