Welcome mrykyle
Oldgringo is correct, so I have very little to add.
(But, I tend to use a lot of words to say very little sometimes, so hold on)
If a State Park/City Park/County Park is on land OWNED by
US Army
Corps of
Engineers, the USACE Federal Regulation which prohibits carry trumps the State law which allows carrying in those places. Otherwise, you are ok.
Also,
National Wildlife Refuges are OK.
--
Mr.B
As of now if you have a current Texas Concealed Weapons permit you are allowed to carry on NWR. In addition, any violations of the state law will be taken in account. I suggest that you review the state statutes and I hope that you have a nice time on the refuge. If you have any further questions please contact me at this email address or the numbers listed below.
Thank you,
Chris Davis
Refuge Law Enforcement Officer
Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex
509 Washington St. Box # 278
Anahuac, Texas 77514
O: 409-267-3337
C: 409-370-7367
F: 409-267-4314
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FEDERAL:
As you may know, the
Bureau of Land Management and the
United States Forest Service allowed the transporting and carrying of firearms on federal lands in accordance with the laws of the host state where these two agencies manage lands.
However, the
National Parks Service (NPS) and the
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are governed by separate federal statutes and had developed differing sets of firearms regulations, which is why the law allowing carry on THOSE properties was passed and went in effect on Feb 22, 2010,
so they are OK now too.
-
USACE properties are STILL prohibited
ONE Army Corps of Engineers Parks/lakes LINK in Texas at
http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/navarr ... sparks.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(There are various USACE divisions/Galveston Fort Worth etc etc. so check the specific area/lake/park/property you are interested in.
and their Lakes Gateway link
http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/visitors.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You can Also check Texas Parks and Wildlife website to see the "Controlling Authority" etc etc.
You are OK in TPWD areas,
UNLESS it is leased and
on landed OWNED by the USACE
So if you see a CITY/COUNTY/STATE Lake/Park which is on property owned by/controlled by USACE, you can't legally carry there even if it is a State Park/County Park/City Park, even though Texas Law says the City/County can't pass laws prohibiting carry in their parks, the USACE has.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(There MAY be some small secured areas, such as a secured area near a power plant or dam which generates electricity on a lake/river, considered to be "critical Infrastructure" since 9-11, but you generally would have to climb fences or cross ropes and barriers to get to those, and they aren't really part of the park/trail)
TEXAS PENAL CODE
TITLE 7. OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY
CHAPTER 30. BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL TRESPASS
Sec. 30.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(7) "Critical infrastructure facility" means one of the following,
if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders:
(ETC ETC>>>)
So trespassing at infrastructure facilities is prohibited under 30.05, But, that's getting way beyond your question since you won't be climbing fences and barriers into infrastructure facilities on the park trails. I only mentioned that because some lakes have power plants/Generating facilities where people used to fish etc, but they are fenced off now..
Generally, unless a City/State/County/park or Federal Refuge/Forest/Park/Lake/other National Land area etc is on USACE property (Some State/City/County parks are, but no National Park is on USACE property) you are ok at National Parks ... except in buildings where the Federal Employees are working.
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P.S. I got my snakeboots and CHL due to snakes and animals I'd rather not encounter unarmed too ... their fangs and claws are bigger than mine.
I drag a plastic kayak and fishing equipment through some tall grass/weeds/brush in low lighting conditions/snake/wild boar/bobcat/coyote etc etc country.
).