carrying a side arm while hunting

[mcsurveyer1361]

So ive been talking with a buddy and we are not quite sure about taking a hand gun while hunting with a rifle. I know that you can legally use one to hunt if it meets the proper fps and caliber. but can you take some thing a bit smaller or slower if your primary hunting weapon is your rifle.

[275RLTW]

You will need a small game license and not on BLM land (from what DOW told me).

[mcsurveyer1361]

I meant more during elk deer season. And this wouldnt be allowed at all on BLM land?

[spqrzilla]

You will need a small game license and not on BLM land (from what DOW told me).

That answer does not make sense to me. Can you explain what your question to the DOW was and what their full answer was?

[newracer]

You can legally carry a concealed firearm while big game hunting. I have never heard of any BLM restrictions.

[spqrzilla]

I meant more during elk deer season. And this wouldnt be allowed at all on BLM land?

You can carry a handgun while hunting with a rifle. However, its sort of a silly thing to do. If you use the handgun to dispatch a wounded animal - assuming that the handgun was not a valid method of take under the regulations - you would have committed a hunting violation. And if you are in an archery or muzzleloader season, the Division is going to be very suspicious of your intentions.

So why bother with the weight? There are very few situations where the handgun is a better tool than the rifle you are already carrying.

And if you carry it concealed and don't have a permit, it becomes a problem.

That's why I recommend to people in my hunter safety class not to carry a sidearm while hunting with a rifle.

[TRnCO]

I also don't see any good reaosn to carry a sidearm during rifle season, but most of the guys that I archery hunt with do carry. I carry my LCR .38.
Two guys that I hunt with have had close encounters with mtn. lions and that's why most of us now carry.

[mcsurveyer1361]

thats why i asked i have yet to see the mtn lion but his tracks can be found.

[275RLTW]

I had a discussion with DOW a few years ago about this. As most handguns do not meet the requirements for big game, carrying them would be suspicious for hunting with an illegal weapon/method. By having a small game license, most handguns become legal for small game use.

Regarding BLM land, it is federal property and concealed carry is allowed if CC is allowed in the state however there was something in the regs (I will try to find it again) about not being able to small game hunt during big game seasons or something like that.... I'll see what I can find on that. I have both CCW and small game permits (and I don't hunt BLM) so it's never been more of an issue for me.

[ScooterCO]

The only times I have carried while hunting big game was open carry.
The reason why was the lesson learned, shooting grouse with a large caliber rifle has a tendency to mess up the prize and gives false hope to your hunting partners about larger animals. They knew if they heard my 22 going off there was going to be fresh meat on the table for dinner, just not elk.