>>Maybe they were traveling to O'Hare or Midway and waiting to the last minute before they unloaded.😊

>>IMHO, dense forest terrain, climbing fences, climbing into stands or in any situation where you might fall, around groups of people - no round chambered.
>>There's always another chance at the deer.

Interesting. FWIW I've had people hunting deer with revolvers whose long barrel would make Dirty Harry envious (why would you hunt deer with a handgun? "Because you can") or using an AK47 with a custom drum mag like a Tommy Gun with 150 rounds. To hunt deer?! Seems to me that in this world there's always a queue of people wanting to win a prize for the stupidest behavior, with firearms same as anything else.

But rounds chambered? Sheesh, done it myself relying on the safety. Might have to think about that... But then I've also hunted Captain Cooker pigs in NZ's remote Northern forests (bush) with knives and dogs, so maybe I'm in that queue hoping for the prize. ;-)