Snub-nosed, big-bore revolvers such as Smith & Wesson's 500 ES are no fun to shoot but are handy in bear country.

When wearing an auto pistol, I prefer a 13⁄4-inch belt, instead of the 11⁄4- or 11⁄2-inch belt I wear with my concealed-carry holsters. In leather, I like standard belt scabbards from Galco, Milt Sparks, Wild Bill and Kirkpatrick Leather Company.

I am also quite fond of Wilson Combat's P1 Practical, which is comfortable enough for extended carry and has a retention screw so I can make sure my pistol stays put. In inclement weather, I prefer Kydex holsters from Blade-Tech and Blackhawk.

I particularly like the added security of Blackhawk's SERPA lock-equipped holsters when I am climbing or riding four-wheelers. I have yet to lose a gun, but I have several friends who took off their rigs at the end of the day and discovered that their pistol was long gone.

My buddy Mike Sellitti lost his handgun in what is probably the most unusual fashion possible. A few years ago, he was burning brush piles when he heard rounds cooking off in the fire. He looked down to check his shoulder holster, which was, of course, empty. When he fished the revolver out of the ashes a few weeks later, he found his beloved Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum burned beyond salvation.

Revolvers just beg to be carried afield in classic, cowboy-style rigs like those from Thad Rybka, El Paso Saddlery and Kirkpatrick Leather. One of my favorites is Kirkpatrick's Long Hunter model, a simple, attractive rig. It is made from high quality leather and comes with a hammer thong to keep your shootin' iron in place. It also comes with a wide, comfortable gun belt with a cartridge slide.

I broke in my first Long Hunter on a horseback mountain lion hunt in Arizona. It kept my gun in place and was extremely comfortable throughout seven long, hard days in the saddle. I've been sold on this comfortable, secure rig for daily ranch wear and horseback hunting ever since.

I just ordered a similar rig from El Paso Saddlery for my Freedom Arms Model 97. The company's No. 44 Outfit is the same holster it made for John Wayne in the movie "The Shootist." The lined cowboy rig comes with a hammer thong and a 21⁄2-inch belt with cartridge loops on the back. I expect it will prove comfortable to wear while I fix feeders, mend fences, and trail deer this coming season.

Whether it is tracking wounded game, discouraging aggressive wildlife, or dispatching vermin of the two-legged variety, a handgun is the most portable and effective means of handling a problem.