The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Glockman Parker on May 10, 2011, 10:48:31 AM
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Is this legal? Can't seem to find any info.
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Yes, it's legal.
(from U.S. Forest Service):
Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be. Shooting across roads or bodies of water is also prohibited.
Target shooting is permitted in the general forest area (except in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness) as long as other persons in the area are not placed at risk and there is no damage to resources such as using a tree as a target.
Cited from http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/rules_and_regulations.htm
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Yes, it's legal.
(from U.S. Forest Service):
Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be. Shooting across roads or bodies of water is also prohibited.
Target shooting is permitted in the general forest area (except in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness) as long as other persons in the area are not placed at risk and there is no damage to resources such as using a tree as a target.
Cited from http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/rules_and_regulations.htm
Thanks for responding and I'm not trying to challenge you I just want to understand...here's one of the regs that showed on your list under actual regulations. I put in red the questionable areas:
§261.8 Fish and wildlife.
The following are prohibited to the extent Federal or State law s violated:
(a) Hunting, trapping, fishing, catching, molesting, killing or having in
possession any kind of wild animal, bird, or fish, or taking the eggs of
any such bird.
(b)Possessing a firearm or other implement designed to discharge a
missile capable of destroying animal life.
(c) Possessing equipment which could be used for hunting, fishing, or
trapping.
(d)Possessing a dog not on a leash or otherwise confined.
(e) Curtail the free movement of any animal or plant life into or out of a
cave, except as authorized to protect a cave resource.
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Can't speak specifically for open carry, but concealed is no problem. In fact, several National Forests have public shooting ranges and open hunting seasons. I would be leary of having a loaded long gun in the vehicle (depending on state law) or roaming around the woods with one outside of hunting season though.
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My google-fu is fading today, but the new regs were changed a couple of years ago to allow firearms, whether concealed or open, may be carried if you are legal to own it. Concealed carry may be utilized if you have a license for that state.
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Thanks guys! Too many regulations to keep up with. :-X
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Current regulations in National forests for carry are the same as the state it is located in.
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Which means that if your state prohibits carrying in "federal buildings", stay out of the the ranger station. Hmmm, I wonder if that would mean outhouses as well? ::)
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Dittos to the loaded gun in a vehicle bit, especially at night. Our local game wardens worry about folks taking potshots at deer from the road. I'd leave any rifle or shotgun unloaded, and or in the trunk or bed. (just good gun safety too). This obviously doesn't apply to CCW. If you have an 8 inch barrel .44 mag in the glove box I have no idea how F@W would view it. ;D As for walking around at night, again, CCW should be no problem. Anything else though, in most every state having a loaded gun and a light is a no no. Check your local hunting regs even if you aren't hunting.
FQ13
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Current regulations in National forests for carry are the same as the state it is located in.
I know it is that for National Parks, is it the same for National Forest.
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Thanks for responding and I'm not trying to challenge you I just want to understand...here's one of the regs that showed on your list under actual regulations. I put in red the questionable areas:
§261.8 Fish and wildlife.
The following are prohibited to the extent Federal or State law s violated:
(a) Hunting, trapping, fishing, catching, molesting, killing or having in
possession any kind of wild animal, bird, or fish, or taking the eggs of
any such bird.
(b) Possessing a firearm or other implement designed to discharge a
missile capable of destroying animal life.
(c) Possessing equipment which could be used for hunting, fishing, or
trapping.
(d) Possessing a dog not on a leash or otherwise confined.
(e) Curtail the free movement of any animal or plant life into or out of a
cave, except as authorized to protect a cave resource.
I put in red the pertinent part.
If you are violating a law you shouldn't be in possession of a firearm.
So don't collect and fry up bald eagle hatchlings or tend a Mary Jane grow while carrying. Don't go into "enviromentally sensitive" areas that prohibit entry. Don't throw dynamite at snail darters. You get the picture....
If it is legal to open carry in that state, since you are in that state, it is legal in the national forest. If it isn't legal to open carry in that state, national forest doesn't make it any different unless you are hunting, then you obviously are carrying a gun and the hunting regs apply.
Hundreds of thousands of people hunt and shoot in national forests EVERY YEAR - ALL YEAR.
Really, it's OK.
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I put in red the pertinent part.
If you are violating a law you shouldn't be in possession of a firearm.
So don't collect and fry up bald eagle hatchlings or tend a Mary Jane grow while carrying. Don't go into "enviromentally sensitive" areas that prohibit entry. Don't throw dynamite at snail darters. You get the picture....
If it is legal to open carry in that state, since you are in that state, it is legal in the national forest. If it isn't legal to open carry in that state, national forest doesn't make it any different unless you are hunting, then you obviously are carrying a gun and the hunting regs apply.
Hundreds of thousands of people hunt and shoot in national forests EVERY YEAR - ALL YEAR.
Really, it's OK.
I thought it was but we got into a big discussion at the office about this. One guy says he had a gun (rifle) confiscated (a few years back) but it was loaded in a vehicle. I do use the range in GW National Forest in WV and never had any problems but like I said before there are so many regs it's hard to know what you can and can't do. I can see where the part you put in red is pertinent.
Thanks for the clarification.
Larry
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there are so many regs it's hard to know what you can and can't do.
I know exactly what you are saying. It pisses me off! Write the laws in plain english and say what you mean.
Reading the hunting regs for my state is a PITA. It finally got to the point one year, I just figured I would hunt in the moral, ethical way my Dad showed me and if I did something wrong the state would tell me about it. I don't road hunt, soft tag game, shoot over my limit, shoot species not in season, etc., etc.
To quote Ayn Rand: One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
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In MI the only place you can open carry is in the woods. I used to buy a small game license every year whether I planned on hunting or not. I might see something to shoot while I'm out walking around.
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I know exactly what you are saying. It pisses me off! Write the laws in plain english and say what you mean.
Reading the hunting regs for my state is a PITA. It finally got to the point one year, I just figured I would hunt in the moral, ethical way my Dad showed me and if I did something wrong the state would tell me about it. I don't road hunt, soft tag game, shoot over my limit, shoot species not in season, etc., etc.
To quote Ayn Rand: One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
It still doesn't hurt to keep the regulations handy. In MA, it is unlawful to hunt on Sunday, unlawful to carry any ammunition not specifically used in your hunting firearm, ie....having a few pistol rounds loose in your small game vest and you're carrying a shotgun, it's unlawful to CC while hunting, even with a CC permit, unlawful to be in the woods with a firearm 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.....it goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on......
They prefer to hunt deer with Volvo's, BMW's etc.....
Damn glad I don't live there anymore...
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To quote Ayn Rand: One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
I thought that was TAB, not Ayn. ;D
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In MI the only place you can open carry is in the woods. I used to buy a small game license every year whether I planned on hunting or not. I might see something to shoot while I'm out walking around.
Hey Frank, It gets confusing, but yoy can legally open carry in MI, and it may even be advantages over CCW as to where you can carry. Took a few lawsuits for unlawful arrest before the MSP issued an update.
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I haven't kept up with it. Things have really changed since I last had a CCW. I need to get one again but I keep putting it off.