To clear the void of confusion online, I just had a 10 minute phone conversation with the LEO Captain of George Washington National Forest. Here is the summary of our conversation:
- CHP holders may CCW
- You can OC during hunting seasons; however, you will need a hunting license on you to OC
- HOWEVER, you WILL be prosecuted if you "hunt" with a 1911, snub nose revolver, etc. You can only hunt with authorized weapons for the season, per the code, or you'll be charged with a weapons violation.
- You CANNOT claim "I'm hunting feral hog/coyotes" during the off season, as the firearms OC clause is only during hunting season.
- Because these are federal lands, all rules apply across state boarders to other NFs.
- He went off the 2013 Virginia Hunting book for federal Wilderness Areas/National Forests. While VA is an OC state, it falls back to federal law on these lands being protected wildlife areas.
-He said don't even walk into a Ranger station or building CCWing on NF land, as these builders are federal, and are like walking into a federal courthouse/military base/post office, etc.
Sad news for hikers like myself, that wanted to OC on NF/NP land for personal defensive reasons.
- CHP holders may CCW
- You can OC during hunting seasons; however, you will need a hunting license on you to OC
- HOWEVER, you WILL be prosecuted if you "hunt" with a 1911, snub nose revolver, etc. You can only hunt with authorized weapons for the season, per the code, or you'll be charged with a weapons violation.
- You CANNOT claim "I'm hunting feral hog/coyotes" during the off season, as the firearms OC clause is only during hunting season.
- Because these are federal lands, all rules apply across state boarders to other NFs.
- He went off the 2013 Virginia Hunting book for federal Wilderness Areas/National Forests. While VA is an OC state, it falls back to federal law on these lands being protected wildlife areas.
-He said don't even walk into a Ranger station or building CCWing on NF land, as these builders are federal, and are like walking into a federal courthouse/military base/post office, etc.
Sad news for hikers like myself, that wanted to OC on NF/NP land for personal defensive reasons.