As soon as I get into deer country, I have a round up the spout and the safety on. If I need a hand or hands free, I carry my rifle the way you describe. Mostly, I use a cradle carry since my experience has been that the less motion involved in getting your rifle into shooting position, the better. My old Ruger has the tang safety so there's no fear of it hanging up on anything and going into battery. My Lee Enfield, SKS, and Swedish Mauser all have safeties that need positive motion to engage/disengage so again, there's no fear that they'll hang up on clothing or bush and get to firing position without my direct action. Bear in mind that's just one mans opinion.