The great bureaucratic outdoors

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Hey everyone,

I am trying to plan a camping trip to Pennsylvania over the summer. I am a NJ resident and would like a place to bring a shotgun for bear defense. My main camping location is Wyoming State forest in PA. We had a bear in our campsite twice and we followed all the bear-proofing rules. Turns out the idiots .25 miles down the road from us were feeding the damn thing.

So anyway, what are the rules concerning firearms in state forests? Are the prohibited or is that just National parks?

If I cannot camp there with a firearm, can someone recommed a place that I can camp? Also, what does a NJ resident need to do to be legally capable of possessing a firearm in the woods of PA? Do I need a hunting permit even though I wont be hunting?

Any information would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[K-Romulus]

my little knowledge

I have a FL non-resident CCW that is good in all corners of PA (except K-12 schools), so I tried to read up on the PA goings-on.

The PA State Parks people believe that they have the authority to boot CCW people out for having firearms in a state park. I think this "belief" extends to the state forests, too. HOWEVER, there seems to be no authority under state law for this park ban. A lot of people scratch their heads on this one, and no one seems to have been prosecuted for having a CCW on PA state park land (from what I can tell). Packing.org's talk section for PA may have the latest rumor/developments on the issue.

In Virginia, per a real live written law, CCW holders are OK if they keep things concealed on national forest land (per Fed law, the state has the final say on this). I have not been able to figure out PA's stand on CCW holders on national forest land. Forget about national parks anywhere, unless it's hunting season AND you are allowed to hunt on the park land.

I don't think long guns would be allowed on any state forest or park lands outside of hunting season, due to poaching issues. Maybe get friendly with someone with some acreage?

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

thanks for the info. I have to ask around up there. I mean its a pretty gun friendly area. They sell guns in an ACE hardware store! The good ole days from what Ive been told by the Old timers.

 

[Cosmoline]

I wonder if there's a Pennsylvania State Forest in Wyoming.