Carrying a Side Arm During Archery Season

July 9, 2009

Question: I am going to be hunting 300 acres of private land for wild hogs in a few weeks with only my archery tackle gear. Can I carry a side arm in case of a charge by a large hog? I will be hunting with someone else but we will be in different areas and would like some protection. Is this legal? (Albert Q.)

Answer: Yes, you may carry a side arm when archery hunting for wild pigs. According to game warden Todd Tognazzini, you may carry any legal method of take and combine the methods when you are hunting pigs. It is illegal, on the other hand, to carry a firearm while hunting other big game species under the authority of an archery-only tag or during an archery-only season. And if you will be hunting in the condor range, your handgun must be loaded with non-lead ammo.