The following statements and questions are not to be construed as an attempt to RUFFLE FEATHERS......
How far away from said campsite would the travel towards or away from the campsite remain OK under your interpretation?
So, camping is the prerequisite and qualifying activity that authorizes the camper to open carry while hiking......Hmmmm?????
Remember.....Devil's advocate here!!!!
If I set up a tent and associated accoutrements on my rural property at my designated campsite and proceed to hike away in any direction with my openly displayed sidearm ....will I be OK?
Thanks again for allowing me to play Devil's advocate.
I have been searching through the archived Florida Statutes regarding open carry while hiking...My mind may be playing tricks on me. I thought hiking was at one time spelled out in the statute. I have gone back to 1997 via online archives with no luck, still need to dig deeper. If I find anything I will post.........
Sorry for the late reply. I was out camping and on a hunting expedition.
How far away from said campsite would the travel towards or away from the campsite remain OK under your interpretation?
Very good question. I think as long as you are, in fact, camping you can open carry. Now reasonableness has to come into play somewhere, right. Using the provision for open carry in 790.25(3) just so you can open carry is asking, no begging to invite the man into your life! - 'ain't nobody got time for that!
If I set up a tent and associated accoutrements on my rural property at my designated campsite and proceed to hike away in any direction with my openly displayed sidearm ....will I be OK?
A lot is going to depend on the area, the LEO, etc.
I routinely open carry from the time I leave the house until I get back home at the end of the hunting expedition. My camping is almost always part of a hunting expedition.
This sometimes includes any side trips that occur during the expedition. Depending on where we are and if I think about it, I'll grab a cover shirt. Sometimes I don't think about it and open carry into town. Again it all depends on the area.
I don't use it as an excuse just to open carry. Sometimes, it's just easier to not worry about covering up.
Been doing this for over 30 years and never had a negative encounter with locals or LEO. That could also be the areas I choose to hunt in too.
We (and the courts will) have to presume that the legislature used the phrase 'lawful hunting expedition' instead of just 'hunting' for a reason. They clearly intended to include traveling from place to place (and not just to/from) while hunting and getting fuel/supplies is an integral part of an expedition.