Open carry a Shotgun inside Big Bend Nat park?

Status
Not open for further replies.
1

1987rx7guy

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2009
Messages
84
Location
Laredo, Tx
I've got a trip to Big Bend in three weeks and since there is a population of black bear and some wild cats reported to inhabit the park so I want to see if I can pack the old 12ga in on my hike.


Thanks,


Santiago
 
Is it legal to carry a shotgun in that fashion elsewhere in Texas?
What will you do with the shotgun when you want to enter federal buildings in the Park?
 
The law is sort of vague which is why i'm asking.:( It is technically not illegal to carry a long arm in public where it is not prohibited(i.e. gov. office/P.O./polling place/airport secure zone/etc.) But one can get nipped for disturbing the peace if i'm not mistaken:cuss: . I would really like to hear from anyone that visited the park recently. As to what to do if I am entering the buildings...the only time I will do that is when we enter/leave the park. I will be participating in a 'back country' hiking/camping trip. Which will involve a tent and sleeping pretty much in the middle of nowhere :D. During the arrival/departure stage we will have access to our vehicle which will house the shotgun at those times. If it were needed for me to enter a building when I cannot put the shotty away I guess I could remove the barrel after I unload it and hold on to that, leaving the receiver in my pack. :confused:
 
I do some backpacking here in WA to some very remote places, including eight hour hikes cross-country where there are no trails whatsoever. Trust me, you don't need a shotgun. I do open carry a G20SF when I go.
 
Texas does not allow open carry of a handgun. I have not gone through the course for my CHL so I can conceal carry. I am just curious about long guns at the moment. I understand that I probably won't need it but it would be helpful to know that I could.
 
Odds are, in BBNP your most likely unfavorable encounter would be with an over-zealous park ranger. Few bears, and they're easily avoided. Mostly, they want to avoid you. Cougars are another trivial problem dealt with via some common sense.

The park folks do pretty good for advice on trouble-avoidance. It's a "gotta-do" thing for them, given the number of idiots who come through our area.

You try carrying a shotgun and you'll have more hassle than you ever wanted; probably be accused of hunting--and that's a felony.
 
Having backpacked for years and years at BBNP and the fact that the rangers are starting to get law enforcement zealous now days due to ever larger populations of humans going there each year I think you should listen to Art.
Once upon a time in the early 70's I would discretely carry my old H&R .22 revolver for protection when I went there.
And I was once there when the rangers busted a guy for shooting a rattlesnake with a 410.
I am sure he had a quite an unpleasant time being he was dealing with federal authorities in a national park.
 
For what it is worth, the federal regulations that apply in Big Bend are EXACTLY the same as those that apply to the area immediately surrounding the rest of the park...here is what the National Park Service at Big Bend has to say about the matter...

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkmgmt/firearms-regulations.htm

If it is unclear don't bother blaming the National Park Service, blame the great state of Texas.


If it were needed for me to enter a building when I cannot put the shotty away I guess I could remove the barrel after I unload it and hold on to that, leaving the receiver in my pack.
Click to expand...
As far as breaking the weapon down, keep this in mind...
possessing the weapon, even broken down, in a federal facility will likely land you in trouble...
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000930----000-.html

If in doubt, email the park at the following...

http://www.nps.gov/IMR/sendmail.htm?o=128S9OJ+:H;J;FQV_ZEFLHE &r=/bibe/contacts.htm

and ask them. At least that way you'll have their response, in writing! Can't argue with that:rolleyes:
 
Well, some things I just don't worry about. I've run that country since 1972, day and night. Never had a problem. Haven't seen bear tracks at my place, but some years I'm bum-deep in lion poop. Seen lots of bear sign at very infrequent intervals, but they're uncommon--particularly as compared to big poo-tats.

BBNP logs about 300,000 visitor days a year. There have been maybe four lion attacks in 38 years that I know of. Two of the encounters involved small children, which are the proper size for lion food. Two are sorta "iffy" as to any real attack, vs. touron* imagination.

* Touron: The cross between a tourist and a moron.
 
All the people I know of who are scared of bears have never experienced bears.

I have studied bears, tracked bears, watched bears, photo'd bears, and hunted bears most of my life. I have no fear of bears.... none.... an understanding and respect, yes, fear of being attacked for no reason? no way....

I'm not saying it doesn't happen.... just saying it is so rare as to not be considered.... people in the National Parks, well, that's a whole different story... they are unpredictable....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
another Grizzly attack in "National Park gun free utopia"
Replies
3
Views
381
Art Eatman
A
S
  • Locked
Big Bend Nat. Park shut-down due to mountain lion attack!
Replies
19
Views
2K
scotjute
S
G
  • Locked
GRIZZLY attack in National Park gun free utopia
2 3 4
Replies
80
Views
3K
Art Eatman
A
E
  • Locked
Open Carry Shotgun in Glacier NP
Replies
3
Views
1K
AlaskaMan
A
P
  • Locked
Texas Land Commisioner has right attitude
Replies
8
Views
898
Art Eatman
A
Back
Top