Depends on hunting style, as you stated. On my high country hunts here in Wyoming, on a hillside glassing for elk/deer, or open plain pronghorn hunts, empty chamber with magazine in/loaded, however my 44 revolver or 10mm glock sidearm is always ready to go if I hunt in bear/wolf country, anywhere in the mountains. Pretty much if I am moving in the mountains with my rifle in my hands, chamber is loaded saftey on, again, I'm often in bear/wolf country, and I would rather have one shot from my rifle to try to stop one than maybe two or three from my handgun. If I'm packing in, rifle strapped on my back, of course empty chamber, but I always have a loaded sidearm. If I have new youth hunters with me, I generally have them do the same that I do, and I'm just always conscious of trigger finger and mizzle orientation with newer hunters. The reason I have them loaded, again, is not to make a quick shot on a game animal, but to protect themself from a ****ed off bear.
