Concealed Carry or Open Carry While Hiking Public Trails

[WisBorn]

While hiking the Smoky Mountains today I came across another hiker that was open carrying. I was carrying concealed as I always do. My question is there an advantage carrying open versus concealed while hiking?
Personally I like concealed, people don't know that you have a gun. But hiking is different. Please chime in

 

[262madmike]

I would always go Concealed.In case of deployment SURPRISE is always good.

 

[WrongHanded]

I do both. It depends on where I am.

National Parks and State Parks, I carry concealed (or as much so as is comfortable). I figure it's polite to not spook the sheep during their recreation. Some of them don't get outdoors much and guns make them visibly uncomfortable.

Things are different on National Forest, Wilderness and State lands. It's often easier to open carry large revolvers. And certainly faster to draw from open carry than concealed when wearing a pack. So unless there's snow on the ground, in which case I might use a Safepacker to protect the gun (sometime I fall over on snowshoes in deep powder), I prefer open carry.

 

[DocRock]

Depends what you're carrying and why.

If I'm up in the mountains, it's still Mikey Methhead that has me most concerned, but I almost always carry a full size 45 Colt revolver, 5.5" being the shortest barrel in the event he's been feeding the bears. Not ideally concealed. Those I carry in a full flap holster. Seems to mollify the Liberals somewhat. Occasionally, I will carry a FS 1911 45acp in a chest rig. That does seem to put saucer eyes on Sally Soccer Mom.

If I'm down on the flats, concealed. Either S&W 38 or 1911 Compact.

I think out in the wild, it's good to open carry. It's appropriate for the conditions and reminds the suburbanites that they aren't at the mall.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If I’m in National Forest and am unlikely to come across people, I typically open carry a 10mm or 357 revolver.

If I’m going to be on a developed recreation trail where running into people is pretty certain, I carry concealed typically.

If moose or brown/grizzly bear live in the area, I don’t care who I spook. I’m carrying something bigger.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

It depends.

Biggest concern, can I conceal or am I wearing a pack that prevents it?

Generally I conceal. If I run into a bear open carry isn't going to make that much difference. You can usually smell them before you see them anyway.

If I stumble on a Grow or a Meth lab I don't want anyone to see me armed. Really I don't want anyone to see me period.

 

[Kevinq6]

For me personally I like both for different reasons.

Pros of conceal carry:

1. A conceal carry holster with a tight fit but no tactical retention offers a simpler draw even if concealed, so your draw may be more failproof or simple
2. A conceal carry holster is tighter to your body and won't get in the way as much
3. No one is alarmed and I get less attention (if anyone is around to see me)

Pros of open carry:

1. May be more comfortable
2. Gun people may chat with you about guns which I usually like to do
3. If someone may want trouble they might leave you alone

For me the element of surprise is not a big factor. It's still there but I'm a big white guy with a beard, I look like I have a gun or that I probably have one. If I were a slender female conceal carrying a single stack 9mm that would be a different story.

I personally like people open carrying because I see they are armed and pro-gun. For me ease of draw and less attention and having the holster closer to my body mean I usually conceal carry.

 

[jar]

What are the laws? It really boils down to that. Is it legal to carry in that particular place? Often it's not really easy to determine.

 

[Hartkopf]

If it was me, I would conceal carry but tuck my shirt in under my holster so my cover garment is already cleared in case of a surprise 4 legged predator. If I see or hear people approaching on a trail, I could just pull my shirt out and let it cover my gun.

Basically go open carry with the ability to conceal quickly if you feel the need.

 

[bassjam]

I always prefer to carry concealed, but when hiking you often have a pack that has a waistband that sits right where your gun normally would. When that happens, if I'm in a remote area I'll open carry, but if its more crowded I'll pocket carry.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
Depends on the place.
Local hiking trails are pretty popular so I carry concealed(a full size 1911 in .45ACP).
Upstate Pennsylvania is populated mostly by wildlife including black bears and coyotes. There I open carry a big bore revolver caliber and manufacturer depending on my mood at the time. I have multiple options.
Sometimes I also carry my Colt Combat Commander in .45ACP concealed in addition to a revolver.

