Estela216
Member
I'm not asking open carry during hunting season but instead, year round . Can you carry a rifle anywhere on hiking trails and not get the look of fear from others?
Any states allow open carry of rifles while hiking?
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while quite legal in PA ... you will be considered a suspected poacher, expect to get stopped by game wardens while leaving in your car.
if not suspected of being a poacher you may be considered a possible nut case/rapist (we have had some of these) and will have great interest expressed in your intentions and identification.
keep in mind tug ties/duct tape or wire in your trunk could be considered a "rape kit" and a pry bar or thinbladed knife could be burglars tools.
YMMV but if the DA/Sherrif is up for election(primaries in April) bad things can happen.
warning cumberland county DA is running for judge.
rms/pa
if not suspected of being a poacher you may be considered a possible nut case/rapist (we have had some of these) and will have great interest expressed in your intentions and identification.
keep in mind tug ties/duct tape or wire in your trunk could be considered a "rape kit" and a pry bar or thinbladed knife could be burglars tools.
YMMV but if the DA/Sherrif is up for election(primaries in April) bad things can happen.
warning cumberland county DA is running for judge.
rms/pa
ID_shooting
Member
Open carry is accepted and legal in all parts of Idaho excpet National Parks and the such. You might get some funny looks if doing it in the hicking trails on the edge of town here, but out in the woods, you will be fine.
Several people have been known to carry a guide gun for short 12ga full of slugs when hiking in bear country areound here.
Several people have been known to carry a guide gun for short 12ga full of slugs when hiking in bear country areound here.
one45auto
Member
I had a similar question I wanted to ask, namely what about camping? Can you take a rifle camping out of state? Would a campground allow it, or would you need to be deep-woods roughing it first?
Anyone know?
Anyone know?
Lee F
Member
The People's Republic of North Carolina does not allow rifles in state parks anytime or national forests outside of hunting season in general. I've even had a wacko-eco-ranger tell me CCW was not allow in national forests unless in 22 LR based on this.
http://216.27.49.98/pg02_Regs/pg2a3.pdf
page 2 of 7
http://216.27.49.98/pg02_Regs/pg2a3.pdf
page 2 of 7
Vern Humphrey
Member
In Arkansas, carrying a rifle is legal, as is CCW in the Buffalo National River park -- the only national park where hunting is legal.
Lennyjoe
Member
Might be a good idea to carry some type of gun if hiking near the border down in these parts.
cfabe
Member
Loaded guns are prohibited in national parks, I've not heard of the exclusion for Buffalo River before, but I've never been there either. In national forests there are no additional restrictions on top of what the state and local laws are. In 'free' states it's perfectly legal to carry loaded guns in national forests, including national forest campgrounds.
Vern Humphrey
Member
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Loaded guns are prohibited in national parks, I've not heard of the exclusion for Buffalo River before, but I've never been there either.
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From "Buffalo River Hiking Trails" by Tim Herbst (Tim is the man who put these trails up), page 27, "Unlike almost all other National Parks, hunting is allowed in the Buffalo National River."
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Loaded guns are prohibited in national parks, I've not heard of the exclusion for Buffalo River before, but I've never been there either.
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From "Buffalo River Hiking Trails" by Tim Herbst (Tim is the man who put these trails up), page 27, "Unlike almost all other National Parks, hunting is allowed in the Buffalo National River."
jefnvk
Member
I would think in MI you might run afoul of game laws, if anything. Don' have a hunting guide handy though. You may want to pick one up for the state you are thinking about, it may say something inm there.
TallPine
Member
Well, I guess so ... I just got back from a several mile hike carrying my Marlin 22 
A number of varmits (gophers, coyotes, etc) are fair game year round in many western states. Though I don't suppose most people would be very effective at throwing rocks at them.
A number of varmits (gophers, coyotes, etc) are fair game year round in many western states. Though I don't suppose most people would be very effective at throwing rocks at them.
phoglund
Member
The more I read about how things are in other states the more I appreciate this great state of Montana I live in. I had never even considered the question of "open carry" (I'd like to see concealed carry of a rifle) in the forests. I've done it for as long as I've owned a rifle. In my youth we used to go for long hikes and would sometimes hike out to a nearby road and hitch-hike back to town, often armed with semi-auto rifles and holstered pistols...always got a ride and never a negative comment about the guns. I'd say it's more unusual to find unarmed people in the National Forests around here than armed.
