4 ms·

I live in a national forest. At least here you're right. But I assumed OP just meant it's not smart. If you go into the national forest around me and a warden o

by pard68 3y ago

I live in a national forest. At least here you're right. But I assumed OP just meant it's not smart. If you go into the national forest around me and a warden or ranger finds you shooting a gun you will be charged for poaching.

JohnFen 3y ago
Yes, this is why I said "generally". Discharging firearms is on the Forest Services list of generally prohibited actions, but it's pretty easy to be able to do so legally. Have a hunting license for something that is in season, for instance. As a rule of thumb, if you're shooting guns in the NF and aren't engaged in legitimate, licensed hunting, you will be suspected of poaching. This is also a thing that can vary a lot, depending on the specific area you're in.
- pard68 3y ago
  Yup. Honestly, the chances of being caught is very low. National forests are very large and mostly uninhabited. Most federal NF employees are not LEOs and won't bother you even if they do find you. But it's still best to be safe and legal, poaching charges are not a joke and I'd rather not be risking my rights.
- s1artibartfast 3y ago
  This does not match my understanding of the law. Discharge is generally allowed, with common-sense exceptions. You cant shoot in campgrounds, developed recreation areas, and within 150 yards of roads. It is very common to go to the forest to simpty target shoot, no permit or license required. There is no real concern about being suspected of poaching unless you hiking around shooting a gun in a game season. https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting#:~:text=It%20is%20prohibited%20to%20shoot,a%20result%20of%20such%20discharge https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting#:~....
s1artibartfast 3y ago
Thats not my experience. It is extremally common for people to simply go out target shooting -NF is one of the best places to do it. More people probably go shooting there than actual hunting. If you are poaching, or creeping around in cammo shooting a gun, you will be suspected of poaching. Otherwise people really shoulnd't be concerned about simply shooting. It's hard to imagine a plausible scenario where someone is mistaken for poaching but isn't. If you are sitting around camp or in a meadow with a target, no ranger will charge you. If you are hiking around with a gun sporadically shooting targets like trees, probably, but nobody actually does that. There is some confusion around what is considered poaching. You dont have to shoot an animal or even have gun to be charged.
- pard68 3y ago
  Maybe it depends on the forest? Where I live everyone with a pulse has at least a few dozen acres (cheap land, tax rate comes out to like $0.50/acre) of land and our forest is very thick. Plus we have a lot high demand game here (elk, black bear, cougar, etc), plentiful deer, and an extremely low employment rate/income. Lotta locals live exclusively on deer. Our game warden is cool and would probably let you off but our NF guys are wound a bit tight and like to grill you for even being in the woods walking your dog or something.

by pard68 3y ago

JohnFen 3y ago

Yes, this is why I said "generally". Discharging firearms is on the Forest Services list of generally prohibited actions, but it's pretty easy to be able to do so legally. Have a hunting license for something that is in season, for instance. As a rule of thumb, if you're shooting guns in the NF and aren't engaged in legitimate, licensed hunting, you will be suspected of poaching. This is also a thing that can vary a lot, depending on the specific area you're in.

pard68 3y ago
Yup. Honestly, the chances of being caught is very low. National forests are very large and mostly uninhabited. Most federal NF employees are not LEOs and won't bother you even if they do find you. But it's still best to be safe and legal, poaching charges are not a joke and I'd rather not be risking my rights.
s1artibartfast 3y ago
This does not match my understanding of the law. Discharge is generally allowed, with common-sense exceptions. You cant shoot in campgrounds, developed recreation areas, and within 150 yards of roads. It is very common to go to the forest to simpty target shoot, no permit or license required. There is no real concern about being suspected of poaching unless you hiking around shooting a gun in a game season. https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting#:~:text=It%20is%20prohibited%20to%20shoot,a%20result%20of%20such%20discharge https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting#:~....

s1artibartfast 3y ago

Thats not my experience. It is extremally common for people to simply go out target shooting -NF is one of the best places to do it. More people probably go shooting there than actual hunting. If you are poaching, or creeping around in cammo shooting a gun, you will be suspected of poaching. Otherwise people really shoulnd't be concerned about simply shooting. It's hard to imagine a plausible scenario where someone is mistaken for poaching but isn't. If you are sitting around camp or in a meadow with a target, no ranger will charge you. If you are hiking around with a gun sporadically shooting targets like trees, probably, but nobody actually does that. There is some confusion around what is considered poaching. You dont have to shoot an animal or even have gun to be charged.

pard68 3y ago
Maybe it depends on the forest? Where I live everyone with a pulse has at least a few dozen acres (cheap land, tax rate comes out to like $0.50/acre) of land and our forest is very thick. Plus we have a lot high demand game here (elk, black bear, cougar, etc), plentiful deer, and an extremely low employment rate/income. Lotta locals live exclusively on deer. Our game warden is cool and would probably let you off but our NF guys are wound a bit tight and like to grill you for even being in the woods walking your dog or something.