Is It Legal To Hike With A Firearm (And Should You)?

May 25

Carrying a firearm for protection while hiking seems to be a hotly debated topic. A lot of people are not even sure if it is legal to carry a gun while hiking on federal, state, or local land. Furthermore, it has to be asked, is it even necessary to have a gun when hiking or backpacking and if so, how does one go about it safely?

When hiking, you are allowed to carry a firearm if you are in compliance with the federal, state, and local laws that allow for firearms. Every state and locality has different laws and regulations around firearms. You will need to verify whether the gun can be an open carry or if it has to be concealed. There are also laws around what kind of gun you can carry and if you need a license and/or permit. If you want to carry a gun when hiking then you need to check with the federal, state, and local laws for that area. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to know and understand the law.

We asked hikers if they were aware fellow hikers can carry a gun while hiking as long as they comply with the federal, state, and local laws that govern that land. Below are the results:

Disclaimer: Below is a table of state laws surrounding firearms. This does not constitute legal advice nor is it the only research you should rely on to be informed. Laws are constantly changing and evolving so please use your respective state's firearm law resource to ultimately make your decision. Keep in mind this only covers state laws. Different laws may apply to municipalities and counties etc. This is a simple overview and each topic has many other dependencies that may need to be met in order for firearm carrying and usage to be legal. Data was procured via Wikipedia.

Why Hikers Do Not Carry A Firearm

Hikers and backpackers alike will opt to not carry a firearm for a myriad of reasons. Some believe that guns are not necessary for protection on the trail given the statistics of being attacked by an animal or person. Another reason they do not believe that guns are safe for hiking is the fact the owner must have the gun on them at all times and not leave it unprotected. Others are against guns and firearms in general. Lastly, most hikers and backpackers track the weight of their bags and gear carefully and are almost in competition with one another to have the lightest load; adding a heavy gun to the loadout doesn't help them accomplish their optimal load weight and bragging rights.

According to digitalcommons.usu.edu, each year in the US around 8 people die from wildlife attacks and over 47,000 people require medical attention after an attack by wild animals. There are about 57 million people who hike each year. The odds of being killed by wildlife are .000014%. The odds of being killed in a car accident in any given year is about .011%. This means you are almost 1000 times more likely to die in a car accident than be killed by a wild animal in any given year. Most hikers will rationalize that carrying a gun is not needed given the odds and extra load weight a firearm bears (no pun intended).

What about seedy individuals who have ill intent? We want to protect ourselves from them right? Well, that is certainly your prerogative. It is hard to find an exact number of murder-related deaths while hiking but if you take a sample from the Appalachian Trail you realize your chances are slim. Since 1974, 13 people have been murdered on the AT. If you consider about 3 million people hike that trail each year you have a .000009% chance of being murdered. Likewise, there is on average one assault per year and one rape every three years according to outdoors.com. The odds of you being raped is .000011% or, slightly less than being killed by a bear. While the odds of these incidents are low most hikers do prepare both mentally and physically. Hikers choose to bring certain gear in the event they find themselves in a dangerous situation as described above. Rather than carry a gun some hikers opt for a pocket knife or even bear spray to protect themselves from would-be attackers. I polled some hikers to ask what they carry for protection and not a single one answered firearm. The operative word here is ‘protection’. Here are what hikers carry for protection:

Being on trail for an extended amount of time also provides many opportunities for you to leave your gun unattended while you take a dip in the lake, or stop by a local watering hole (It is illegal to carry a gun into a bar in a lot of states). Leaving a gun unattended can produce some legal issues. If someone were to pick up the gun they could use it against you or the public. You could be responsible for public endangerment. Most hikers find that taking a gun, for this reason, is simply not worth the risk.

Why Carry a Gun When Hiking?

It may or may not make sense to you, but having a gun when hiking does help some people feel at ease, especially when it comes to protection from the larger game such as mountain lions or bears. There may be an instance when having a gun may also help keep someone calm when approached by a bear or mountain lion. It is hard to fight the instinct to run when being chased or stalked by a predator but a gun does help some hikers stand their ground, back away slowly, and fight the natural instinct to run. To some, a gun brings peace of mind when on the trail. Hikers that carry guns feel protected from predators and dangerous people alike.

Another reason I hear is that it’s an American right to bear arms as a law-abiding citizen. Some hikers simply like to have a firearm with them when in the wilderness. To them, a gun and the wilderness go hand in hand. This is not a very practical reason but it is a reason nonetheless. We asked hikers if they carry a gun when hiking and here are the results:

Is it safe to carry a gun when hiking?

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to carry a gun while hiking. If you choose to carry while hiking please be compliant with the federal, local, and state laws that govern the area in which you are hiking. Obtain the necessary licenses, permits, and training to ensure the safety of you, your hiking companions, and the general public.

A poll of hikers showed most people are fearful of others on the trail who do carry a firearm. If you carry a firearm please be mindful of this fact when interacting with others.

When hikers were asked if they were fearful of others carrying a firearm on the trail:

Conclusion

If you need to carry a firearm when hiking please ensure you have the proper training and have the proper licensing and permits required by the state in which you are hiking. It is also important to mentally prepare, or roleplay in your head, potential scenarios so you can act appropriately when and if the need arises. Given the low probability of an assault by a wild animal or human, you may not find it necessary to carry a firearm for protection and opt for a different form of protection. After all, carrying a gun while hiking can also be a burden, both with the extra weight and liability, depending on the itinerary of the trip.

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.