Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

4VAC10-30-170. Explosives, fires firearms, etc.

No person shall bring into or have in any forest any explosive or explosive substance. This regulation shall not apply to the lawful carrying of firearms and firearms ammunition. (2011 text)

The following link- implicitly, not explicitly- does appear to support an interpretation that OC is forbidden. However, WV law is essentially the same and the game wardens do not read or enforce such an interpretation (personal communication); it is read as prohibiting long guns afield out of season in general. I would be interested to hear a VA game warden's input.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... clands.asp

derek141 wrote:4VAC10-30-170. Explosives, fires firearms, etc.

No person shall bring into or have in any forest any explosive or explosive substance. This regulation shall not apply to the lawful carrying of firearms and firearms ammunition. (2011 text)

The following link- implicitly, not explicitly- does appear to support an interpretation that OC is forbidden. However, WV law is essentially the same and the game wardens do not read or enforce such an interpretation (personal communication); it is read as prohibiting long guns afield out of season in general. I would be interested to hear a VA game warden's input.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... clands.asp

Valid Concealed Handgun Permit Holders May:
•Possess a concealed handgun during archery seasons, muzzleloader seasons, and general firearms seasons.
•Possess a concealed handgun on National Forest and Department lands during the closed season.
•Possess and transport a loaded concealed handgun in or on any vehicle on National Forest and Department lands.
•Possess a concealed handgun while using dogs for tracking wounded or dead bear or deer but no game may be taken.
I spend so much time in the NF alone that this is one of the reasons I got a concealed carry permit. I've open carried plenty of times without being bothered but I would hate to be caught without a permit.

LBV-load bearing vest...molle system= lot of carry options and positions

carry supplies and fishing equip too

I use a Blackhawk! Serpa drop leg holster system in some of my competitions. It's actually quite comfortable, and I've runned and gunned with it. This is with a double-stack 1911 with 16+1 rounds of .40 S&W.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... clands.asp[/quote]
Valid Concealed Handgun Permit Holders May:
•Possess a concealed handgun during archery seasons, muzzleloader seasons, and general firearms seasons.
•Possess a concealed handgun on National Forest and Department lands during the closed season.
•Possess and transport a loaded concealed handgun in or on any vehicle on National Forest and Department lands.
•Possess a concealed handgun while using dogs for tracking wounded or dead bear or deer but no game may be taken.
I spend so much time in the NF alone that this is one of the reasons I got a concealed carry permit. I've open carried plenty of times without being bothered but I would hate to be caught without a permit.[/quote]

Yes, yes. I am aware of the above. My point is that nowhere does any law or regulation say that you cannot open carry your handgun in the forest even though you can do so everywhere else. Neither does it explicitly prohibit non-CHP persons from OC.

According to Dispatcher Anderson of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries*:

HER: "Are we talking about hunting? Because if we're not talking about hunting, then we don't set those rules for guns."

ME: "Okay, so if I'm out in the forest open carrying, camping with my children and my wife, then the game regulation doesn't apply?"

HER: "Correct. You would need to contact the Commonwealth's Attorney in that county."

*Always get names so that you can have a subpoena served. I did specifically ask to speak with a CPO, but she insisted on fielding the question.

derek141 wrote:According to Dispatcher Anderson of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries*:

HER: "Are we talking about hunting? Because if we're not talking about hunting, then we don't set those rules for guns."

ME: "Okay, so if I'm out in the forest open carrying, camping with my children and my wife, then the game regulation doesn't apply?"

HER: "Correct. You would need to contact the Commonwealth's Attorney in that county."

*Always get names so that you can have a subpoena served. I did specifically ask to speak with a CPO, but she insisted on fielding the question.

I won't argue with you. I think I have proven my point. Without a CCP, you are not to have loaded firearms on your person or in your vehicle in the National Forest outside of hunting season. Now as to whether you actually have to have it concealed with the permit I'll agree, that is not completly clear, but to me it can be implied. Remember, unfortunately it all depends on how the particular officer feels that day. They make the arrests, it's up to the judge to decide whether it was justified or not.
Instead of talking to the game warden, try a forest ranger, just don't call them pickles, they don't like that.

What has definitely been proven is the absurdity of the Commonwealth making rules specific to multi-state USDA property, which has a set of rules in place.

The conversation with VDGIF contradicts the absolute "no loaded guns out of season" (other than CC) position. I agree that "you may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride" depending on the officer and circumstances.

If I'm not mistaken it was the USDA that set the no firearms outside of season rule but in an agreement with the commonwealth made it so carrying with a CCP is allowed. The hard thing is finding the rules on the USDA/NF web site allowing that particular provision but it is the federal government we are talking about.
When you first asked me I confess it did take me a bit to find them.
The ability to carry in the GWNF and JNF is what make me seek out my CCP to begin with since I spend so much time there alone.
I'll be heading up to Highland County in a couple of weeks for an extended camping trip and I wouldn't want to go unarmed. Especially for the fact that I have seen numerous bear and heard plenty of coyotes let alone the supposedly non-existent mountain lions and existent meth labs and pot growing plots.
I think it's great that we can now carry in the Shenandoah National Park were several murders and attacks on citizens have taken place over the years.
For what it's worth most of the time I open carry too but I'm usually so far of the beaten track I don't see anyone anyway.
Let me know when you are next traveling to the NF. Maybe we can hook up. I know some great little known trout streams.

Roverhound wrote:Without a CCP, you are not to have loaded firearms on your person or in your vehicle in the National Forest outside of hunting season.

Which is weird, because in most national forests I've heard of, recreational shooting is allowed.

Diomed wrote:

Roverhound wrote:Without a CCP, you are not to have loaded firearms on your person or in your vehicle in the National Forest outside of hunting season.

Which is weird, because in most national forests I've heard of, recreational shooting is allowed.

It is here also but on approved firing ranges. The thinking is you don't have people randomly shooting up the forest. I'm willing to bet regulatios are in place in all the national forests for this.

Roverhound wrote:I'm willing to bet regulatios are in place in all the national forests for this.

The only NF I've bothered to look into the issue is the Coconino, they seem to be pretty easygoing about it. Basically "don't do dumb stuff you shouldn't do".

Well this conversation went in a different direction quickly. After researching for weeks I finally went with this:

http://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/tabi ... fault.aspx

While it is a bit expensive, it will serve as my BOB, 3 GUN shooting platform, Backpacking pourch, molle system, and conceal carry holster when I go running/backpacking.

The holding compartment is a bit smaller than I would like it to be however its molle strapping system more than makes up for the lack of space. And its very very comfortable.

I reccomend this buy to any and ever backpacker.

For OPEN carry with a ruck, I have about ten years of faithful service from the chest holster by http://www.survivalsheath.com/holsters/index.htm.

For CONCEALED with a ruck, I have come to appreciate the Safepacker that has already been mentioned (http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinna ... parent=145). My only reservation is that it pretty much rules out any manner of speed.