hunting with a gun belt

Wearing a Gun Belt While Hunting Can Be A Great Idea

Wearing a gun belt is necessary while carrying a concealed carry gun either when one does or every day if one carries every day. But what about while hunting?

It's actually something a person should think about. If one is going to carry a backup pistol while afield, then a gun belt is absolutely necessary if one is going to be carrying on the waistband. Besides, a good strong gun belt has more uses than just holding up one's trousers, if it's stout enough.

Carrying A Mountain Gun Is The Same As A CCW Gun

why carry an extra gun while hunting

Depending on how one carries, there really isn't any difference between carrying a CCW handgun and carrying a backup mountain gun. Granted, the manner in which one carries may be drastically different as well as the type of gun that one carries.

Anyway, a lot of people carry a specific gun while afield - normally much more powerful than a CCW gun - in case of certain (predatory) critters that go on four legs and also in case of certain critters that go on two legs. The latter are generally more dangerous and certainly a lot more annoying.

Unfortunately, laws prevent blasting the creeps who leave beer cans on the side of the road and water bottles all over the woods - so you can't do that. No matter how much they deserve it.

In short, a good number of people get a good stout pistol for protection while afield, just like a CCW gun. It should be carried in the most secure, comfortable manner possible - which more or less means on the belt.

Open Carry In The Woods

most open carry in the woods

A big difference between a CCW piece and a woods gun is that most people tend to open carry their woods pistol instead of concealing it, which still requires a good gun belt.

Naturally, that also means that one should carry in a good holster - and OWB holsters tend to come into their own once there's no need to cover them up. Not that concealment is impossible; many OWB holsters are easily concealed, and a lot of them under as little as a T-shirt.

While hunting, conventional wisdom is to carry a much more powerful gun than one would normally carry. Many consider the .357 Magnum the starting point, if not the bare minimum.

A lot of people wouldn't recommend it for the brown bears, however.

That said, getting something larger than a .357 Magnum is why a lot of people see fit to get themselves something like a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum, and those are just always awesome.

Go ahead - make your day.

Just like with carrying concealed, a gun belt should be able to keep a holster from jostling, and thus a good gun belt is absolutely required, if one is to wear some big iron on their hip while afield. It would also be recommended to get a belt with a steel insert, especially if carrying a larger firearm.

Other Uses For A Gun Belt While Hunting

gun belt outdoor purposes

Let's say for a moment that you don't even wear a pistol while hunting; there are other uses for a gun belt.

Not everyone carries a backup pistol; grizzlies really aren't a problem in many states and your average deer gun will take care of a black bear. Furthermore, a lot of states prohibit performing a coup de grace on downed game with a handgun unless one is already handgun hunting.

For instance, if one were to attach a rope to it in some fashion, a stout belt will also work very well as a deer drag harness. Secure the buckle and loop around yourself - over the shoulder and under the opposite armpit like a bandolier will work in a pinch.

Likewise, an object of the right dimensions can be lashed to a frame pack.

This isn't exactly recommended, but you could use a gun belt as a strap for climbing a tree, so long as the belt is long enough to get around the tree and grip on both sides. It's unsafe as hell, and really you should have proper climbing gear before attempting to shimmy up a tree. However, it could work if one had no choice.

A stout gun belt is also useful for disciplining campmates for errant behavior. Taking the last beer, being too loud, playing the ukelele, shaving while on a hunting trip, being that guy and so on are all acceptable reasons to put someone to the lash.

Sam Hoober  

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