Okay, perhaps I will inject my opinion here.
I am pro-gun, just to get that out of the way. Concealed or open.
A gun is a tool, a particularly deadly one, yes. But still a tool. I have guns. I have ever since it was legal for me to own them. I am a careful, conscientious (sp?) user. I cannot currently carry concealed due to the fact that my PA permit expired and I am unable to jump through Texas' hoops due to my job. I also camp.
Ever had a boar charge at you? I have. Nasty, brutish animals they are. For me to draw a handgun from concealment takes approx. 1.2 seconds. From my hip, approx. .5 seconds.
When a dangerous animal is charging you at 35 mph (their approximate running speed), they can cover a considerable distance in .7 seconds. In brush, you cannot see them until they brek concealment, roughly ten feet from you. Someone who is good at math, tell me how long it takes for an angry boar to go ten feet while I have to see it, react and draw, aim and fire. That 3/4 second suddenly becomes very long indeed. Enough to get you gored badly.
When out camping in the brush, I carry openly, including trips for food and other supplies. No one blinks here. If I were to try to conceal a large handgun in Texas heat, I would be required to completely cover the weapon, necessitating a cover garment such as a jacket or the classic photog's vest. Not a very smart thing to wear in 100+ heat. And likens one to carrying a sign reading "concealed gun here!"
Most of the discussion so far has been predicated upon the need/desire to shoot PEOPLE. Not all dangerous predators have two legs. There are several here. Coyotes, boars, mountain lions, snakes and more. They won't listen to a warning or brandishing. You either shoot them or they git you. No quarter given.
The argument that open carry in some areas is a bad idea has some merit. It is, or should be, up to the individual to exercise good judgement in choosing open or concealed. Unfortunately, not everyone chooses wisely. For example, in a quiet suburb, running to the 7-11 for a soda and bread is probably not a place to carry the old .45 openly. Going to visit grandma in North Philly for supper might be a better place to have it readily accessible. But then again, bringing the family to Luby's for supper sounds like a pretty safe thing and leave the hogleg at home, but you might be wrong.
Dead wrong.