National forests are federally held public lands, but are regulated by state law. Here is a clip from the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) which enforceshunting, trapping, fishing regulations.
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/publiclands.asp#nationalforests
Regulations Specific to National Forest and Game Department Lands
It shall be unlawful to have in possession a bow or gun which is not unloaded and cased or dismantled on all National Forest lands statewide, or on Departmentowned lands and on lands managed by the Department under cooperative agreement in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey or waterfowl on these lands; and on Department-owned lands and on lands managed by the Department under cooperative agreement in counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, waterfowl or migratory game birds on these lands.
Except as provided by special concealed handgun permit, it shall be unlawful to possess or transport a loaded gun in or on any vehicle at any time on National Forest lands or Department-owned lands. "Loaded gun" is defined as a firearm in which ammunition is chambered or loaded in the magazine or clip, when such magazine or clip is found engaged or partially engaged in a firearm. The definition of a loaded muzzleloading gun will include a gun which is capped or has a charged pan.
The word "possession" shall include, but not be limited to, having any bow or firearm in or on one's person, vehicle or conveyance.
*********************************************
We would have to do some more research here on the actual code, but it would appear the "
concealed carry exception" is out of step with the state open carry pre-emption.
Hope that helps...
