Northwest Refresher on carrying while hiking...

[TNThomas]

As someone who hikes and camps regularly in WA, here's my free advice.
If you plan on hiking in crowed areas where you'll encounter other hikers often, don't open carry. Even though it's legal it's liable to freak people out. Heck I even sometimes get funny looks from that 7 inch fixed blade in kydex strapped to my pack. Day hikes on busy trails with kids and Seattle natives you'll instantly get the vibe guns strapped on your hip are causing some delicate daisy anxiety. Especially somewhere like the Olympics, lots of tourists and day hikers there. Now if you're 3 days into the Eagle Cap Wilderness, or the Gifford Pinchot, you won't get a second glance from the horseback rider with a rifle strapped to his saddle bag and 6 shooter on his hip.
I'm a resident with a CPL, when I don't expect to see other hikers in the backcountry I open carry. If I expect to see lots of people or tourists, like a beach hike or the Hoh Rainforest (Olympics), I carry concealed. Actually I usually just carry concealed to avoid the whole thing. Or not carry at all, I've camped and hiked alone hundreds and hundreds of times in WA and never once had to draw a pistol for any reason. Usually it's dead weight. Where you really need to carry concealed in WA is the city haha.
Once my tent is pitched and I'm in my campsite I switch to open carry, or just leave my pistol sitting in a holster on my pack for the bear or Sasquatch that never shows up.

Good advice right here. I never carry full size on hikes in Western WA. Usually concealed, but even then, if the scenario was to happen that it was needed, I don't know that I would reach for my pistol. I usually carry a J-frame, but even then I feel like its dead weight. Your likely going to be wet, a little cold, and possibly have gloves on. In addition the undergrowth is so thick in western WA (especially the Olympics) that you would likely be really close to any threat. With this in mind, I also carry a big big fixed blade with a solid tang (9" blade). I might get a few wounds from a mean critter, but I can draw and accurately use that WAY faster than I can with my pistol, especially in the dark (which it almost always is), and also effectively use it with either hand. I think a more valuable tool is a personal locator beacon, especially if you are going solo, or in a low traffic area (which is hard to do here).

I carry (kydex sheath on my hip) a Esee Junglas with bright colors to make it look less intimidating. Less "snag prone" than a pistol as well. Fantastic in that its a self defense weapon that can clear vegitation, chop wood, cut wood lengthwise (see pic, batoned that lengthwise), is lighter than a pistol, faster to draw (with course motor skills), and potentially more lethal at close range.

 

[ma96782]

Once my tent is pitched and I'm in my campsite I switch to open carry, or just leave my pistol sitting in a holster on my pack for the bear or Sasquatch that never shows up.

Q : What caliber is appropriate for this defensive situation?



Yup. Hunting Sasquatch is illegal.
But I did say "Defensive Situation".

Aloha, Mark

PS........Bears?

 

[waldteufel]

Most people carry 10mm for bear in AK, I'd imagine that would work for sasquatch as well, lol.

 

[Jay Walk]

Be aware of all Firearm laws that pertain to "any" circumstance that you may find yourself in.

I would search for something written that allows a revolver to be open carried in WA State.

 

[kurpak]

Q : What caliber is appropriate for this defensive situation?

View attachment 1378268

Yup. Hunting Sasquatch is illegal.
But I did say "Defensive Situation".

Aloha, Mark

PS........Bears?
View attachment 1378269

LOL.
It's all fun and games until you're 5 miles into the Redwoods alone in the pitch black and hear long drawn out howling at 10 p.m. Or at Deadman's lake in the Gifford and the sound of a pig goat being strangled for 10 minutes, then hearing the screaming sounds float off into the sky over the lake. Or maybe that time near Mt. Adams way off in the bush I got woken up at 2 AM by something smacking a tree repeatedly. Having a blaster by your inflatable camp pillow gives just enough false security to go back to sleep.

 

[bcp]

Nothing in the woods at night that isn't there in the daytime, too. Just can't see them.

Bruce

 

[MymuttBear]

Nothing in the woods at night that isn't there in the daytime, too. Just can't see them.

Bruce

Yeah, and my mom used to tell me thunder was the Angels moving furniture and lightning was them using torches!

 

[crstrode]

LOL.
It's all fun and games until you're 5 miles into the Redwoods alone in the pitch black and hear long drawn out howling at 10 p.m. Or at Deadman's lake in the Gifford and the sound of a pig goat being strangled for 10 minutes, then hearing the screaming sounds float off into the sky over the lake. Or maybe that time near Mt. Adams way off in the bush I got woken up at 2 AM by something smacking a tree repeatedly. Having a blaster by your inflatable camp pillow gives just enough false security to go back to sleep.

Whoa!
Lay off the shrooms, man.

 

[cutbow73]

Howdy.

Heading back to the PNW this spring to do some hiking and camping. What are the current regs on carrying while doing so? Does my handgun need to be visible(open carry) at all times? Would using a hill people gear kit bag be verboten, since it is concealed?

