Is handgun hunting played out?

[David Lapell]

Is Handgun Hunting Played Out? - Gun News at Guns.com

[EXNJCOP56]

David.....I think you know from my post " 29 vs Texas Hog" I'am a Handgun Hunter.To me It's about as challenging as Bow hunting...I have never hunted wild game with a .357. The 44 MAG and 45 LC have been my Caliber's ...After reading that article, my next hunt will include a .357 weapon for Deer and Coyote's and anything else that isn't tough skinned. Now I'am going to have to purchase a 6" .357 because I only own 4"ers. So now David, your post has cost me Enjoyment and "MONEY".

[Injunbro]

Played out? Not as long as I'm around.

[Bob K]

Dave, Mostly, I hunt birds ( Pheasent and Ruffed Grouse) with the occasional wabbit. Though I carry a handgun on my belt, I use a 20 Ga. shotgun for hunting. That's the way it's always been......a shotgun is for birds. I don't hunt deer much.....I'd never be able to drag it out! So, it doesn't make sense to kill one.

When I'm just wandering around the woods, I carry a knapsack with some survival food and stuff, and a M-10 2",
M-66 2 1/2" or a M-36 2", just in case! That is the main purpose that I have for a handgun...... along with everyday CCW. It's sort of a "last resort weapon", and a survival tool. Never really considered using it for hunting. But, with my eyes, I'd have to get a more suitable revolver (6") with a scope, if I'm ever going to hit anything! At this stage of the game, I'll just try to "Keep on....Keepin' on".....doing what I've done all my life. Bob

[phonejack]

Handgun hunters have always been on the fringe. I suspect most of todays "hunters" can't or won't put in the time to become truly skilled in shooting a handgun in the outdoors. Range shooting at highly defined targets will skill you in trigger control and sight alighment, but , skilled shooting in the ourdoors is a different animal altogether. I'm still learning.

[Triplelock]

David, your point is well taken about having two hands free, particularly in steep and brushy terrain. I have seen quite a few hunters in tree stands with bolt action scoped rifles where due to the thick vegetation it appeared to me they would have been much better served with a 44 magnum revolver. Aside from the practicality in certain circumstances, handgunning is a sport in itself and bringing it to use as a hunting weapon just expends our enjoyment of handgun shooting - what more needs to be said?
Hank

[MOONDAWG]

Not in my neck of the woods.

With the "wild hog" population gone nuts they can now be hunted year round in Florida with no limits.

So a lot of hand gun hunters are taking advantage of it.

[azmick]

[grasshopper]

I ALWAYS carry some sort of handgun out here where I live in the woods of N/E Texas. I don't carry it to "hunt", but to protect my rear end. With everything from a .22 rim fire to a .44 Magnum, I have run into and eliminated wild hogs, coyotes, rabid skunks and coons, many assorted poison snakes, and varmints of all types, shapes, and sizes. Any pistol is darn handy when you need one.

[USAMP]

Now what did that there ground squirrel ever do to you......