Open carry in SC?

[Country_boy_88]

so the law confuses me a bit. Im getting my first carry pistol tomorrow and signing up for a CCW class right away but would appreciate if someone could interpret this for me.

It is unlawful to carry about the person a handgun concealed or unconcealed except as follows:
Law enforcement officers and prison guards while they are on duty.

Members of the armed forces, reserve forces, National Guard, or State Militia, when on duty.

Members of organizations authorized by law to buy or receive firearms from the United States or South Carolina, or regularly enrolled members of target shooting or firearms collecting clubs while these members are at or going to or from their places of target practice or their shows and exhibits.

Licensed hunters or fishermen while engaged in hunting or fishing or going to or from their places of hunting or fishing.

I want to use a thigh rig while hunting on fort jackson due to coyote attacks but was under the impression it is illegal to open carry ccw or not in SC.

 

[bear71]

Coyotes attack humans in SC?

Here in Minne they bolt at first whiff.

The way I read the law is that unconcealed carry is permitted only when amongst other things Licensed hunters or fishermen while engaged in hunting or fishing or going to or from their places of hunting or fishing.

You are hunting so openly carrying appears to be lawful.

 

[Country_boy_88]

not necesarilly. last year a range worker told me his buddy was turkey hunting on the ground and 2 or 3 coyotes came flying up behind him and attacked him. I had a couple of times last year when i would walking back to the truck with my climber and everything and i would hear what sounded like 10 of them all around me(yes im paranoid and i will admit i have always feared feral/wild dogs). Better safe than sorry

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// I called S.C. DNR to ask for my self today

Question: While hunting deer on public lands, may I also open carry pistol. I like
to have my 357 in hand when approaching downed deer.


DNR Response: I think you are ok if you are in the woods.


I hope he is right...and I hope this helps you... S.C. DNR Union office 864-427-5140


Country Boy 88, would you mind calling them (DNR) and post if you get a different or more complete response? I know you have to sign in to hunt some places and I wonder if you can carry in building during sign up. Thanks ...content

 

[bear71]

"last year a range worker told me his buddy was turkey hunting on the ground and 2 or 3 coyotes came flying up behind him and attacked him."

Was it two or three? Second hand from a "buddy".

"Coyote attacks on people are extremely rare. There have been a small number of attacks on people in the U.S. and Canada, with most of the attacks involving small children under 5 years of age. Since 3 million children are bitten by dogs every year, your small child is millions of times more likely to get hurt by the family pet than by a coyote.

Coyotes, also referred to as prairie wolves or wild dogs, are native to much of the West but have gradually spread throughout the U.S. and Canada, replacing exterminated wolf populations. They first showed up in New England in the 1930s and 1940s. (The Coyote)

A typical coyote attack to a sheep or goat is to bite the throat just behind the jaw and below the ear, causing death from suffocation and shock.

Coyotes have justifiably a huge fear of humans. Usually coyote attacks on people occur when a coyote has become comfortable around people, often as a result of people feeding them. (Living With California Coyotes (pdf); National Wildlife Federation)

In the rare event that a coyote attacks you or someone near you, yell at the coyote to make it back off. Don't run away since a coyote can outrun you (unless you can run faster than 30 mph!). (Los Altos Town Crier 7/24/96; Coyote Fact Sheet)"

 

[Country_boy_88]

ill give dnr a call in the morning or stop by the office wens.

Bear im not going to sit here and argue with you. I said 2 or 3 because frankly i dont remember what all the exact details were. Either way im still going to carry a pistol on me whether its to shot a coyote or finish off a deer.

 

[bear71]

No argument, just trying to make you aware that it is extremely unlikely that you will be encountered by a coyote. You should be thinking about the hunt and not a silly distraction like coyotes.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Once you reach the property/land you will be hunting, you can carry.

If you do not have a permit to carry concealed, you must follow the rules for transporting a handgun in a vehicle.

SLED can clarify the gun question better than DNR.

