Backpacking/hiking with firearm

[SPGuy]

On the day my FNP gets out of jail my girlfriend wants to go hiking in a national forest after months of trying to get her to go to one. I will not leave it in the car for fear of it getting stolen...where can i get the laws for carrying a pistol for selfdefense in nature? Do I need a CCW still? Or am I going to have to keep it locked in it's box in a backpack? And the option of taking it home and putting it away is 99.5% not possible and I MUST have it for work Monday. Any ideas?

[trashman]

It depends very specifically on where you are going to hike, and which .gov agency has administrative jurisdiction.

You should also very HYPER informed about the location of the surrounding boundaries -- for instance, the Muir National Wilderness, where open carry of firearms is permitted (but discharge is not except for hunting or emergencies) backs up into Sequoia National Park (or Forest, can't recall which) where firearms are not permitted.

--Neill

[trashman]

...the part I left out is that you should consult the regulations for whatever National Forest you're planning to visit to be clear about what is legal and what is not.

Don't make any assumptions - National Forests do not have uniform rules across the US...

--Neill

[CenterX]

Contact the ranger station local to where you are going to hike and ask them.

Loaded Open Carry is the norm.

Make sure you have all the proper gear, check the weather report, plan your trip, follow the plan and have a great time.

[operator13]

Anyone know of good places to hike in Southern California that allow loaded open carry? I'm located in the San Gabriel Valley.

[tennisman]

dont ask dont tell works for me

[Press Check]

In CA, you cannot open-carry in National or State Parks, but you can in fact open-carry in the National Forest, in addition to unincorporated, unpopulated, rural areas.

Personally, I'd never get caught miles away from civilization or hours away from help without or means to defend myself. If nothing else, Coyotes might smell the jerky in your backpack, and trust me, if you're sweating, you smell like a tasty treat to a carnivor. Out here in the SFV, tons of reports about Coyotes starving in the Santa Monica and likewise mountains, and coming into urban areas to find food. Namely, your pets.

[SPGuy]

We will be going to Cleveland National Forest

[Aspec5vz]

This might help:

http://calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=186457

[SPGuy]

Contacted CFN and was informed that they were informed by the sherriffs office that open carry was legal...also informed by the girlfriend another female friend will be hiking with us so feel better with the idea of open carry plus my two dogs don't think anyone will mess with us

[huntercf]

Go buy a hunting license. You are allowed to hunt coyotes, which means you can carry your pistol loaded (just not concealed). There are a few areas where you are not allowed to hunt (i.e. near houses and campsites) but I believe the regs allow you to carry a loaded firearm if you are going to and from. Your best bet is to contact the ranger station and confirm the regs.