Also, if I'm heading up to WA, can I take my standard capacity mags with me? I tried to look this up, but it seems to be a grey area.

Thanks!

 

[cutbow73]

It ex

Well if you're worried about legalities and don't have a carry permit that allows you to carry in Washington then technically it's illegal. Even if your just passing through.

As far as the mags go I have no idea. But if you are smart how would anyone ever know?

I have my own opinions on what I would do. I'd be more concerned with crossing the border into Canada with the firearm.

According to the state it does not matter if you are not a resident of Washington. You can absolutely open carry in Washington state. You can also conceal carry without a permit while engaged in outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. It is not illegal what so ever. It is even listed under Washington state parks rules and regulations as well as the Washington state website. Not saying you won't get grief from law enforcement. It is 100% legal for both activities

 

[cutbow73]

Don't know on Washington preemption, but Multnomah county, and likely others, have prohibitions against loaded guns, magazines, speed loaders and clips without a CHL.

Just to piss off the Washington people, if you have an Oregon CHL, you can conceal carry a rifle in Oregon

It is the same for Washington. You can have a loaded magazine but cannot have a round in the chamber while open carry is being performed. While in a vehicle without a CCW you must store your firearm in a locked container in inside the cab or outside the cab like the bed of your truck. Ammunition must be in a separate container as well. Now when you are out doing recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping you can conceal carry without a permit. A lot of people in Washington don't even know that law exists which I find amusing. It's even listed in Washington State Parks website for rules and regulations. We have some pretty strict laws but we have yet to have counties add separate laws like in Oregon. The way things are going it will happen though

Get a concealed carry permit.

Concealed is concealed.

If the mags originated in Washington they can leave and come back I believe. They just can't multiply while they are out of state.

If the mags are from out of state going into Washington and hold more than 10 rounds then I don't think it's allowed. If you care to follow that law.

None of this is legal advice obviously.

It is 100% legal to conceal carry without a permit in Washington state while performing legal recreational outdoor activities. It is the law. It's even posted on Washington State Parks website for rules and regulations while using the park.

 

[cutbow73]

Since it seems to be legal to carry concealed, "when camping/hiking" I might just use my hill people gear chest pack, to keep it out of sight and not worry about freaking out tourists.

Generally a good rule of thumb in my opinion. If just all depends on how big my pack is. If I'm out for a multi day packing trip I carry it in my chest rig. It is just way too uncomfortable otherwise. My wife attached a holster to her backpack strap. She refuses to accommodate the easily offended

 

[cutbow73]

Howdy.

Heading back to the PNW this spring to do some hiking and camping. What are the current regs on carrying while doing so? Does my handgun need to be visible(open carry) at all times? Would using a hill people gear kit bag be verboten, since it is concealed?

Also, if I'm heading up to WA, can I take my standard capacity mags with me? I tried to look this up, but it seems to be a grey area.

Thanks!

I posted the RCW directly from the ATG's website m. Ferguson is a stickler for the law. Overzealous most will say. That being said he states it is 10@% legal to conceal carry without a permit while performing outdoor activities in Washington. I highly recommend getting one 10 round magazine for your daily carry though. Lock up your others. It's not worth the debate with law enforcement.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

According to the state it does not matter if you are not a resident of Washington. You can absolutely open carry in Washington state. You can also conceal carry without a permit while engaged in outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. It is not illegal what so ever. It is even listed under Washington state parks rules and regulations as well as the Washington state website. Not saying you won't get grief from law enforcement. It is 100% legal for both activities

You are responding to a necro thread. Why?

The OP was asking about visiting in the spring over 1 year ago.

 

[User 1234]

It is the same for Washington. You can have a loaded magazine but cannot have a round in the chamber while open carry is being performed. While in a vehicle without a CCW you must store your firearm in a locked container in inside the cab or outside the cab like the bed of your truck. Ammunition must be in a separate container as well. Now when you are out doing recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping you can conceal carry without a permit. A lot of people in Washington don't even know that law exists which I find amusing. It's even listed in Washington State Parks website for rules and regulations. We have some pretty strict laws but we have yet to have counties add separate laws like in Oregon. The way things are going it will happen though

It is 100% legal to conceal carry without a permit in Washington state while performing legal recreational outdoor activities. It is the law. It's even posted on Washington State Parks website for rules and regulations while using the park.

Please share your citation for the statement that open carry is only allowed if the chamber is unloaded. Here is the Washington State 9.41 menu:

Chapter 9.41 RCW:

apps.leg.wa.gov

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Please share your citation for the statement that open carry is only allowed if the chamber is unloaded. Here is the Washington State 9.41 menu:

Chapter 9.41 RCW:

apps.leg.wa.gov

Why bother, user with 2 posts total resurrected a year old thread not to answer the question for the OP, but to try to show us how smart he is I guess...