[Jeremiah_Johnson]

I am wondering something. I recently got my LTCF permit. I hunt Predators at night along with hunting coons with hounds at night. Sometimes I hunt with people I have never met except for through the net or over the phone. I normally in these instances do not carry a firearm with me so that I can have my focus on the other hunter at all times to make sure he is safe. Also while running coon hounds at night normally only one guy carry's a gun and that is normally a .22lr single shot. Is it legal to carry a semi auto pistol for defense only? I would not use it for dispatching of game at all. With the latest events that have happened it makes me feel unsecure going into the woods without a weapon. It truely is a crying shame though that you need to wonder about other hunters but I guess it is just the day and age we live in. Thanks for any help.

 

[Zimmer50cal]

Yes, with a valid LTCF, it is legal.

 

[DaveT]

Yes. You can carry one on you concealed for personal protection.

However, I have to wonder why you would hunt with individuals you feel so uncomfortable with that you need to have a concealed weapon with you.

I can understand having one with you at night. I hunt fox at night usually alone. Heck, you never know who or what your going to run into.

But, if I'm unsure of the people I'm about to hunt with, or if I've hunted with 'em before and not gotton the "warm fuzzy's", I'd simply say I'm unavailable in the future.

Dave

 

[Datkins]

Where do you apply for said permit? It usto be that you got a provisional permit at the co. treasures office , now I was told that that is no longer needed as long as you have a hunting licence. I want to do the right thing.

 

[Jeremiah_Johnson]

Well dave I have been told that by guys I hunt with allready that I shouldn't be hunting with complete strangers. When coon hunting though it is not a problem with the hunters you are with compared to the drunks and others who are up to no good. While coon hunting I hunt with buddys or friends that have dogs. I do not have a dog but enjoy a good hunt. I have allready had three people this year that gave us problems stating we had no right to be there when in fact we had permission to hunt coons there. It turned out that two of em were drunks that were locals that hunted it for deer but did not want us in their scaring thier deer out. The other one was just the landowners reletive checkin on us. The two drunks both had weapons in their vehicle. They could have been out poaching for all I know but I know that a .22lr is no match for a rifle if things get bad. It just leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach at night when you got someone that approachs you with a spotlight and holds it in your eyes and asks what you are doing there. Then find out they have a weapon beside them while they are drunk. Just sounds bad to me. All three situations did not turn out bad but it only takes once to change it. I do not care to be the "one" that it happens to.

Now when I got fox and coyote hunting I take people from the local gun club or others that have heard through the grapevine that I hunt "yotes" and they want to learn more about it. In them instances I could say no thanks I can't take you out but I have allways been the one that could get along with many and have no issues with hunting with complete strangers. But as of late it does make me uneasy when or while hunting with strangers. It is actually kinda hard to get people to go out hunting in cold conditions at night. So I take any chance or opportunity to go hunting with others.

You can get your LTCF permit at your countys sherriff office. They are known as a CCW permit but they are a LTCF permit.

 

[Woodywoodduck]

Where do you apply for said permit? It usto be that you got a provisional permit at the co. treasures office , now I was told that that is no longer needed as long as you have a hunting licence. I want to do the right thing.

Go to Your County Sheriff, ask for an LTCF form, fill it out and hand it in and pay what ever they charge you..


WHO told you that you do not need a permit to carry?

IF you carry Openly, No you do not need any type of permit...but there are many laws you have to follow when you carry openly!

There still is a Sportsmen Permit, which you get from the County Treasure... you show them your hunting license and you fill out the form for the Sportsmen permit and the county Treas charges I think $5.00...what is covered under the Sportsmen permit
http://paopencarry.org/pa-firearm-law-ss6106

c.Sportsman's firearm permit. --
1.Before any exception shall be granted under paragraph (b)(9) or (10) of this section to any person 18 years of age or older licensed to hunt, trap or fish or who has been issued a permit relating to hunting dogs, such person shall, at the time of securing his hunting, furtaking or fishing license or any time after such license has been issued, secure a sportsman's firearm permit from the county treasurer. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be issued immediately and be valid throughout this Commonwealth for a period of five years from the date of issue for any legal firearm, when carried in conjunction with a valid hunting, furtaking or fishing license or permit relating to hunting dogs. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be in triplicate on a form to be furnished by the Pennsylvania State Police. The original permit shall be delivered to the person, and the first copy thereof, within seven days, shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police by the county treasurer. The second copy shall be retained by the county treasurer for a period of two years from the date of expiration. The county treasurer shall be entitled to collect a fee of not more than $6 for each such permit issued, which shall include the cost of any official form. The Pennsylvania State Police may recover from the county treasurer the cost of any such form, but may not charge more than $1 for each official permit form furnished to the county treasurer.

