Posted: 4/1/2010 11:47:10 AM EDT
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I was asked by a customer last night about carrying while backpacking, camping, etc. During my answers it seems I came up with more questions. I know how it was in the old days growing up in small town USA when we didn't have to think about this stuff much but in today's PC environment you better make sure you're legal.
Perfectly understandable how CCW works with hunting, camping, etc but what if you're hunting with a handgun? Let's say you're carrying your Ruger Super BlackHawk hunting hogs. Got it in a side belt holster. Would that be considered Open Carry or since you're hunting and in the woods make a difference? What is the AR statute on this? I was thinking one of the reasons we had CCW added to the hunting stuff was to allow one to carry a handgun legally while hunting especially during the non gun seasons like Muzzeloader and archery. So does that mean you can carry a backup firearm concealed only vs open carrying one? I know there's a difference between carrying a backup firearm that "may" be used to hunt with which may be illegal vs carrying one "CCW!" Jeesh this stuff can be so confusing. So basically when CAN you OPEN carry in AR? At a shooting range? In the woods practicing? Hunting? Where is the line drawn? Can someone who's backpacking and/or hunting legally carry a gun for protection? Open, packed, CCW? Edit: Of course I know this is all based on the fact that Open Carry is not legal in AR. |
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I believe that you can open carry a handgun during hunting season as long as said handgun is legal to use for hunting in the current season, even though you may only have it as a backup.
i.e. If you are hunting during Modern gun season, then you can open carry a handgun as a backup or as a main firearm as long as it is legal to hunt whatever type of game you are hunting. On the other hand, if you are hunting during muzzleloading season, and you want to carry your sidearm, you better be carrying concealed with a CCW since a centerfire handgun is not legal to hunt with in AR during muzzleloading season. I could be totally wrong here, but I am pretty sure this is how is has always been. At least since AR starting issuing CCW way back when. |
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a centerfire handgun is not legal to hunt with in AR during muzzleloading season.
I also believe that is correct, but I think you can carry a muzzleloading handgun for backup. I don't know but I suspect you can open carry it (although I've found few holsters for my .54 Kentucky pistol). |
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Quoted:
a centerfire handgun is not legal to hunt with in AR during muzzleloading season. I also believe that is correct, but I think you can carry a muzzleloading handgun for backup. I don't know but I suspect you can open carry it (although I've found few holsters for my .54 Kentucky pistol). Actually what the reg say is confusing or contradictory. In one sentence is says " deer or bear hunters may only carry or use legal muzzleloading firearms or archery equipment, but not modern firearms." Interpretation...if you're not a deer or bear hunter then you're ok. The next sentence says "Modern guns may not be carried when modern gun seasons are closed unless the hunter is a member of a deer camp that has enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program....." That seems to indicate "No Modern" firearms at all. With the exception of CCW of course. Well guess what, I can hunt hogs 365 days a year in AR. So what if one is hunting hogs during say Jan/Feb when archery is legal. Are you/they saying no one can use a centerfire weapon to hunt hogs with? So either the Regs have to be interpreted to say if you're hunting Deer or Bear you better be using the appropriate firearm and if you're hunting anything else then it's ok to use a centerfire weapon. If it's to be interpreted to mean any hunter then Houston...we've got a problem. That would mean no one could hunt with a firearm in Jan/Feb. But this only deals with firearms used during a hunting season. I'm still more interested in the whole Open Carry thing and how it might apply to mom and pop taking the kids camping, etc during spring or summer. Not everyone has their CCW but many still wish to have a firearm for protection while they're in the woods. If it's concealed it may be illegal. If they open carry they might be illegal. Blah! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
a centerfire handgun is not legal to hunt with in AR during muzzleloading season. I also believe that is correct, but I think you can carry a muzzleloading handgun for backup. I don't know but I suspect you can open carry it (although I've found few holsters for my .54 Kentucky pistol). Actually what the reg say is confusing or contradictory. In one sentence is says " deer or bear hunters may only carry or use legal muzzleloading firearms or archery equipment, but not modern firearms." Interpretation...if you're not a deer or bear hunter then you're ok. The next sentence says "Modern guns may not be carried when modern gun seasons are closed unless the hunter is a member of a deer camp that has enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program....." That seems to indicate "No Modern" firearms at all. With the exception of CCW of course. Well guess what, I can hunt hogs 365 days a year in AR. So what if one is hunting hogs during say Jan/Feb when archery is legal. Are you/they saying no one can use a centerfire weapon to hunt hogs with? So either the Regs have to be interpreted to say if you're hunting Deer or Bear you better be using the appropriate firearm and if you're hunting anything else then it's ok to use a centerfire weapon. If it's to be interpreted to mean any hunter then Houston...we've got a problem. That would mean no one could hunt with a firearm in Jan/Feb. But this only deals with firearms used during a hunting season. I'm still more interested in the whole Open Carry thing and how it might apply to mom and pop taking the kids camping, etc during spring or summer. Not everyone has their CCW but many still wish to have a firearm for protection while they're in the woods. If it's concealed it may be illegal. If they open carry they might be illegal. Blah! I asked a LEO buddy of mine a very similar question during deer season. I was concerned about carrying my pistol on our lease. Basically, if you are on your own land or on your lease, you can do what you want. Step across that property line or onto a county road and things change real quickly. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: a centerfire handgun is not legal to hunt with in AR during muzzleloading season. I also believe that is correct, but I think you can carry a muzzleloading handgun for backup. I don't know but I suspect you can open carry it (although I've found few holsters for my .54 Kentucky pistol). Actually what the reg say is confusing or contradictory. In one sentence is says " deer or bear hunters may only carry or use legal muzzleloading firearms or archery equipment, but not modern firearms." Interpretation...if you're not a deer or bear hunter then you're ok. The next sentence says "Modern guns may not be carried when modern gun seasons are closed unless the hunter is a member of a deer camp that has enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program....." That seems to indicate "No Modern" firearms at all. With the exception of CCW of course. Well guess what, I can hunt hogs 365 days a year in AR. So what if one is hunting hogs during say Jan/Feb when archery is legal. Are you/they saying no one can use a centerfire weapon to hunt hogs with? So either the Regs have to be interpreted to say if you're hunting Deer or Bear you better be using the appropriate firearm and if you're hunting anything else then it's ok to use a centerfire weapon. If it's to be interpreted to mean any hunter then Houston...we've got a problem. That would mean no one could hunt with a firearm in Jan/Feb. But this only deals with firearms used during a hunting season. I'm still more interested in the whole Open Carry thing and how it might apply to mom and pop taking the kids camping, etc during spring or summer. Not everyone has their CCW but many still wish to have a firearm for protection while they're in the woods. If it's concealed it may be illegal. If they open carry they might be illegal. Blah! I asked a LEO buddy of mine a very similar question during deer season. I was concerned about carrying my pistol on our lease. Basically, if you are on your own land or on your lease, you can do what you want. Step across that property line or onto a county road and things change real quickly. Pretty much this. I've heard similar info. |