Not sure what you call then there, but maybe carrying a pocket knife instead? Or a pitch fork. From someone that hates the thought of stabbing anything, I don't like the idea of you unarmed. This is one of the times I am thankful that in Aust though we have deadly animals, they are mostly considerably smallI am very hesitant to buy something stronger than my air-rifle.
First i am not familiar with firearms at all, i am able to identify the side that should point away from you, but that's it.
Then i became really forgetful during the last two years and one of the other things i know about firearms is that you must not forget to keep the safety on when you don't want to shoot. Forgetfulness together with firearms is a recipe to accidents.
And in that situation, robbing on the ground, cutting thorny shrubs at ground level with a chainsaw - where would i keep a firearm?