BUT, the BEST route to go, is go to the county Sheriff, apply for an LTCF and get it, it covers the right to Conceal or open carry the pistol and also lets you carry it on you, in your vehicle without the need to unload it, secure the ammo in 1 place in the vehicle and the pistol in another, you can carry a semi for protection, hunting, spot lighting, fishing, running to the store, Ect.

Also, Sportsmen Permits, Only cover Hand Guns that are Legal for hunting with... that means, if you only have a Semi Auto, forget it, your gonna need a LTCF!

 

[sojourner]

Yes. You can carry one on you concealed for personal protection. ...

It's actually a license to carry. No requirement to conceal. So with a LTCF, have at it while concealed or open carrying.

The law allows open or concealed carry. Don't let anyone's preconceived notions of how you should carry dictate your actions. As long as it is legal, have at it.

 

[DaveT]

Jeremiah,

Just be careful out there. Even when I carry, which is every time I am hunting, and often when I'm not....I am very cognitive of any situation that could develop into a bad one. (ie: as you say...a guy getting out of his truck at 2:00 with his 20ga. at his side and his flask in his hand). In those cases, I do my best to get the heck out of there as quietly and un-obtrusively as possible, even when I have permission (private land) or am perfectly legal (public land) to hunt there.

Dave.

Stay safe!!!

 

[Jeremiah_Johnson]

Trust me I am allways more then willing to back out of a bad situation and will do so if I have a way. But it is when you can't is where things can go wrong. I would rather be prepared then not if you know what I mean.

 

[Datkins]

Thanks Woody, It was the county treasure that told me that the provisional permit no longer existed. I will be seeing the couny Sherrif soon. Again thanks for clearing this up.

 

[muss]

The only catch I can see here is if you are participating in the menored hunting program. It specifically states that only one gun may be in possession. So having a rifle and a carry gun might be an issue. You might be in violation of the game laws.

Maybe someone with some knowledge can chime in.???

 

[Woodywoodduck]

If you have an LTCF-License to Carry Firearms...you Should Not and Would Not be in Violation if you carried while doing a mentor hunt....Generally speaking, an LTCF is basically used to carry to protect 1 self or themselves and others if the need arises (YES it also covers carrying while hunting for legal critters with firearm caliber used for such critters) thus, you have the laws in the Game law that has been changed...you can now carry while Spot Lighting, Bow hunting, bear hunting, Rifled Deer hunting, Flintlock hunting, early muzzleloader hunting, small game hunting, ECT...about the ONLY time you can NOT carry even with an LTCF is Waterfowl hunting (as I stated in past posts..been discussed on here before and I remember John S. Stating it had something to do with the Single Projectile issue that is not allowed while hunting waterfowl) on School Ground and in Court houses...


There ISN'T Anything in the Regulations on the LTCF laws that States you can not carry while mentor hunting!

 

[chopper57]

If you have an LTCF-License to Carry Firearms...you Should Not and Would Not be in Violation if you carried while doing a mentor hunt....Generally speaking, an LTCF is basically used to carry to protect 1 self or themselves and others if the need arises (YES it also covers carrying while hunting for legal critters with firearm caliber used for such critters) thus, you have the laws in the Game law that has been changed...you can now carry while Spot Lighting, Bow hunting, bear hunting, Rifled Deer hunting, Flintlock hunting, early muzzleloader hunting, small game hunting, ECT...about the ONLY time you can NOT carry even with an LTCF is Waterfowl hunting (as I stated in past posts..been discussed on here before and I remember John S. Stating it had something to do with the Single Projectile issue that is not allowed while hunting waterfowl) on School Ground and in Court houses...


There ISN'T Anything in the Regulations on the LTCF laws that States you can not carry while mentor hunting!

Oh I see then according to the STATE when you are Waterfowl hunting you will never need to protect yourself (this must be when only the good guys are out) so there is no need to carry your self defense weapon. Is the state guarenteeing me that no one will try to rob, murder, abduct or in any other way try to harm you or your family, I'd like to see that guarentee written down.