It's not as hard as you think, any of the rifles that fold can be concealed, the Kel-Tec subguns are only 16" long when folded, the only drawback is that they must be unfolded before they can be fired. Rifles with folding stocks that can be fired while folded are a bit longer but still concealable. Folding stock AK's like an AMD-65 (in legal rifle configuration) are only 25" long with the stock folded and will fit in many backpacks and can be concealed when slung on your back under a backpack. I've seen AMD-65's as short as 17" built into a legal pistol configuration, With a single point sling on a swivel at the rear of the weapon it can be looped under one arm, when the pistol is pressed forward against the tension of the sling it can be fired like a rifle and reasonably accurate out to 50 yards or so. With 20 round magazines it offers more than enough firepower to protect yourself from almost anything you'll run into when hiking and is not terribly hard to conceal. The're also cheap to build, my AMD-65 pistol build cost about $150 and the rifle build about $225. Of course you'll need some skill and some tools, taps, dies, drills, dremel, etc, etc. If you don't already have them you'll need to factor them into the cost. If you don't want to build yourself there are assembled versions available for around $400.
I don't carry rifles concealed, the way I found this all out was my quest for rifles that would fit in either the rear box of my Jeep CJ7 and even in the tour box of my Harley. It never hurts to have a little extra firepower available when you're well off the beaten trail and when you're traveling alone.
Vern Humphrey
Member
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It's not as hard as you think, any of the rifles that fold can be concealed, the Kel-Tec subguns are only 16" long when folded, the only drawback is that they must be unfolded before they can be fired.
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I've got a Stevens #26 Crackshot, an old take-down boy's .22. I've also got a pack with a wand pocket -- a long, skinny pocket for carrying the bamboo or fiberglass stakes used to mark a path through a glacier. The rifle when taken down fits right in that pocket.
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It's not as hard as you think, any of the rifles that fold can be concealed, the Kel-Tec subguns are only 16" long when folded, the only drawback is that they must be unfolded before they can be fired.
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I've got a Stevens #26 Crackshot, an old take-down boy's .22. I've also got a pack with a wand pocket -- a long, skinny pocket for carrying the bamboo or fiberglass stakes used to mark a path through a glacier. The rifle when taken down fits right in that pocket.
I see the old 22's that break down and all the pieces fit into the stock (AR-7 I think) at the gunshows all the time, cost is usually around $100. They're pretty neat, but I wouldn't reccomend one if self protection is your main goal, although I'd rather have a 22 rifle than a pointed stick.
Wildalaska
member
Alaska
WildalaskaAlaska
WildalaskaAlaska
Vern Humphrey
Member
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I see the old 22's that break down and all the pieces fit into the stock (AR-7 I think) at the gunshows all the time, cost is usually around $100. They're pretty neat, but I wouldn't reccomend one if self protection is your main goal, although I'd rather have a 22 rifle than a pointed stick.
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It depends on your aim. Here in Arkansas, we have spring squirrel season, from mid-May to mid-June. A person taking a long hike just might want a little squirrel in his oatmeal, and a take-down rifle would come in handy.
Personally, I usually carry a handgun these days.
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I see the old 22's that break down and all the pieces fit into the stock (AR-7 I think) at the gunshows all the time, cost is usually around $100. They're pretty neat, but I wouldn't reccomend one if self protection is your main goal, although I'd rather have a 22 rifle than a pointed stick.
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It depends on your aim. Here in Arkansas, we have spring squirrel season, from mid-May to mid-June. A person taking a long hike just might want a little squirrel in his oatmeal, and a take-down rifle would come in handy.
Personally, I usually carry a handgun these days.
Biff
Member
As Wildalaska said. But make it a BIG rifle! Lots like to carry pump shotguns with slugs for hiking. Quite often that is in addition to a largish handgun, which may or may not be concealed.
Rifles and shotguns have been found to impair proper flycasting technique, however.
Rifles and shotguns have been found to impair proper flycasting technique, however.
Otherguy Overby
member
Tell 'em the rest, Vern
The rest about some of Arkansas' goofier game laws...
You can only shoot crow on certain days of the week.
You can't shoot coyotes after dark. There's something silly about hunting with dogs, but I forget...
You have to use the caliber rifle specific for the primary hunting season. IOW, in dear season, you are required to shoot coyotes with a deer caliber rifle...
But, at least they don't assume you are poaching if you have a loaded long gun in your car, unlike a bunch of other states.
The rest about some of Arkansas' goofier game laws...
You can only shoot crow on certain days of the week.
You can't shoot coyotes after dark. There's something silly about hunting with dogs, but I forget...
You have to use the caliber rifle specific for the primary hunting season. IOW, in dear season, you are required to shoot coyotes with a deer caliber rifle...
But, at least they don't assume you are poaching if you have a loaded long gun in your car, unlike a bunch of other states.
I think you would find that carrying a rifle on a public hiking trail would get you unwanted attention pretty much anywhere you tried it. I am talking about the kind of trail where people would be walking with their kids, having picnics etc.
