carrying a side arm while hunting

Well I'll be damned. It used to be in there, I swear on that. This one is on me for not keeping up with it in years. You can find sites quoting 10-12-105 (2)(b) with the inclusion of the hunting clause.

I just did a quick search since I knew it was in there (apparently was instead of the more important 'is') and LexisNexis is slower than dirt. I should have known better. I'll keep looking in case it is somewhere else. Going to edit my previous post to stop the spread of probably incorrect information.

I agree with your point about legal hunting methods for large game. My hunters safety instructor, many moons ago, warned about carrying any pistol while big game hunting... might be considered improper means. Used to be legal (or unenforced) to have a pistol as a finishing round, but that is a big no-no these days. I leave the ccw gun in the hunting shack and just bring the rifle when big game hunting. For birds, I don't worry so much.

I've always carried some form of a firearm. Usually during Archery season. If I were to get hurt, such as a bad fall, I might have lost the primary weapon - the bow. The firearm is attached to me and should still be available for signaling, defense or food.

Also have run into the "mentally ill" hiker or camper a time or two, nice to have options.

Open carry here with my 45 always now, was stalked by a mt lion above gunnison, you can't swing a rifle around quick enough to drop one! And if your field dressing an elk or deer your damn straight I have onto hand!!

I often carry one while hunting for various reasons. The 22 goes with me while I'm in an area that grouse are present and 50 rounds weighs very little and can come in handy for emergencies. Heavier caliber handguns are carried while in bear country and Mountain Lion country and especially while I'm calling for Turkey or Predators. It's kind of the same principal reason that most of us carry concealed...it's not likely that we will ever need it but it's for our own peace of mind.
I'm not worried about how it might look to the DOW as they have never given me any grief and I don't give them anything to be suspicious about. It's usually a professional and courteous visit from them.

in response to OP first post....
My brother inlaw is a DOW officer and tells me you can take as many guns as you want when hunting. you can bring along any pistol or rifle too. You can take any big game animal with a side arm as long as you meet the guidlines of 4" + barrel and 550 ft lbs at 50 yds, and .22 for small game. If you kill a mountain lion or bear with a 22 or other hand gun and you do not have a tag for animal , you had better be able to prove it attacked you. You can not just shoot one because you thought it might attack you.
As far as concealed carry, it is legal to carry side arms while hunting.... there are no laws stating it is unlawfull, for all seasons
www.handgunlaw.us/states/colorado.pdf bottom page 9

•A handgun is not considered concealed if it is in the possession of a person who is in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance who is carrying it for a legal use, or the handgun is in the possession of a person who is legally engaged in hunting activities within the state.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AR-Tracker

in response to OP first post....
My brother inlaw is a DOW officer and tells me you can take as many guns as you want when hunting. you can bring along any pistol or rifle too. You can take any big game animal with a side arm as long as you meet the guidlines of 4" + barrel and 550 ft lbs at 50 yds, and .22 for small game. If you kill a mountain lion with a 22 and you do not have a tag for animal or do have one, you had better be able to prove it attacked you. You can not just shoot one because you thought it might attack you.
As far as concealed carry, it is legal to carry side arms while hunting.... there are no laws stating it is unlawfull.
www.handgunlaw.us/states/colorado.pdf bottom page 9

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So if i took down a deer or elk with my rifle and it was down but alive still, would it be a no no to give it the "coup de gras" with my 40 S&W?

If it meets the requirements of legal ballistics of round used and barrel length you could put one in the heart even without a rifle. so for the final finish it would have to meet the guidelines. The legal hunting methods are on page 12 # 7 in big game booklet.... I have shot deer with my 357 revolver perfectly legal with rounds I was using.

note to archery, muzzle hunters... rifle and handgun use is not permited to hunt or take animals with. make your shots count with a bow.

A .357 Magnum usually is not a legal method of take for big game in Colorado. It takes a very long barrel and pretty hot loads to make the legal requirements. Last time I looked only Corbon loaded the .357 Magnum with published ballistics in an 8" bbl that were legal.

I still think its silly to carry a sidearm when rifle hunting. It takes a bunch of mental contortions to create a scenario where a holstered pistol is "faster" to engage a hostile bear or lion than a rifle you've got in hand.

Yep, I've checked all of the 357 rounds I have, they all fall just short. And the regs read "As rated by the manufacturer". So I assume hot hand loads are iffy, as they cannot be rated by the manufacturer. It seems that the 44mag (maybe the 41 mag, haven't check it) is the smallest widely produced handgun that is most always legal method of take.

Also, you would have to find someone with published ballistics in the longer barrel, like the Corbon. Most rounds are rated at a single barrel length, and may be hot enough in a long bbl, but if they never get rated that way... might have to do some extra convincing to the DOW.

The .41 Magnum meets the big game requirements ballistically.