Crossing State Park Boundary to access BLM

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Oct 5, 2019
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This might be a stupid question for some of you but this is the first time I am encountering this issue. There is a nice chunk of BLM land I have been e-scouting prior to boots on the ground scouting. The only issue is, is that I would have to cross about 300 yards of state park land to access it. Have any of you had to cross non-hunting land to get to a chunk of public land? I obviously would strap my rifle to my pack while crossing so no one would think I was actively trying to hunt while crossing.
 

MTtrout

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Jan 2, 2013
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What roadrunner said, best to just call the state park and ask for the manager. The front desk person may have a different answer. You can do it around here but ever situation could be different
 

def90

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This might be a stupid question for some of you but this is the first time I am encountering this issue. There is a nice chunk of BLM land I have been e-scouting prior to boots on the ground scouting. The only issue is, is that I would have to cross about 300 yards of state park land to access it. Have any of you had to cross non-hunting land to get to a chunk of public land? I obviously would strap my rifle to my pack while crossing so no one would think I was actively trying to hunt while crossing.

Does the state park allow firearms?

Here around Boulder there is a lot of city and county owned open space and mountain parks land that borders usfs land that I would love to be able to cross to get to what I suspect to be good turkey hunting land however the city and county open space absolutely does not allow firearms in any way and they consider a bow a firearm.
 

grfox92

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I ran into this once in NY. It was a state park. I called and they said there is no law about carrying your bow and equipment through the public park as long as you don't discharge a firearm or hunt within the parks boundaries.

I would just call and check with the governing agency.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

MattB

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I just found the answer to my own question. Per this specific state parks online brochure:

"Licensed hunters are allowed to hunt in-season on adjacent B.L.M. lands"
But it doesn’t say that you can legally carry a weapon through the state park land to access adjacent BLM land.

I spent way too many years working with lawyers…
 
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Several years back there was a Supreme Court decision allowing guns. You just cannot discharge them within the park.
 
Joined
Oct 27, 2021
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Northern CO
It gets real weird with some of the city and state land - seems like you might've found the answer already, but making a call or two can definitely save you trouble. The BLM office in charge of the region should be able to help or refer you.
 
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Wasn’t that just national parks? The park in question is a state park.
When I presented the ruling to a state park law enforcement officer, he had no problem letting me cross with my rifle, bolt removed as a courtesy. As I recall, the Supreme Court ruling had broad implications. But, I would have to dig it up again, and since I have no plans to cross parkland, I have no motivation to search it out.
 

MattB

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I took the 2 minutes to check and each state appears to have its own rules in regards to firearms in their parks, so it does not appear the federal rules apply.
 

Tmac

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Check with the park for their rules. To cross one National Park legally while hunting, I had to remove my bolt. Was only about 1/4 mile, but rules are rules.
 
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