Carrying concealed in Croatan and Uwharrie National Forest, NC

[v8stang289]

I've been reading and searching but I can't make sense of all the tangled NC laws. Does anyone know if it is now legal to carry a concealed firearm in a National Forest in NC?

It appears as though it's legal at a Federal level, but I'm not sure about at the state level.

NC did(does?) have a law that prohibited anything other than a .22 pistol being open carried on game lands unless you were hunting. Because most of the National Forest land in NC is also game lands that effectively prohibited concealed carry. I have been told that law was done away with when NC instituted a castle doctrine but I can not find any source on the matter to verify.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5385189.pdf
-This August 2012 fact sheet from the US Forest Service about North Carolina points out that it's legal to carry as long as state laws are adhered to.


http://www.ncdoj.com/getdoc/32344299-a2a7-4ae5-99fd-9018262f64ac/2007-NC-Firearms-gun-Laws.aspx
-This NCDOJ firearms laws publication from January 2013 says it's legal to carry in parks that are part of NC parks system, but doesn't mention if National Forests are part of it.


http://www.ncwildlife.org/Default.aspx?tabid=416&IndexId=2053
-This is from the wildlife resources commission and states what I alluded to earlier dealing with Firearms and game lands, it is dated over 3 years ago and I can't find an updated version to see if anything has changed.


Hopefully someone knows or can help point me towards a source or legislation to help clear this up. I'm thinking of going on a couple of camping trips this year and would like to carry if possible.

Thanks in advance!
-Matt

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I haven't read through, but check the links on this subject at the bottom of page 5 of this link:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/northcarolina.pdf

Hope it helps.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Also, I found this by following the links on the first page of the reference I gave you above:

http://www.ncdoj.com/getdoc/32344299-a2a7-4ae5-99fd-9018262f64ac/2007-NC-Firearms-gun-Laws.aspx

Check page 40.

 

[Deer_Freak]

It is legal to carry a concealed weapon in the state parks if you have a permit. Otherwise, check the game laws for the county you intend to visit. Most counties either prohibit handguns when hunting season is closed or they limit the caliber and barrel length. If you are going to open carry I would call the game and fish commision in Raleigh. They will have the game warden that patrols the county/s you intend to visit return your call. Don't wait until the last minute to call sometimes it takes a few days for the game warden to return your call. When you are on the phone with the game warden get his name and work phone number. Quite often sheriffs deputies are not aware of the laws in the parks.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I can understand your question, When I lived in PA we had areas labeled as National forests but they seemed to be under the State park system and State park rules applied. I never understood this.
I live north of the Urwharrie National Forrest now, but I'm not sure as to the answer to your question either, I've only lived here (NC) for 5yrs. I spend my last 50yrs playing and later hunting in Clarion, Beaver, and Forest Co. in Pa and haven't hunted since I came to NC.


I, too, would like to know the answer to this one.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Wow, a lot of answers hitting really quick, I wish I would have waited a few more minutes before replying.

 

[v8stang289]

Thanks for the Links RetiredUSNChief. I looked up the statutes referred to in the first link and they just deal with State Park and state owned areas. The second link is one I posted in the OP, and also just mentions State Parks. I know it's legal to carry in a State Park in NC, and it seems to be legal to carry in a National Forest (under federal law). But from what I can tell the National Forests in NC are not part of the State Parks.

I may have found my answer in the Hunting Regulations digest though:

● Firearms may be carried openly, or concealed with a valid concealed handgun permit, at any time on game lands, except for the game lands noted in this section.
Hunting is allowed ONLY during the open seasons on game birds and game animals.
On Buckhorn, Butner-Falls ofNeuse,Chatham,Harris,Hyco,
Jordan,Kerr Scott, Lee, Mayo, Sutton Lake, andVance game
lands and PeeDeeRiverGame Land north ofU.S. 74, and that
portion of R.Wayne Bailey-Caswell Game Land that is located
north of U.S. 158 and east of N.C. 119 during closed seasons
and closed hunting days on game birds(waterfowl, doves,woodcock,snipe,rails, gallinules,moorhens, coots, grouse,pheasant,
quail,turkey) and game animals(deer, bear,fox,rabbits,squirrels,
boar, bobcats, opossum,raccoon), it is unlawful to possess any
firearm readily available for use.During that time in which fox
season is the only open season for a game animal, it is also unlawful
to possess these weapons. However, persons may possess a
firearm during the closed season on these game lands if:
- it is cased or not immediately available for use;
- it is used by persons participating in field trials on field trial areas;
- it is possessed in designated camping areas for defense of persons
and property;
- or if it is a 22-caliber pistol with a barrel, not greater than 7.5
inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle
ammunition, carried as a side arm.

