appalachian trail

[linchpin]

can you carry a rifle on the appalachian trail while backpacking??

[27hand]

can you carry a rifle on the appalachian trail while backpacking??

I guess I would start by asking if it is under any Federal jurisdiction.

If not, you would have to verify what states you are hiking through and if they have any specific firearms regs.

I found this:

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site...egulations.htm

Can I carry a gun?

ATC strongly discourages hikers from carrying firearms. In areas of the Trail corridor where hunting is legal, hikers may see hunters carrying firearms. On National Park Service lands outside national recreation areas, possession of firearms by private citizens is illegal. The prohibition applies on many other public lands as well. Where firearms are allowed, state laws on licenses, registration, and related matters govern.


Here ya go,

27hand

[gnbrotz]

From the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website:

Can I carry a gun?

ATC strongly discourages hikers from carrying firearms. In areas of the Trail corridor where hunting is legal, hikers may see hunters carrying firearms. On National Park Service lands outside national recreation areas, possession of firearms by private citizens is illegal. The prohibition applies on many other public lands as well. Where firearms are allowed, state laws on licenses, registration, and related matters govern.

[27hand]

From the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website:

Beat ya by a minute Greg

27

[gnbrotz]

Beat ya by a minute Greg

27

Yeah, but I think mine is purtier.

....I'll get you next time....

[27hand]

Yeah, but I think mine is purtier.

....I'll get you next time....

I'll give you that. I'm just a plain guy.

Later, 27

[linchpin]

another for ya wouldn't this provision of state lands hamper my ability to defend myself and therefore violate the state constitution but I guess I could carry mace or a big stick

[27hand]

another for ya wouldn't this provision of state lands hamper my ability to defend myself and therefore violate the state constitution but I guess I could carry mace or a big stick

Yes it would.

Read into it more. I really only skimmed the material and am not sure if it's absolutely prohibited ON the trail or just in certain areas along the trail.

State law may come into play.

I would contact someone on that website to get specific answers about the trail itself. Perhaps the para we posted "On National Park Service lands outside national recreation areas, possession of firearms by private citizens is illegal. The prohibition applies on many other public lands as well. Where firearms are allowed, state laws on licenses, registration, and related matters govern." only applies to National Park Service lands. I would get clarification of exact locations of these areas and if not forbidden,perhaps the states it goes through is reciprocal with some state that you can get Non Res permit in.

I'd do more research to be certain.

27hand

[sjohn26]

can you carry a rifle on the appalachian trail while backpacking??

Can................it depends.

Should you??............absolutely.....you carry water, 1st aid and spare socks----right?

[tdyoung58]

I use the trail often to get to my favorite hunting spots . . . never had a problem. Even hiked up part of it with a Game Commission Officer one time