Hiking with handguns

[Overload]

There's been a topic here from last year about camping handguns, but my question is different.

What style of holster works well while hiking?  I'm sure the gun makes a bit of difference, but I would guess that a drop leg (hip) , ankle or inside waistband holsters would be poor choices.  Would they?
What about shoulder holsters?  I figure if you a long handgun (6"+ barrel) you're more limited, but if I'm hunting or hiking and want a backup handgun it seems my choices are limited.

thoughts?

[Bic]

The more I carry, the more I like cross-draw...when 'hiking' I guess it depends upon the need for concealment as well as the weight of the pistol,
                    MP

[Overload]

I had momentarily forgotten about the Back country episode of The Best Defense.  The thread has a lot of useful information.

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=5477.10

[tombogan03884]

If you are just hiking, unencumbered your options are fairly wide open . Ankle holsters are never the best choice if only because the movements to draw are slow, complicated , telegraph your intent and leave you defenseless while looking away from the threat.
If hiking with a pack, straps of both pack and holster make shoulder rigs impractical and uncomfortable. A waist belt on the pack makes all forms of waist carry impracticable UNLESS you put the holster on the waist belt, however you then dis arm your self when you take off your pack so I would say that the best way to carry with a pack would be the hip or drop leg holster.

[twyacht]

Why mess with a good thing? Open carry with a strong side holster. If one is carrying a "hogleg", 6+ " barrel, size does matter and depending on gear and pack, a cross-draw works also, or a chest front holster rig,.

Even my G21, which is a big momma, would be just fine in a belted holster at the strong side hip.

[Sponsor]

[SS357]

The holster that I got for hiking, backpacking, etc. is a combo belt holster - works pretty well either strong side or crossdraw.  Depending on the particulars of what I'm doing/wearing, I wear it on my belt, on a wider utility belt, or on the waist strap of my backpack.

[TAB]

It really depends on what else you have with you.  If you just have a small pack( and I highly recomend you carry small pack with some basics.)  then cross draw, strong side.... is just fine.   If you have a larger pack with a waist strap, any type of carry that is around the waist is not going to work.

[MAUSERMAN]

I carry cross draw most of the time, but i also have chest rig i kind of like favor depending on my load. Drop leg has never worked well for me for some reason.

[Hazcat]

I always carry a side arm when hunting.  I usually carry on the belt strong side.  I have never had it get in the way of my rifle.  On occasion I have worn cross draw, either works for me. 

BTW the gun is either my Redhawk 5" barrel or my Blackhawk 4 5/8.

[Badgersmilk]

At least in MI, even if you have a carry permit you were only allowed to carry one gun of any kind per person in the woods (hunting or not).  I haven't looked into it here or other states though.

I got stopped and warned once (carrying a 10/22, and a Mark III in a belt holster durring squirrel season).