The way that reads to me is if you aren't on those particular game lands concealed carry is legal all the time on Game Lands. If you are on those particular game lands it is legal except for when outlined. It doesn't site a statute or law, but that is taken from page 62 of the 2013/14 NC Regulations Digest.

 

[Deer_Freak]

Thanks for the Links RetiredUSNChief. I looked up the statutes referred to in the first link and they just deal with State Park and state owned areas. The second link is one I posted in the OP, and also just mentions State Parks. I know it's legal to carry in a State Park in NC, and it seems to be legal to carry in a National Forest (under federal law). But from what I can tell the National Forests in NC are not part of the State Parks.

I may have found my answer in the Hunting Regulations digest though:

● Firearms may be carried openly, or concealed with a valid concealed handgun permit, at any time on game lands, except for the game lands noted in this section.
Hunting is allowed ONLY during the open seasons on game birds and game animals.
On Buckhorn, Butner-Falls ofNeuse,Chatham,Harris,Hyco,
Jordan,Kerr Scott, Lee, Mayo, Sutton Lake, andVance game
lands and PeeDeeRiverGame Land north ofU.S. 74, and that
portion of R.Wayne Bailey-Caswell Game Land that is located
north of U.S. 158 and east of N.C. 119 during closed seasons
and closed hunting days on game birds(waterfowl, doves,woodcock,snipe,rails, gallinules,moorhens, coots, grouse,pheasant,
quail,turkey) and game animals(deer, bear,fox,rabbits,squirrels,
boar, bobcats, opossum,raccoon), it is unlawful to possess any
firearm readily available for use.During that time in which fox
season is the only open season for a game animal, it is also unlawful
to possess these weapons. However, persons may possess a
firearm during the closed season on these game lands if:
- it is cased or not immediately available for use;
- it is used by persons participating in field trials on field trial areas;
- it is possessed in designated camping areas for defense of persons
and property;
- or if it is a 22-caliber pistol with a barrel, not greater than 7.5
inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle
ammunition, carried as a side arm.

The way that reads to me is if you aren't on those particular game lands concealed carry is legal all the time on Game Lands. If you are on those particular game lands it is legal except for when outlined. It doesn't site a statute or law, but that is taken from page 62 of the 2013/14 NC Regulations Digest.

State/National parks are not game lands. They may have restricted hunting seasons but you have to get a permit to hunt in a state/national park. Most of the time there are more applications than permits, so a drawing is held.

Each park has it's own rules and they are quite confusing for hunters/shooters who are native NC residents. As I stated earlier the laws regarding parks are so confusing that deputy sheriffs who patrol the area on a regular basis misinterpret the laws. It's best to call the game and fish commision to speak to someone who knows and enforces the law in parks. To make the issue even more confusing if the park has a camping area it has park rangers who patrol the area on a regular basis. If all this isn't complicated enough it might be fine to carry a side arm in a park in one county. In another county in the same park it is not legal to carry any firearms into the park.

To give you an idea of how confusing NC game laws are in Hertford county it is legal to hunt deer from a boat with no engine in the Chowan river. In Gates county it is not legal to hunt deer from the river. The Chowan river is the county line.

 

[mdauben]

State/National parks are not game lands.

They are not National Forests, either, which is what the OP has repeatedly asked about.

I'm no lawyer, but I think the NC hunting regulations the OP quoted are the controling laws for the situation he was asking about.

 

[gc70]

The way that reads to me is if you aren't on those particular game lands concealed carry is legal all the time on Game Lands. If you are on those particular game lands it is legal except for when outlined. It doesn't site a statute or law, but that is taken from page 62 of the 2013/14 NC Regulations Digest.

The Wildlife Commission's Regulations Digest is pretty good, but it is not always as specific or detailed as the underlying statutes or regulations.

The North Carolina Administrative Code contains the actual regulations and provides cites to the underlying statutes. 15A NCAC 10D .0102 contains the regulations concerning firearms on game lands and 15A NCAC 10E .0104 contains regulations concerning firearms on fishing and boating access areas.

 

[v8stang289]

Thanks for the info, gc70.