 

[Fiv3r]

I carry high and tight regardless, so I kinda do both by default. If OC is legal, no big deal if it shows, but honestly a snub nose .357 or sub compact .45 acp sitting at 4 o clock on my hip is going to probably be covered by a layered garment or blend into the lines of the pack on my back.

 

[IdaD]

Generally open although I conceal in more crowded areas. I live out west and nobody generally seems to care about carrying a gun out in the woods or desert, because most people do.

 

[BearBrimstone]

I usually open carry because I figure animals are the most likely problem in my local parks (it’s pretty rare to run into another person in a small town park). If I do run into another person I pull my shirt over the gun.

 

[shoobe01]

I also fall to concealed. Unless otherwise openly armed, it's no one's business that I am carrying, there may be advantages if some BGs come after me, there are few signs so I don't want to get hung up because now the trail is on private property, moved into the city, crossed county (or state) lines (eta: it can look like I am hunting and maybe without a permit/out of season) and I am not legal.

Also, more secure. Woods are full of sticks and rain and bugs and mud and... even when I have carried openly (usually for training stuff) in my Safariland ALS, the gun is often pretty dirty. At least once at an RnG match I had to clear mud off it before shooting to make sure the muzzle wasn't obstructed.

As much as quick access is important, on the off chance I am wrestling with a cat or bear and need my gun, I need it to be there and work first, so tend to concealed for retention, not snagging, and protection as well.

 

[.38 Special]

Always concealed for me. I really do not like attracting attention, either good or bad.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

As someone else said, it depends on the jurisdictional laws.

In SC, there is no choice with this, because it doesn't meet one of their caveats (namely, hunting or fishing). Concealed is your only option here.

Other than that, if it's within the jurisdictional laws to go either way, it's a personal choice.

Likely my personal choice would be concealed for public trails, though I'd consider open carry in more isolated instances.

 

[Terry G]

Open carry and concealed carry both legal here. I'm usually carrying a rifle so it'a a moot point. The rifle really is just for plinking anyway. No dangerous animal's as the Wolves are rarely in the area and run like their tails are on fire when the scent Humans. I carry a CZ P-09 cross draw with a rifle or carbine. I f no rifle, I carry the same P-09 right hip and .22 semi automatic cross draw. I wear a light vest for carrying Dog snack's, jerky, and phone. Not really for concealment. Hardly ever see anyone anyway.. Most people won't go anywhere unless they can ride.

 

[NMPOPS]

I carry concealed all the time. I just prefer that people don't know I am armed. Surprise is a key to self defense.

 

[Armored farmer]

I always carry concealed. I dont talk about it. I dont make a big deal out of it. I dont advertise it with hats or clothes. Even in a national park on hiking trail setting.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Like many have stated, it depends on the area and the pack I'm wearing (if i am using one)

In general I like concealed.

I have a few hiking spots I've been using for years and have run across maybe 10 people total.

Some years no one at all. I don't worry much about the presence of a flap holster on a pack belt.

If I am mounted, it's often open.

 

[Dunross]

If the predators I'm most concerned with walk on four legs then I prefer open carry. If they walk on two legs then concealed.

As others have already noted, whatever the laws are for the locality plays into this. Sometimes concealed is the only option.

 

[Kleanbore]

I always carry concealed. I dont talk about it. I dont make a big deal out of it. I dont advertise it with hats or clothes

A code to live by!

 

[rbernie]

When hiking with a large frame pack in the back-country (boy, that's been years past, now!), there's never been a lot of room left around my waist for carrying either IWB or OWB. That means that I'd usually conceal a small BUG in a shorts / pants cargo pocket and then open-carry in a chest rig that stayed on me when I shed the pack. I tried open carry using the frame pack's waist belt for a bit, but decided that I was not keen on losing access to the handgun when I shed the pack.

If it's a day hike - I'll probably only pocket carry. I have been known to use a front-facing fanny pack to carry a full-size handgun plus sundries in addition to the pocket gun, since the fanny pack doesn't interfere with the soft backpack.

 

[sequins]

I open carry my super blackhawk or glock 20. I feel OC gives me a better draw against wildlife and better retention if I fall.