>>268204>>268210It depends where you are.
Nevada, there's some pest species you can take year round and don't even need a license. Alaska, there are some game animals that there's no closed season on (black bear being one that I can remember) although there's a limit on how many you can take.
Having said that and also generally speaking, most places that you go to camp in an organized fashion are going to be where it's generally a nice place to be with absolutely no thought towards hunting from that site.
Although taking a deer, bear, or moose does end up that if it's late and a ways away from your departure point from the woods, grilling up some of your fresh caught game is probably one of the most glorious things on this planet.
As for carrying in the woods, it all depends where I am as to what I bring. Offroading and camping, I usually bring the gamut because we end up target shooting for S&G's. 870, and both pictured. Hunting on ATV or foot, both pictured. Simply camping in an organized campground? The handgun.
It's better to have than not need, although situational awareness has gone rather far in my lifetime towards limiting the necessity of deployment of my pistol, thankfully. A couple situations, someone who wasn't as attentive to human behavior and surroundings probably would have had to make use of it or otherwise become a victim.
