[LibTeeth]

Yes, it's not against the law in AZ to carry a sidearm for self-defense while hunting (don't know about our more socialist Nordic states). Many hunters in southern Arizona carry pistols because of all the border crossing drug smugglers and other invaders. It's not uncommon for Border Patrol to stop hunters and ask for intel or for hunters to report suspicious activity or stumble across unmanned drop sites. I imagine any decent caliber handgun with hollow points would be effective medicine for a pigrat that is right on top of you. In close quarters a handgun can definitely be a lot "handier". Happy trails...

[hiredhand]

Yes, it's not against the law in AZ to carry a sidearm for self-defense while hunting (don't know about our more socialist Nordic states). Many hunters in southern Arizona carry pistols because of all the border crossing drug smugglers and other invaders. It's not uncommon for Border Patrol to stop hunters and ask for intel or for hunters to report suspicious activity or stumble across unmanned drop sites. I imagine any decent caliber handgun with hollow points would be effective medicine for a pigrat that is right on top of you. In close quarters a handgun can definitely be a lot "handier". Happy trails...

I was going to suggest a good hangun for Javelina!...just in case. We used to hunt in an area where wild (feral) dogs were a PROBLEM. We carried handguns there (VA), and were glad we did once or twice!