Ones Campsite

[Jubba]

Question regarding loaded open carry while in your campsite.

My Dad and I are planning on backpacking in Angeles NF sometime soon, camping out in our Hammocks. Question is, what qualifies the area where you're going to be staying the night as your campsite? How large of an area does your campsite cover? (Within what range of the campsite can I loaded open Carry?)

Thanks,
Jubba.

[exklusve]

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

This thread has the best info for these types of questions.
I think you'll want to look at post #1 and #3. From what I've read I haven't seen anything that says how large your 'campsite' area is considered.
Another wonderful example of the very confusing and convoluted laws here in CA. Hopefully someone else will also chime in with more info to help you out here.
Here's #3.

A common source of confusion is assuming that one code exemption applies to all codes. Be careful not to fall into this trap. For example, it is a common misbelief that it is legal to carry/possess a loaded firearm in one's campsite regardless where that campsite is. While it is true that 12031(l) exempts you from 12031, it does not prevent your violation and conviction of some other local, state, or federal code. For an example of this, see Scenario 1 below.

Another common mistake is confusing 12025 (prohibits concealing) with 12031 (prohibits loading). See Scenario 5 and 6 below.


Scenario 1: You are in a California State Park, in your campsite, carrying an unloaded handgun openly in a belt holster.
Status: illegal - violation of CCR Title 14, Div 3, Chap 1, s 4313, possessing a firearm in a State Park

Scenario 2: You are in a National Forest, in your campsite, carrying a loaded handgun openly in a belt holster.
Status: legal - 12031(l) exempts you from 12031

Scenario 3: You are in a National Forest, walking from your campsite to a public pit toilet, carrying a loaded handgun openly in a belt holster.
Status: illegal - 12031 violation - you are not in your own campsite, and are in an area where shooting is prohibited, so 12031 applies **

Scenario 4: You are in a National Forest, walking from your campsite to a public pit toilet, carrying an unloaded handgun openly in a belt holster.
Status: legal

Scenario 5: A licensed fisherman is fishing a stream in the National Forest, within 150 yards of a developed campsite. He is carrying a loaded concealed handgun.
Status: illegal - while not violating 12025 (concealed) because of 12027, he is violating 12031 (loaded) because the nearby campsite triggers the "prohibited area" language **

Scenario 6: A licensed fisherman is fishing on a lake in a regional park, where carrying and shooting firearms is prohibited by county ordinance. He is carrying a loaded concealed handgun.
Status: illegal - 2 violations - PC 12031 (loaded) and the county ordinance


** - This entire thread presumes that the "prohibited area" language in 12031 is triggered by the various federal shooting restrictions. This is the more cautious interpretation, however, there are other interpretations.

Good luck!

[Jubba]

Thanks, I looked at that thread first, but I only looked at the first post.

I'm mainly curious if your campsite is where you set up camp in an area that is specifically for camping out, or if your campsite is wherever you decide to set up camp in the woods while hiking.

For loaded open carry in your campsite i'm pretty sure i'll be safe with just carrying around the general area not wandering off away from the site or going to do other things.

[rudigan]

Well if you are going backpacking, that means you will be primitive camping, as in no established campground with toilets and picnic benches and such yes?

If that's the case you should be fine, but for sure confirm with Ang Ntl Frst law enforcement first. Most national forests and wilderness areas are OK for open carry as long as you are away from established camp/recreation areas or away from areas specifically recognized as no firearm discharge areas.

Target shooting is usually OK in Ntl Forest just clean up your stuff, but usually not legal in a wilderness area, emergency only, again check with law enforcement in the area you are going to be sure. You might also want to bring printed pages of the OK info and/or name of NFLEO or Ranger who confirmed it was OK.

Enjoy!!

[Jubba]

Yeah, primitive camping.

Thanks much, i'll be sure to give them a call before we go to see what they allow.

[QQQ]

To clarify about shooting, outside of Burro Canyon and A Place to Shoot, Angeles National Forest does not allow target practice.

Be careful about advice given to you by anybody on the phone (or on the internet).

[6079Winston]

About sleeping in a hammock, while very comfortable it can be downright cold when your body weight compresses the insulation in your sleeping bag. You definitely need some sort of lightweight pad or matress below in colder weather, just like you would if sleeping on the ground. I've slept on the ground for the last 20 years or so but I still remember how cold it was the last time I used a hammock in cold weather with just a sleeping bag.