My gun cabinet is with-in reach of my bed.
I have had to grab a gun in the middle of the night more than once over the years.
It has always been in defense of the farm animals. Almost always the chickens.
My choice is always the 20 gauge shotgun. I have a mag-light right beside it.
I have been known to grab the 22 revolver with it, depending on what I think the treat might be.
Mostly its a racoon or opossum, but stray dogs are too not good to pass up a free midnight snack.
The pistol is handy if I catch them in the hen house, less chance of collateral damage that way.
Dogs can be the worst, most are not afraid of you, and you will have to kill them.
Coyotes are more skid-ish, if you can just get a shot off at them, they are done.
We have seen a big raise in the number of coyotes in the last few years. I'm not sure how easy they would scare in a large pack.
They are one reason I always carry in the woods, my little dog is almost always with me.
Our property is surrounded by woods, and we adjoin a large state owned track of forest.
Last year they found an abandoned meth lab in a tent. And there have been several weed busts over the years.
These are the other reasons I carry in the woods. When I am in the woods or around the "farm" I open carry.