As for coyotes, several years ago, a fellow wearing fox urine cover scent had coyotes on him all the way to the truck from a stand. I heard it second hand from my cousin who had taken him hunting, evidently the guy was pretty shook up as they were within 20-30 feet of him yipping and yapping. It was dark and he was carrying a rifle, I can't imagine why he didn't shoot.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// I'll check with SLED also, thanks for tip DRYHUMOR. // Just figure I'll be seeing local DNR on hunting days, best see how they view things locally out of respect.

 

[razorback2003]

Difficult to Conceal some hunting handguns

It is hard for some hunters to conceal some hunting sized handguns. Think of the larger revolvers and Thompson Center single shot handguns. There is no way those guys can easily conceal those type handguns, thus they are not required to in states that generally require people to conceal in public. Also, they do not generally need a concealed weapon license (whatever it is called in SC) to carry to, from, and while hunting in South Carolina. They strap it on at home/camp in the morning and drive on to their hunting spot. That seems to be what the legislature intended. Arkansas has a very similar law. Arkansas does not require hunters to have a concealed handgun license when carrying a handgun when going to, from, or while hunting when carrying a handgun legal for the type of game in season (4 inch barrel or longer centerfire for deer, bears for example). A hunter can carry openly or concealed on the way to, from, or while in the woods in Arkansas. South Carolina i doubt wants hunters arrested for going to the woods at 6AM. I would NOT be openly carrying anytime and claim to be hunting...you better have camo on...boots...all your equipment.

 

[chris in va]

I want to use a thigh rig while hunting on fort jackson

Firearms are allowed on military posts?

 

[Country_boy_88]

Razor I plan on getting my CCW soon. I believe SC doesnt not have a true law stating open carry is legal making my only option to carry it around is to conceal it or carry it around in a locked case.
I was unable to call dnr or sled today due to work interference. Ill try them in the morning.

Chris in VA yes they are allowed and no I do not have to check it in at the gate.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // I called DNR again today and here is what they said. ////// #1) check in only necessary at certain areas( look up on web site) //////#2)During gun hunting season Oct 11 - Jan. 1st you may open carry while hunting (so do not carry handgun during bow or BP or will be accused of hangun hunting)///// #3) MUST wear orange Hat/Coat OR Vest (not all three, he suggested hat)/////#4) solo hunting is ok //////#5) Closest areas to Rockhill for public deer hunting: The areas around Landsford Canal (not in the State Park) and Draper do not require check in.////#6) Don't bother getting set up for bear or boar in this area. (Boar concentrations are farther south and east, he mentioned florence as closest ) (Bear hunting is only allowed in one mountain area)....hope this helps, safe hunting , ...content ///// Sorry country boy 88 forgot to ask about fort jackson area.

 

[Country_boy_88]

hmm that makes no sense to me. I check in yes, i wear orange as required on the fort, i could easily say im squirrel hunting with a pistol. I know my brother open carried his .22 pistol last year to and from the stand. Guess i should talk to both SLED and the game warden on base.

 

[content]

Yes, best to respect the local authorities wishes. There may be small differences in interpretation. // He did say maps and pamplets should be going out to sporting goods stores in two weeks, info might be broken down by county.. I intend to open carry 357 when hunting ,oct 11 thru jan 1 // I'm still interested in what you find out also .... best to be safe and sure... content

 

[ScottsGT]

DO NOT CARRY A SIDE ARM WHILE HUNTING ON FORT JACKSON!!!! Did you understand my yelling at you!?? Post rules DO NOT ALLOW A HANDGUN WHILE HUNTING OR AT ANYTIME!! You are not even allowed to have your rifle loaded while out of your stand. They don't even make an exception in the rules if you did not make a clean kill. Not sure if they would enforce someone reloading to finish off the deer, but I have spoke with a guy that gave up on hunting on post due to the crazy rules about hunting on post.
Call Weston Lake rec area offices since they handle all the hunting regs on post.

 

[Country_boy_88]

interesting. I follow the unloaded rifle and no rifle while on the ground still hunting. I coulda sworn ive seen few of the younger guys with thigh rigs carrying though. We will see i recon

 

[ScottsGT]

Well, my info comes from a conversation almost 4 years ago. Things might have changed by now.

 

[Country_boy_88]

would be a negative for fort jackson. Called and he looked it up and said no. call to dnr went unaswered...