what you said
I usually carry something even if it's my little P32. I usually cut on my parents property, so I'm more worried about coyotes or a rabid animal than hunters and other 2 legged vermin.
I can completely understand carrying, you have valuable equipment with you, and you may be by yourself.
I carry because of nasty varmints that might show up. Been attacked here by a pack of wild pitbulls before. Boy was that fun...not. They were totally different from all the other dogs dumped off out here, those guys were highly aggressive. Surprised sneak thieves a coupla times lurking around getting ready to steal something, I ran them off. You never know. We get poachers, too, biggest problem there for me is they cut fences or leave the gates open, both have happened more than once. Then the cows get out, and I get a call in the middle of the night they are out in the street ot over eating some lady's flowers someplace..that is no fun either. . So far no rustlers but I would bet that is coming, boss said it happened to him before here. Basically like the poachers after deer, they'll pop one and snag off the hams and sirloins off the back, leave the rest.
As the economy worsens these problems will get more intense, either in the country or in town, and in town I have stopped one car jacking, and another time some burglar climbed in the second story window and I woke up and here is this junkie creep in the living room...stuff happens. Oh heck, then I got trapped downtown atlanta in the middle of the rodney king riots..if I wasn't for my two close personal friends, mr smith and mr wesson, this boy would most likely not be here today...
People just drive out in the country and dump their animals, so some can turn into problems or it they pack up they all can get squirrely, and other people get more desperate and decide what is yours needs to be theirs.
Ya, it can get awkward carrying, but better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it, real handy like on your person.