Man gets escorted off of NF trail for open carrying rifle and pistol. UPDATE!!

[Stein]

It's amazing how fast things spiral up with nothing more than a few "I heard" posts on a hiker website.  When I googled looking for details, I only found the hiker forum and this one.  With the way things work, a guy with a rifle usually makes news right away.

My guess is that it didn't happen.  Guy had rifle, cops called, cops talk to guy, cops go home and guy goes on his merry way.

Police has to respond to MWAG, especially when the details are usually shaky and by someone not familiar with the laws or firearms in general.

This is what causes the problem:

IMHO guns have no place on popular hiking trails. This is obvious.

  Translated "Anyone not like me should not be here."

[Mark Brenckle]

IF it happened as described, I see no difference between this and asking Muslims not to pray in public, it makes people uneasy, you know, after all that's happened and all.

[timberfaller]

Reminds me of the issue I had  to deal with some time ago.   

I was sighting my rifle in on private property in Mazama,WA.  about a 45 minutes into it, here comes my father in law with the local game warden.

The game warden had received a call from a "wet sider" who had come over to the cabin in the woods and had heard my shooting.

They turned me in for "possible poaching"

Since I was well known by the game warden(used him in every Hunter Ed class)very well,  he approached me with a big grin on his face and my father in law trying not to laugh!

Told me what had transpired and that HE no matter what, had to come to the "site" referred to, to investigate.   HE told me he knew immediately who was doing the "shooting" by location given him.  BUT still had to make the trip and at the end apologized for interrupting my fun!

I won't go into what we thought of the "wet sider"   

He also was responsible for our neighbor and us(6 total) having to put out a fire he started in mid July later on his property.  Loggers were on hoot owl(extreme dry for those that don't know what that means) and he decided that since it sprinkled the nite before it was ok to burn his weeds!!!!  

I won't give out his profession, it will just make the story even more ridiculous and enrage some here.  They already have let me know how they think about me and the stands I take.

[wafisherman]

I was just up there 2 weeks ago with my wife and 8 kids.  Hiked to the top and had a hand gun clearly visible in a holster on my pack belt.  Saw another guy with a what looked like a 44 revolver on his hip.  No issues with anyone freaking out.  One lady actually said to me, after a short conversation, "by the way, thanks for open carrying. "   

[bobcat]

I can see it being more intimidating someone carrying an AR type rifle in their hands versus someone having a handgun in a holster on their belt.

[csaaphill]

Carrying an MSR in Starbucks is one thing. Carrying in the woods is another altogether. Does this mean that hunters are going to be harassed during hunting season now? This is ridiculous.

YES WE ARE and it's already happening.
I had something like this happen last year deer hunting got back to pick up only to have a Game warrden there to chekc me out.
after all was said and done he left, but some women who was parked right behind him, and I could see her while walking back she was sitting there watching and waiting to see what was going ot happen to me which was nothing since I checked out.
When she drove off and passed me she gave me the dirtiest look you'd ever want to see. SO ya it will.
Goes along with with what I said about being swated to death about people Liberals anti gun people calling the cops on you when they see you have a gun. In this case an assault looking rifle.
So be carefull peeps out there this year and keep carrying them any hows don't let thsi crap scare us. If i was near there and owned an assualt rifle and if there was a protest to address this crap I'd join in!
I actually hope some do get at least 5-6 out there with assault weapons and hike it!

[pianoman9701]

I got a response from state parks saying this was being referred to a Ranger Tobin at the actual park in question. Still waiting.

[csaaphill]

cool ok lets here it when you know thanks P man.

[pianoman9701]

I got an interesting response that's still unconfirmed until he gets back with other specific details:

"Dear Mr. (Pianoman) - 

I was not aware of any incident involving a firearm at Mt. Pilchuck prior to this morning.  However , I’ve been doing some research and have  been told there was an incident involving a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputy sometime in the last few weeks in which a person was escorted out of the park.  Washington State Parks, unfortunately, does not have a staff person on site in the park regularly so the report of incidents sometimes takes a while.   That is all that I know right now and I am trying to get more detail from them. 

Sincerely-

Shawn T. Tobin, MPA & MURP
NW Region South
Region Manager

[bobcat]

Was this on land managed by Washington State Parks?

[pianoman9701]

Was this on land managed by Washington State Parks?

I believe so, but am unsure. If so, county sheriffs would have jurisdiction, if that's your concern.

[Boss .300 winmag]

This post is useless with out his profession! Don't be such a tease, we all need a good laugh timberfaller.

Reminds me of the issue I had  to deal with some time ago.   

I was sighting my rifle in on private property in Mazama,WA.  about a 45 minutes into it, here comes my father in law with the local game warden.

The game warden had received a call from a "wet sider" who had come over to the cabin in the woods and had heard my shooting.

They turned me in for "possible poaching"

Since I was well known by the game warden(used him in every Hunter Ed class)very well,  he approached me with a big grin on his face and my father in law trying not to laugh!

Told me what had transpired and that HE no matter what, had to come to the "site" referred to, to investigate.   HE told me he knew immediately who was doing the "shooting" by location given him.  BUT still had to make the trip and at the end apologized for interrupting my fun!

I won't go into what we thought of the "wet sider"   

He also was responsible for our neighbor and us(6 total) having to put out a fire he started in mid July later on his property.  Loggers were on hoot owl(extreme dry for those that don't know what that means) and he decided that since it sprinkled the nite before it was ok to burn his weeds!!!!  

I won't give out his profession, it will just make the story even more ridiculous and enrage some here.  They already have let me know how they think about me and the stands I take.

[Special T]

Probably a fire fighter! 

[montana44mag]

Wait, wait....lemme get this straight.

Some hikers were bothered by the sight of one man with a gun, politely open carrying, so they called up a whole bunch of guys with guns, body armor, trained attack dogs, and a plethora of deadly and not-so-deadly gadgets and gizmos to go mess with him?

It amazes me how often these so called anti-gun people use guns through a public servant. These people are not even anti-gun, they are anti-human rights, pro-authoritarians, who point the guns of government at anyone who makes them uncomfortable.

It sounds like he was also kidnapped under duress.

Disgusting.

[Russ McDonald]

Was this on land managed by Washington State Parks?

I believe so, but am unsure. If so, county sheriffs would have jurisdiction, if that's your concern.

By Google Maps it shows Mt. Pilchuck State Forest. So that would make it state managed.