Someone please help me out.

If I hike (and camp over night) into Uwharrie or another NF in NC, can I carry my pistol on my hip (or concealed, I have a permit for concealed carry)?
Can I carry my AR-15 over my shoulder?
Can I break down the AR-15 and pack it in case I want to hike to the shooting range?

What is your experience with guns in NC National Forests and what have you heard from actual NF personnel?

Thanks

National Forests in North Carolina fall under the communist rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission. Here's a link and quote.

http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_02_regulations.htm
http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg02_Regs/pg2a3.pdf

"During closed seasons on game birds and game animals, it is unlawful to possess any firearm or
bow and arrow readily available for use."

Here's your deal.

During turkey season it is unlawful to possess a rifle on game lands.

● During closed seasons on game birds and game animals, it is
unlawful to possess any firearm or bow and arrow readily available
for use. During that time in which fox season is the only open
season for a game animal, it is also unlawful to possess these
weapons.
The following exceptions, however, should be noted:

- Possession is allowed on field trial and designated target shooting
areas and in camping areas for defense of person or property.

- 22-caliber pistols with barrels not greater than 7.5 inches in
length and shooting only short, long or long rifle ammunition
may be carried as side arms on game lands at any time except
by hunters during the special bow-and-arrow and muzzleloading
firearms deer hunting season.

- Individuals training dogs during closed season without field
trial authorization are prohibited from carrying any weapon.

- A bow and fishing arrows may be possessed when used as a
licensed special fishing device in those waters where such use
is authorized.

You are dealing with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regulations above.



CRC

Right, got that. So I can't carry any weapon into a National Forest, except when there is some ongoing season.

Does this mean I can do it with or without a hunting license during the season?

Another question, since this touches on hunting, the regs also say that you can't have a rifle or pistol larger than .22 rimfire during non-big game season on state game lands. Does that mean I can't hunt groundhog in a National Forest with my AR unless it is also deer season? I guess it does.

Quoted: Here's your deal. During turkey season it is unlawful to possess a rifle on game lands. ● During closed seasons on game birds and game animals, it is unlawful to possess any firearm or bow and arrow readily available for use. During that time in which fox season is the only open season for a game animal, it is also unlawful to possess these weapons. The following exceptions, however, should be noted: - Possession is allowed on field trial and designated target shooting areas and in camping areas for defense of person or property. - 22-caliber pistols with barrels not greater than 7.5 inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle ammunition may be carried as side arms on game lands at any time except by hunters during the special bow-and-arrow and muzzleloading firearms deer hunting season. - Individuals training dogs during closed season without field trial authorization are prohibited from carrying any weapon. - A bow and fishing arrows may be possessed when used as a licensed special fishing device in those waters where such use is authorized.

I don't see the point of this regulation because there is no closed season on several game animals (like groundhog). Therefore it would never apply.

Help me understand it.

No if you read above you CAN CARRY a specified .22 LR handgun as long as it's not muzzleloader or archery deer season  ANYWHERE ON GAME LANDS except of course safety zones.

And you CAN CARRY a firearm at a shooting range or USFS camping area.

CRC

Quoted: Quoted: Here's your deal. During turkey season it is unlawful to possess a rifle on game lands. ● During closed seasons on game birds and game animals, it is unlawful to possess any firearm or bow and arrow readily available for use. During that time in which fox season is the only open season for a game animal, it is also unlawful to possess these weapons. The following exceptions, however, should be noted: - Possession is allowed on field trial and designated target shooting areas and in camping areas for defense of person or property. - 22-caliber pistols with barrels not greater than 7.5 inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle ammunition may be carried as side arms on game lands at any time except by hunters during the special bow-and-arrow and muzzleloading firearms deer hunting season. - Individuals training dogs during closed season without field trial authorization are prohibited from carrying any weapon. - A bow and fishing arrows may be possessed when used as a licensed special fishing device in those waters where such use is authorized. I don't see the point of this regulation because there is no closed season on several game animals (like groundhog). Therefore it would never apply. Help me understand it.

Groundhogs are not classified by the state as a game animal. Neither are coyotes.

Foxes are treated seperately.

It's all the state statutes somwhere. What is a game animal, what is not, what is a furbearer, ect.

Here it really is in a nutshell:

Do you own a handgun that can shoot .22 long rifle or .22 longs or .22 shorts with a barrel less than 7.5 inches?

That is about all you can carry outside of a camping area.



CRC

Rich,
While my son was attending a Hunter's Safety course I had a great opportunity to talk at length with a couple of wildlife enforcement officers. They said if you called or approached them ahead of time and let them know you were coyote/groundhog/etc hunting lots of things were possible. Them randomly finding you wandering the gamelands with a AR or Remington 700 in 22-250 outside the normal hunting seasons is a different story. Most of the enforcement officers are hunters too and reasonable individuals. One even told me where a great hunting spot was. I would ask for permission in writing though, hate to have the one you called on vacation that day.

Thanks for all your input.

This is just another reason why we need different people in the legislature. The laws just defy common sense.

Quoted: Thanks for all your input. This is just another reason why we need different people in the legislature. The laws just defy common sense.

The thing is Common Sense is not to common.  As the joke goes, What is the most abundant thing in the universe after Hydrogen?

Answer - Stupidity, and I really have to wonder if its more abundant than Hydrogen.

Well last session in Raleigh there was a bill to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry on game lands during out of hunting  seasons among other things.

Quoted: Well last session in Raleigh there was a bill to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry on game lands during out of hunting  seasons among other things.

What ever happened to it?

Nothing.

Try the NC General Assembly webpage for more details