M1 Shooter
Member
I was hiking in the Flathead Nat Forest the other day and had a 12 gauge stoked with slugs and a S&W 45 colt revolver in a cross draw holster. The ranger I talked to didn't bat an eye. He did ask if I left any food in my car, there are bears out there.
That's Montana for you. They are very used to open carry there. I always open carry when I'm out hiking, camping, and fishing in Montana, which is at least once a year since I have family there (Southwest Montana, Bitterroot National Forest). I've run into several Forest Service Rangers, Fish & Game Officers, and County Sheriff's Deputys who never even gave my openly carried pistol a second look. I'll sometimes even have a shotgun strapped to my pack as well (nothing beats a 12ga with slugs for bear defense, IMO). Here in Washington State, even though open carry is technically legal, you shouldn't do it in many areas because it scares the "sheeple". It really depends on where you are in the state though, with the west side being worse than the east side, but north central Washington seems to be the best, IME. I just carry concealed here because I don't want the hassle.