Going to Big Bend to camp

[philip964]

Here all I needed was a pocket knife.

http://www.chron.com/news/environment/a ... 105934.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Updated story.

[alexrex20]

Please, as someone who works here and has for the last 20 years, I would like you to show me documented incidents.

And the 2004 FOP "report" is laughable. There is more than a full complement of rangers and USBP here.

But by all means, come and see for yourself how dangerous it is here.

You'll find this forum is much more enjoyable if you just add him to your Ignore List, like I have. Though it makes it hard to ignore him when everyone quotes him in their posts. ;)

I've been to BBNP many times, and try to go back every year. I never felt unsafe, even in the backcountry in a completely empty park (during the "off-season") or camped along the river banks. You're right that there is a full complement of Border Patrol and Park Rangers constantly patrolling the area.

[CC Italian]

Not to string this along forever but I just thought I would address this steveincowtown.

You may not open carry a long gun in the park(per the Superintendent and Chief Ranger), it must stay in the vehicle

Ugh. I reviewed the text of the law again and I can't find any wording that gives the Chief Ranger/ Superintendent that authority to override the law. No offense, but stuff like this make me sick.

Yes, they can. I know it stinks, I think it falls under the law code title 36 of national parks and department of Interior. I have gone to several federal parks out west (Colorado, Wyoming etc) and they can put restrictions on where you can carry in a federal park if they "deem" it a safety issue etc etc. The perfect example is http://www.nps.gov/cave/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm Carlsbad Caverns. You can't really take it anywhere if you read it closely. Also, other national parks have the superintendents compendium if the choose. I forgot the park but one in Colorado would not let me carry bear mace while another federal park in Colorado would. If said federal parks superintendents say you can't then it is a no go. I even called two national parks and talked to two head federal LEO rangers at both parks and they said basically there is a law written in that allows the superintendent to restrict what they "deem" is a safety issue and that I need to check each federal park for compendiums.

I know this sucks but I went to dozens of federal parks last year and they can restrict where you carry and other things (like the bear mace). There was also another federal park in Colorado where I couldn't carry in caves. I forgot which one but it fell under the superintendents compendium.


Edit: Don't even get me started on the Indian Reservations out west, I did a lot of research on them as well. That will make you crazy trying to figure all that out since each sovereign nation can do as they please. Your better off to drive around if possible!

[steveincowtown]

Yes, they can. I know it stinks, I think it falls under the law code title 36 of national parks and department of Interior. I have gone to several federal parks out west (Colorado, Wyoming etc) and they can put restrictions on where you can carry in a federal park if they "deem" it a safety issue etc etc. The perfect example is http://www.nps.gov/cave/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm Carlsbad Caverns. You can't really take it anywhere if you read it closely. Also, other national parks have the superintendents compendium if the choose. I forgot the park but one in Colorado would not let me carry bear mace while another federal park in Colorado would. If said federal parks superintendents say you can't then it is a no go. I even called two national parks and talked to two head federal LEO rangers at both parks and they said basically there is a law written in that allows the superintendent to restrict what they "deem" is a safety issue and that I need to check each federal park for compendiums.

Title 36 is specifically addressed in the law, and the law specifically says that it supersedes title 36.

You can click here to read the whole text.

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/parkmgmt/upload ... 202009.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



(b) PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS TO BEAR ARMS
IN UNITS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM AND THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE SYSTEM.—The Secretary of the Interior shall not
promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual
from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional
firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National
Wildlife Refuge System if—
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from
possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with
the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park
System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.





Also here is a memo that was sent out around the time this was enacted...

http://www.nps.gov/legal/ActivationMemo ... ession.PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So much confusion at the Federal Level with what should be a simple issue.

[PeteCamp]

So much confusion at the Federal Level with what should be a simple issue.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is confusion at every Federal Level about every issue.

[CC Italian]

Well you know how this goes, might beat the rap but not the ride. Next time I go to Carlsbad or any other national park with so called restrictions I will ask how they enforce this and what law it falls under but they are at least saying they enforce it. I don't know of anyone getting arrested for not following these rules but surely wouldn't want to be a test case!

[philip964]

Ended up at a State Park near Sabine Pass on the Gulf. Awesome location, however weather didn't cooperate. Very strong winds and chilly temperatures, and with the threat of rain and sleet on the way we packed up early.

[CC Italian]

Awesome location, however weather didn't cooperate. Very strong winds and chilly temperatures, and with the threat of rain and sleet on the way we packed up early.

Having camped out west a lot I know what you mean. I once got stuck in a storm with torrential rain and 60mph sustained winds while camping in a tent in the desert. Needless to say after that I learned my lesson and got one of those small (extreme weather if you will) tents as a just in case tent. They are small but can handle the high winds and rain very well. I used it last year in Colorado and it was snug but without it my better half and I would have had to drive over 50 miles in the middle of the night to the closest hotel.