Again, you confusion leads you astray. There is no real “need” to protect myself. There is an inherent desire to do so. Since I hunt a mix of public and private lands, its entirely possible that I will encounter both man and beast that have the potential to “inconvenience” me or take away from my enjoyment in the woods and potential try to take from me, a game animal I am in the process of recovering. The law allows me to carry a side arm, its now (thanks to some super handy work) convenient to do so, so why would I not do so? Think of it this way. Your inferring that I am afraid hence you ask, you are carrying a .357 magnum into the deer woods, what are you afraid of? I answer …………………………. Nothing (with a wink and a smile) as I run my fingers across the finely detailed leather. I can leave it at home and should there come a time when I would have a use for it, I can wish it were on my hip and search about for a stick. Or I can be easily prepared. I may never have a need for it thus far that couldn’t be handled with a big stick. I may never encounter a meth head or a dope grower in the woods, I may never see another bear or wolf or cougar in my years afield but when this level of insurance is so cheap, I have to wonder why I would not carry. Consider this side as a treestand safety harness, car seat belt, dental insurance, car maintenance, checking your tire pressure before a long road trip or any other number of easy measures one takes to maximize their continued enjoyment of their daily life. It does not mean you are afraid of anything but rather that you are a thinker and a person of preparedness. Plus, its fun to shoot when the urge strikes me and it looks really cool on my hip. I think there is more of a potential risk to my well being (both in and occurrence and severity) by not carrying a side arm while hunting than there is by not laying down a toilet paper barrier for my butt cheeks.
