I started a conversation about this in the whitetail hunting forum. Since constitutional carry was made legal nobody, including MDC, seems to know the answer. One of the posters in my thread called five different contacts in the MDC and never received a clear answer. IMHO it would be counter to state law for the MDC to squawk about it. I have always felt that since open carry was legal that the MDC was out of line by making possession of a handgun illegal while bowhunting. The very idea that the MDC considers us all potential poachers if given the opportunity to carry a self defense handgun is preposterous and offensive.
Serious question...ccw required?
Since we can carry a gun concealed without a permit in MO, do we still need a ccw permit to carry a handgun while bow hunting during archery season? The code isn't very clear. It just states we can carry according to Chapter 571 RSMo. That's about as vague as saying you can hunt deer according to the MDC Wildlife Code. Yea ok that helps :banging: I've read the entire chapter 571 and it just states how to get a ccw and where we can/can't carry and what's legal/illegal in buying/selling/transferring guns. So anybody read it different than me? I'm not good with legal language so maybe I missed something?
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I had an agent ask me one time when this subject came up in our casual conversation. If you're carrying concealed, how am I going to know unless I'm arresting you?
If they ask if you have a gun on you. In my opinion if you have a true conceal carry weapon on you it's no problem. If you have a scoped 44mag in a book bag that may be an issue or anything that is not a true ccw.I had an agent ask me one time when this subject came up in our casual conversation. If you're carrying concealed, how am I going to know unless I'm arresting you?
And there is your answer! :tup:If you're carrying concealed, how am I going to know unless I'm arresting you?
altho a great answer not totally true. I have seen quite a few CCWs where an outline or even a faint appearance of a pistol is apparent but then I kinda look for those things as should a LEO .. I think Ben's answer is more on pointI had an agent ask me one time when this subject came up in our casual conversation. If you're carrying concealed, how am I going to know unless I'm arresting you?
When checking tags, I've never had an agent ask if I was carrying concealed, have you?If they ask if you have a gun on you. In my opinion if you have a true conceal carry weapon on you it's no problem. If you have a scoped 44mag in a book bag that may be an issue or anything that is not a true ccw.
As for you second scenario, as long as it's concealed & you're not being arrested, it's still not an issue.
IMO, with constitutional carry, if they start writing citations for carrying while bowhunting, it will be challenged in the courts & MDC will loose, which is why they don't have a definitive answer to the question when asked about constitutional carry.
Do you really wear that tight of clothes when bowhunting? I know I don't. All my camo is long tailed & baggy to not restrict movement.altho a great answer not totally true. I have seen quite a few CCWs where an outline or even a faint appearance of a pistol is apparent but then I kinda look for those things as should a LEO .. I think Ben's answer is more on point
Not just age. Been a long time since I could sport skinny jeans.
Now we're getting there. Hides your depends pretty well too.
No I have not but I have been asked before for other things. I'm just saying they could ask and by law you have to tell them I do believe.When checking tags, I've never had an agent ask if I was carrying concealed, have you?
As for you second scenario, as long as it's concealed & you're not being arrested, it's still not an issue.
IMO, with constitutional carry, if they start writing citations for carrying while bowhunting, it will be challenged in the courts & MDC will loose, which is why they don't have a definitive answer to the question when asked about constitutional carry.
If I carry concealed it doesn't do me much good. I hunt big areas of public land down in the elk restoration zone. It's remote and rugged country. Usually there is no cell service. Emergency services are very limited and help would most likely be an hour or more away. That's if they could even figure out where you are.
We drive way back from main trails, park and hike anywhere from 1/4 mile to a mile from the truck to our stands. We pack everything in, climbing stands, a small pack with water, food, a few medical things like a tourniquet, Israeli bandage, ect. to deal with immediate life threatening injuries. Take a bad fall and break a bone or puncture the body with a broadhead, slip of the knife while working on a deer and you have real genuine trouble. Troubleshooting and preparing for our particular situation also means the chance of a wild boar, bear or mountain lion encounter. We bump hogs frequently, I have seen two bears, five elk have been killed by lions so we know those things are around. And once, some nefarious looking dudes were parked by our truck as we came out of the woods.
Carrying concealed under a shirt or jacket and with a packbelt over the top means I probably can't get to the gun in time if needed immediately. A holster on the pack belt and open carry makes much more sense.
We drive way back from main trails, park and hike anywhere from 1/4 mile to a mile from the truck to our stands. We pack everything in, climbing stands, a small pack with water, food, a few medical things like a tourniquet, Israeli bandage, ect. to deal with immediate life threatening injuries. Take a bad fall and break a bone or puncture the body with a broadhead, slip of the knife while working on a deer and you have real genuine trouble. Troubleshooting and preparing for our particular situation also means the chance of a wild boar, bear or mountain lion encounter. We bump hogs frequently, I have seen two bears, five elk have been killed by lions so we know those things are around. And once, some nefarious looking dudes were parked by our truck as we came out of the woods.
Carrying concealed under a shirt or jacket and with a packbelt over the top means I probably can't get to the gun in time if needed immediately. A holster on the pack belt and open carry makes much more sense.
Since Missouri is an open carry state, does your "CCW" weapon really have to be concealed?
MO isn't a true constitutional carry state. You can legally CC where Open Carry is legal without a permit. You cannot CC with out a permit where OC is illegal, such as STL.Since Missouri is an open carry state, does your "CCW" weapon really have to be concealed?
I realize that municipal laws can limit or forbid OC. My question was as it relates to carrying while archery hunting.MO isn't a true constitutional carry state. You can legally CC where Open Carry is legal without a permit. You cannot CC with out a permit where OC is illegal, such as STL.
Previous posts above indicate the MDC hasnt made a determination on it.I realize that municipal laws can limit or forbid OC. My question was as it relates to carrying while archery hunting.
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