"Packing"? and "un-Packing"?

So on my last trip both trucks brought fire arms. They were transported legally and were in themselves legal to posses. Before we met up on our trip I felt slightly uneasy asking this couple if they brought.. "guns? yes we bring guns camping" they cut me off. I am originally from Chicago and the firearms laws and bans are so strict (or were for 20 years) it's almost impossible to NOT break the law there. The resulting taboo nature of owning, using, and collecting firearms has influenced my feelings on personal etiquette. I'm very quiet about firearms with other people regardless of their stances ideologically speaking. So I was happily caught off guard when they were frank about the subject. It was a question that came to mind assuming I'd likely be a LONG way away from police help and couldn't assume to get them to me remotely. My bias of living for two decades in the war zone known as "Chicago", has also shaped my suspicion of strangers. There are other things than man to worry about in any off road/back country local, bears, bulls, moose, coyote, wolves, and bringing a gun to the wilderness seems eternally wise, but man is the only one shooting back. But I digress.

The question is:

Do you "Pack" when off-roading?

 

Yes I do.

 

Not where i currently live (Socal) as I honestly don't know how some people will react, but when i move (to a southern state) this summer i will be "packing"

 

Yes, everywhere I go.

 

What do you mean? How would they know if you had a gun?

 

No I don't

 

I would have both a pistol (on my person, i'm not sure of the legality on public land, i'm assuming it's a big no-no) that is to big to CC and a shotgun or AR behind the seat.
And i wouldn't want to deal with running across other people on the trail and them freaking out and calling BLM or CHP or sheriffs.

 

I see.

Well you can have a handgun in a locked container, or a long gun in an unlocked bag. Either one of those is discreet enough that people wouldnt know about unless they snooped inside your cab.

 

That's exactly how i carried my 12g. It never saw sun. I only had it out and loaded (not chambered) when we went to bed. Put it away before sun up. We were in the open bed of my truck. 30-40mph winds and temps were low 50's. Didn't sleep much.

We heard some noises near camp. Never saw anything though. My big fear was a mountain lion strolling in to camp. But the moon was full and visibility was extreme. I could see clearly across 25 miles of desert to the mountain ranges north of camp. Whatever was making noise was small and in the brush and bats were almost a constant clicking overhead. It's going to be different when it's no moon.

M

 

HR 218. Always allowed nuff said.

 

same here