Can hunters use a suppressor and can a hunter carry a sidearm while Elk hunting?

Thanks,

Mel

Yes,

I am curious why you would want to carry a sidearm while elk hunting? I grew up in elk country and have never had the use of a sidearm. It is just more weight and another item to deal with. If I have a rifle in my hands I am not going to think about a sidearm if a bear or lion comes around and frankly they aren't something to worry about. In over 50 years of elk hunting I have seen 2 lions and they were both moving away as fast as they can and every bear I saw was also putting distance between me and them. If I want to hunt grouse or rabbits I'll do so with a 22 rifle and forego elk for an afternoon but when I am elk hunting a sidearm is basically worthless in my eyes. I average over 10 miles of hiking and walking every day when I am after elk and anything I can do to cut weight is important.

Kitty’s are getting worse, especially if they pass the Kitty hunting ban in a few weeks, with that said, 3 shots is still distress. Txshter and I called one in during archery season and that Tom was in zero hurry to leave. He finally walked away at the 3 or 4th “hay cat.”

I carry every where except when flying in to socialist states or DC.

I'm too old for serious backcountry stuff but I would be packing for cats and bears for sure.

I have experienced a false charge by a bear while hiking out after bowhunting and remember thinking when the bear stopped a few feet from me, I'm helpless with this bow strapped across my back. I'm not doing that again without a pistol or bear spray. But my first thought on the why question was not bear or cat defense. If I am traveling with a pistol and parked in the middle of nowhere making it easy for someone to break in and steal it, I would rather carry it with me. That would be the more common reason I would end up carrying while hunting public land.

I’ll carry a sidearm when bowhunting but not rifle hunting.

A .300 win is far worse on the other end than a .40s&w

I am co now for a mule deer hunt and seriously considered bringing my side arm but decided against it for the reasons stated above, if my long gun won’t stop a threat I doubt the side arm will help . Good luck on your hunt !

Just got back from an unfortunately premature ended Elk hunt in Colorado due to electrical issues on my truck. I did take my handgun. I do not hike with a round in the chamber of my rifle, unless I am actively maneuvering for a better shot with the target animal in sight, purely for safety reasons. So, an unexpected threat makes the rifle less convenient to use.
However, a loaded handgun is at the ready and easily accessible, and easier to wield around if need be. Additionally, it's not always the 4-legged type that are the only concern. The crazy 2-legged ones are increasingly becoming more concerning. Just my take on it.