Now if you just wanted to walk around in the desert or woods with a rifle, I think you would find that most of the western states that are not on the ocean (Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming etc.) it would not be an issue. Odds are, you wouldn't see anyone else and if you did, they wouldn't care or perhaps would be carrying one also.
Now if you just wanted to walk around in the desert or woods with a rifle, I think you would find that most of the western states that are not on the ocean (Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming etc.) it would not be an issue. Odds are, you wouldn't see anyone else and if you did, they wouldn't care or perhaps would be carrying one also.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Quote:
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Tell 'em the rest, Vern
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The rest about some of Arkansas' goofier game laws...
You can only shoot crow on certain days of the week.
You can't shoot coyotes after dark. There's something silly about hunting with dogs, but I forget...
You have to use the caliber rifle specific for the primary hunting season. IOW, in dear season, you are required to shoot coyotes with a deer caliber rifle...
But, at least they don't assume you are poaching if you have a loaded long gun in your car, unlike a bunch of other states.
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Not quite correct. For example you have the caliber thing backwards. I CAN hunt coyotes with a .30-06 during deer or bear season, but when big game is not in season, I'm restricted to .22 Centerfire. The reason is to prevent poachers from saying "I'm only hunting coyotes" when caught in the woods out of season with a .30-06.
Dog hunting is prohibited in some areas (north of Highway 66 in my county) and the size of the dogs used to be regulated (to keep long-legged hounds from "running deer out of the country.")
Hunting after dark requires using a light -- a favorite poacher's technique. So to keep everyone honest, no lights, no hunting after dark.
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Tell 'em the rest, Vern
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The rest about some of Arkansas' goofier game laws...
You can only shoot crow on certain days of the week.
You can't shoot coyotes after dark. There's something silly about hunting with dogs, but I forget...
You have to use the caliber rifle specific for the primary hunting season. IOW, in dear season, you are required to shoot coyotes with a deer caliber rifle...
But, at least they don't assume you are poaching if you have a loaded long gun in your car, unlike a bunch of other states.
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Not quite correct. For example you have the caliber thing backwards. I CAN hunt coyotes with a .30-06 during deer or bear season, but when big game is not in season, I'm restricted to .22 Centerfire. The reason is to prevent poachers from saying "I'm only hunting coyotes" when caught in the woods out of season with a .30-06.
Dog hunting is prohibited in some areas (north of Highway 66 in my county) and the size of the dogs used to be regulated (to keep long-legged hounds from "running deer out of the country.")
Hunting after dark requires using a light -- a favorite poacher's technique. So to keep everyone honest, no lights, no hunting after dark.
Supposedly it's completely legal in Louisiana, but I've yet to see anyone waltzing along Bourbon Street with an AK hanging off their shoulder... although I don't go down there much. It wouldn't surprise me if some folks do. Nothing down there would surprise me.
Ivy Mike
Member
Open carry of any weapon is legal in NV except for state parks and other prohibited places. Schools, courts, public buildings, the entire city of North Las Vegas to name a few.
"-the entire city of North Las Vegas to name a few."
They're "-a few-" now, but what worries me is tomorrow. I live in the Great State of Illinois, and we have the growing plague of local municipalities that have banned firearms in varying degrees, starting with the People's Republic of Chicago / Cook County (Daleytopia) making the possession of a handgun a felony. Now we have a number of the "burbs," the local units of government surrounding Chi-town (the most notorious, but far from unique, being Morton Grove) who have exercised what seems to be a sovereign right to nullify the Second Amendment, in whichever cases suits them.
When you add to this a bewildering array of state statutes, according to my best information we rank right behind PRK and just ahead of PRNY in the magnitude and complexity of our gun laws.
Most people who fear gun control have their eyes on Washington, but I think the real threat is likely to come from below- at the local level. We're being nibbled to death by ducks. Carry a rifle in the Cook County Forest Preserve....I wish.
They're "-a few-" now, but what worries me is tomorrow. I live in the Great State of Illinois, and we have the growing plague of local municipalities that have banned firearms in varying degrees, starting with the People's Republic of Chicago / Cook County (Daleytopia) making the possession of a handgun a felony. Now we have a number of the "burbs," the local units of government surrounding Chi-town (the most notorious, but far from unique, being Morton Grove) who have exercised what seems to be a sovereign right to nullify the Second Amendment, in whichever cases suits them.
When you add to this a bewildering array of state statutes, according to my best information we rank right behind PRK and just ahead of PRNY in the magnitude and complexity of our gun laws.
Most people who fear gun control have their eyes on Washington, but I think the real threat is likely to come from below- at the local level. We're being nibbled to death by ducks. Carry a rifle in the Cook County Forest Preserve....I wish.
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