TexasCHLforum.com

So because Palo Duro is a state park, they can restrict firearms, is that correct? According to this: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _0007l.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; firearms are not allowed. There does not seem to be an exception for CHL holders.

Just trying to verify as I was planning a visit later this month and I know there are plenty of knowledgeable people here.

Thanks!

FormerTSgt wrote:So because Palo Duro is a state park, they can restrict firearms, is that correct? According to this: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _0007l.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; firearms are not allowed. There does not seem to be an exception for CHL holders.

Just trying to verify as I was planning a visit later this month and I know there are plenty of knowledgeable people here.

Thanks!

CHL's are allowed in State and National Parks by law.

Keith B wrote:

FormerTSgt wrote:So because Palo Duro is a state park, they can restrict firearms, is that correct? According to this: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _0007l.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; firearms are not allowed. There does not seem to be an exception for CHL holders.

Just trying to verify as I was planning a visit later this month and I know there are plenty of knowledgeable people here.

Thanks!

CHL's are allowed in State and National Parks by law.

This. You just can't openly carry any kind of firearm, and concealed carry requires a CHL.

Interesting. I guess the .pdf confused me. I think I'll email them just to be sure and try and clear up the confusion they are putting out with that .pdf.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/park ... ations/#5c

Offense is to display or discharge. CHL - no problem. Long guns/non-chl: keep it under wraps. Non-CHL: Handguns in vehicle/camper only. Of course, read and come to your own conclusion.

FormerTSgt wrote:Interesting. I guess the .pdf confused me. I think I'll email them just to be sure and try and clear up the confusion they are putting out with that .pdf.

No need to send them an email. Here is the letter from the Director of Parks

http://www.txchia.org/txinpw.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

However, firearms are not allowed in State Parks that are COE land. Pretty sure Palo Duro is not COE!!

Palo Duro Canyon is prime Diamondback Rattlesnake country. Our son used to mountain bike there when he was in college. I would not go there unarmed.

We're planning a trip there soon with the kiddos; hope the rattlesnakes aren't too serious a problem if we keep a close eye on the kids. I was reading TXPWD's Palo Duro Facebook page a while back looking for some information and saw an interesting exchange. They'd posted something about wild hogs, and someone asked about the protocol if one is forced to shoot a hog in self defense. The response was, "how would you shoot one since firearms are not allowed in the park?" Uh, yeah. No firearms. Wink wink, nudge nudge. I thought about commenting but let it slide because I don't want any extra attention while we're there. I may have to write a note after the trip to remind them of the law.

Yeah, watch out for the COE land. They get a little touchy and it's not always easy to know if you're on COE land sometimes, but otherwise we can carry on national and state park land. They made a decision several years ago to go by the state law that the park is in.

There is a sign about a mile or so inside the gate that says "Game Preserve No Firearms or Hunting Permitted", I've always taken that to mean long guns.

As far as rattlers, I've been down many of the trails many times and have never seen one, but that doesn't mean they are not there and I always try to be on the lookout. I did come across one once within the park while working (surveying), but I was a long way from a trail.

Never saw any snakes on our trip there and our dog would of found them.

Never seen rattlers in Palo duro but I know they are there. Caprock canyon is a whole different story! I saw at least 20 snakes in one night. Moccasins, rattlers and of course the 5-6 foot rattler that came through our campsite.

Well, we didn't see a single rattler -- I'm not sure whether I'm disappointed or relieved. Wouldn't have minded a picture... taken with my long lens, of course -- but I definitely didn't want the 2-year-old to stumble across one. We did see some black widows, so I suppose we're covered in the "scary things that bite" category.

Back to the original subject, we were carrying most of the time we were there. Of course it was concealed, so no idea what the park rangers would have thought. Nice folks, though.