[tapehoser]

I am taking a group of scouts on a hike up to Lake Blanche at the end of June. While I will be carrying my XD45 Compact on my person at all times, and in light of the deep back country setting, and because Utah is Black Bear country, I would prefer to have a rifle on my person. If you must ask, it will be my Marlin 1895 chambered for the venerable 45-70 Gov't cartridge. and loaded with 300 grain Nosler Partitions.

I know that I am perfectly within my rights to carry my concealed weapon to Lake Blanche, but what about a rifle that is in plain site, slung over my shoulder?

Loaded with one in the chamber and safety on?

I sort of abide by the saying that goes something like this: "In a gunfight, use your pistol to fight your way to a rifle."

What say ye, forum members?

 

[Car Knocker]

As I recall, Lake Blanche is in a National Forest and, unless there is a special closure, it is legal to have firearms, concealed or not, in a NF. I checked and here's the Forest service page for that area. http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/unit/slrd/ ... ness.shtml Note that there is no mention of firearms. A call to the Ranger station for this district should give you a definitive answer.

 

[tapehoser]

I believe it is National Parks that prohibit firearms, not National Forests. But I could be mistaken.

The link you provided is great, but, like you said, it doesn't mention anything about firearms.

 

[Car Knocker]

National Forests coordinate with the states they are in as regards firearms. For example, I believe Florida, just last year, started allowing carry in NF. National Park rules allow firearms in the parks but unloaded and/or cased (inassessible); some NP properties allow hunting - I ran across a document that stated there were 59 such locations.

 

[xmirage2kx]

I believe in Utah as long as you are in an unincorporated area or in participation in an approved activity (like hunting) you can legally carry a rifle. I am not sure about loaded, but I would imagine you can with a weapons permit, without one you may need to keep it unloaded. If nothing else it is legal to transport a weapon to a legal shooting area, so as long as your trip brings you to such an area you should be fine.

 

[Jeff Johnson]

I believe in Utah as long as you are in an unincorporated area or in participation in an approved activity (like hunting) you can legally carry a rifle. I am not sure about loaded, but I would imagine you can with a weapons permit, without one you may need to keep it unloaded. If nothing else it is legal to transport a weapon to a legal shooting area, so as long as your trip brings you to such an area you should be fine.

Just out of curiosity ... what is a "weapons permit" and how does that correlate to a rifle? Do you mean a Concealed Firearm Permit?

 

[xmirage2kx]

Yeah, I meant Concealed Firearm Permit. Sorry I just got lazy while typing and had a momentary brain fart since the permit has different names in different states.
The CFP exempts you from 3 laws in Utah: carrying a concealed and loaded firearm in a vehicle; carrying a concealed firearm on your person and; carrying a loaded and concealed firearm on or about school property. Without a permit you can carry anywhere that is not prohibited by law (and in Utah that is a lot of places) as long as the weapon is legally unloaded as per 76-10-502 and not concealed. No mention is made (that I can find) restricting an openly carried rifle in rural areas (although I have found some evidence that within city limits it may be a no-no, but no laws I can find as a reference).
Since the CFP allows the carrying of a loaded concealed firearm (whether open or concealed) and even a rifle can be concealed (towel over it in a car for instance) I would assume that a rifle could be carried openly or concealed and loaded with a CFP, or open and unloaded without one (however you may very well be able to carry it loaded if your not on areas such as "City streets" which the law defines).

I draw this conclusion from the general idea of: If there is no law against it, then it is legal. If anyone knows of any laws that say otherwise, or if I have misread something let me know as I don’t like being the one to spread incorrect info.

 

[Ruger Collector]

45-70 might be overkill for a Utah black bear... the animal control agent who tracked/dispatched the bear that killed the young camper in Utah county used a .243 as I recall.

I usually carry 2 .357 revolvers when camping/hiking (to avoid the confusion about me being hunting, which a rifle might cause), a stainless 2" snub concealed, and an 8" open holstered. Few predators in UT are a match for the .357 +P+ "Hunting Load"...

 

[tapehoser]

I ended up taking my Model 94 AE Winchester in .44 Magnum, loaded with 250 Winchester Platinum Tip bullets.

Everybody loved shooting it.

 

[UTOC-45-44]

I am taking a group of scouts on a hike up to Lake Blanche at the end of June. While I will be carrying my XD45 Compact on my person at all times, and in light of the deep back country setting, and because Utah is Black Bear country, I would prefer to have a rifle on my person. If you must ask, it will be my Marlin 1895 chambered for the venerable 45-70 Gov't cartridge. and loaded with 300 grain Nosler Partitions.

I know that I am perfectly within my rights to carry my concealed weapon to Lake Blanche, but what about a rifle that is in plain site, slung over my shoulder?

Loaded with one in the chamber and safety on?

I sort of abide by the saying that goes something like this: "In a gunfight, use your pistol to fight your way to a rifle."

What say ye, forum members?

In Utah you are OK to carry a rifle Openly ( no caliber restrictons really ). Make sure your Pistol is 4" or longer. Rifles ar VERY recommened to be unloaded // Your pistol can be Loaded for sure //

Just my .44

P.s Next time I'm going up I'm taking my 44Mag Roger Vaquero 5'5 on my Hip and my 44Mag Henry Rifle over the Shoulder :mrgreen:

 

[Kevin Jensen]

In Utah you may openly carry an UNLOADED firearm.
In Utah a CFP holder may openly carry or conceal a LOADED or unloaded firearm.
Firearm = Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle, or Muzzle Loader.

Happy Carrying!

Make sure your Pistol is 4" or longer.

Why 4" or longer?

 

[apollosmith]

Why 4" or longer?

I think he's referring to 76-10-504 which allows the concealed carry of a firearm with a barrel longer than 4" WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING, even if you do not have a CFP. This does not apply if you're not legally hunting.

 

[Kevin Jensen]

:idea: Ah ha! I am not a hunter, so that part of the code hasn't burned into my memory yet. Thanks!