Open carry while hunting. Legal?

dennishoddy · Oct 23, 2012

I've been asked in the past about why somebody can't open carry while hunting. One person got a citation even though he had a CCL.

He was OC during the bow season.

My opinion is that with current regulations one must conceal carry during the archery and Muzzle Loader seasons, as the concealed carry is for personal protection, and not legal to take game.

During the "rifle" season where center fire pistols are legal to take game, I carry a 7 3/8", 44 mag hog leg on my hip as it IS a legal means to take game during that season.
So far none of the Game Rangers I've crossed paths with have an issue with that.

So now my question is with the Open Carry becoming legal Nov 1, does all of that regulation go away?
I'm thinking it does.

TroyF · Oct 23, 2012

With or without a valid SDA?

dennishoddy · Oct 24, 2012

As I understand the new regulation for OC, the only thing one must have to OC is a CCL(SDA).
I read today that CLEET is putting on classes for officers to get ready for the new OC regs coming in Nov.
In my scenerio, the guy getting the citation from the GW had a CCW license but was open carrying during bow season.

In my opinion he was in violation with the current laws, but with the OC coming in NOV he would be legal?

TroyF · Oct 24, 2012

You are correct sir.

TroyF · Oct 24, 2012

CLEET is only going over the statute, and not really putting out opinion on certain elements of the statute.

dennishoddy · Oct 24, 2012

My thinking was that during bow/Muzzle loader season, the CCW is for Protection.
I carry at those times also, but concealed.

During gun season, I have a hog leg .44 mag strapped on OC. It is a legal means of taking game during that season.

brandt9913 · Oct 24, 2012

I always open carry while I'm hunting. I open carried last weekend during youth season while my daughter was hunting. I didn't open carry until I parked my car.

Is a pistol not a legal weapon for hogs, coyotes, skunks, etc.?

I'm being serious. If I have a hog charge me on the way to my blind while deer hunting, how is a pistol not legal to have whether concealed or not. I usually do not chamber my rifle until I am in my stand. I really do not like the idea of climbing in and out with a chambered rifle.

Drawing a pistol vs trying to chamber a scoped rifle and get it on target in a hurry seems like an obvious choice. I have no idea why it would matter if it is open carry or concealed, assuming it is private land. Public land may be different.

dennishoddy · Oct 24, 2012

brandt9913 said:
I always open carry while I'm hunting. I open carried last weekend during youth season while my daughter was hunting. I didn't open carry until I parked my car.

Is a pistol not a legal weapon for hogs, coyotes, skunks, etc.?

I'm being serious. If I have a hog charge me on the way to my blind while deer hunting, how is a pistol not legal to have whether concealed or not. I usually do not chamber my rifle until I am in my stand. I really do not like the idea of climbing in and out with a chambered rifle.

Drawing a pistol vs trying to chamber a scoped rifle and get it on target in a hurry seems like an obvious choice. I have no idea why it would matter if it is open carry or concealed, assuming it is private land. Public land may be different.

Great question, and one that those of us hunting have to deal with.
Oklahoma in general has some very grey laws regarding hunting that a game warden can enforce at their discretion.

You can get a hunting/fishing booklet from walmart, but on the front page it says to not consider this as absolute regulation, but to consult the titlehttp://statutes.laws.com/oklahoma/Title29

and Title 800 regulations.

the booklet you get from walmart has errors.

In the past you would have been in violation. Personal scenerios, or percieved scenerios don't trump the laws.

I don't know the regulation coming in Nov for OC.