“..should have had a defensive sidearm.”
In many areas, carrying a pistol is illegal. In some places in california, for example, one can’t even carry bear spray. And that is in bear country! Insanity reigns!
A few years ago, near me, we had a bear that was not frightened of people and was hanging around peoples’ yards. Probably some jerks were feeding it. My friend warned his neighbor with kids to keep them inside. The game warden would do nothing. Wouldn’t come out, offered to send him one (1) rubber bullet.
One day, my friend got tired of the bear in his yard and shot it. Told his neighbor that his kids could come out and play again. The neighbor promptly called the police on him. Ratted him out, like a good liberal.
In swooped the game commission, fully loaded. It was all my friend could do to keep from going to jail.
In my state (OK), it is illegal to carry any firearm while afield during an archery season. This includes those with carry licenses & those carrying under “Constitutional Carry”. BTW - “afield” means to be hunting game with the designated mode of taking said game, in this case using archery equipment.
Shoot, Shovel, and Shutup