I do sometimes. I just carry it in my hands. If I'm backpacking in, I strap it to my backpack but for hunting, I just carry it. When it gets cumbersome is if you end up packing meat up the steeps, plus your regular gear, a heavy rifle can get a little miserable. It's not to bad if your arm is in shape. Gripping a 10+ lb. anything all day for days on end is not a normal thing. Just like getting your legs in shape, you won't regret giving those arm muscles a little advance preparation.