The Olymic National Park

[PA BEN]

What are the rules for staying in a camp ground in the Park as far as guns? If I'm hunting elk can I stay in a Park camp ground with with my hunting gun? What do you do if your elk runs into the Park?

[popeshawnpaul]

They must be stowed away in a case.  If you can take out the action even better...

[merlo105]

You cant have guns in the Park at all and on no trail's nor camps. They list it on maps and what not, And at park head quarters...

[THINK_N_ELK]

If your hunting close to the Park Boundry, and your animal runs into the Park, after being shot.  The best thing you can do is contact Fish and Wildlife or a Park Ranger.  And tell them your animal ran into the park after being shot.  Don't persue it with your wepon in hand becase that is a felony and you'll get more then a slap on the hand.  They may want to see where you shot it at and see a blood trail leading into the park.  Or may say go ahead and retieve your animal.  When in doubt, I would call just to cover my arss.  I enjoy my hunting to much to have to give up my guns (due to being a convicted felon)and hunting privlages from a bad choice.

Happy Hunting and good luck.

 

[popeshawnpaul]

You cant have guns in the Park at all and on no trail's nor camps. They list it on maps and what not, And at park head quarters...

You can under certain circumstances.  You certainly can't have them out and ready to use.  They can be stowed in the car and there are other exceptions.  I just looked up the law in this area.

[PA BEN]

You cant have guns in the Park at all and on no trail's nor camps. They list it on maps and what not, And at park head quarters...

You can under certain circumstances.  You certainly can't have them out and ready to use.  They can be stowed in the car and there are other exceptions.  I just looked up the law in this area.

Where did you find the laws?

[rasbo]

rasbo always packs..bad law I think..that makes folk prey for whackos

[billythekidrock]

There are a few misconceptions in this thread.

1. That you can not take a firearm into the park. Yes, you can under certain conditions as stated above. The CWP holder will be able to carry later in the new year. Currently you can if it is stowed separately from your ammo or disassembled. When we need to go through the park we take the bolt, clip, etc and place in the glove box and the rifle in a case in the back.

2. That you can contact F&W (state) for retrieval. No you can no longer retrieve an animal that dies in the park. In the past you had to contact the Park Service (Federal) and they would determine if you could go in and how far. It was up to the individual as to how far he would let you look for a wounded animal and even if you could enter the park. As of a month ago the new policy is absolutely no retrieval. I had the parkie show me the book and paragraph with the verbage. Hopefully it will be challenged.

[billythekidrock]

 If I'm hunting elk can I stay in a Park camp ground with with my hunting gun? What do you do if your elk runs into the Park?

I would check with the Port Angeles office, but this year in July Killbilly and I spoke with an OP parkie about doing exactly what you want. He said it was fine as long as the weapons were inoperable and stored in a way as to not be used.

As for an animal that runs into the park.
Again, contact the PA office. The new policy is no retrieval.

[georgia redneck]

 If I'm hunting elk can I stay in a Park camp ground with with my hunting gun? What do you do if your elk runs into the Park?

I would check with the Port Angeles office, but this year in July Killbilly and I spoke with an OP parkie about doing exactly what you want. He said it was fine as long as the weapons were inoperable and stored in a way as to not be used.

As for an animal that runs into the park.
Again, contact the PA office. The new policy is no retrieval.

I have a budy who owns some land over there and you have to go through the park to get to it he just recently built a home over there and was told the same thing. So you are correct. He told him if he is caught doing anything otherwise they would leave him standing there in his underwear

[bearmanric]

i'll be hitting matheney tomorrow to do my elk camp. i hunt very close to the park. only try for good shot's. i would never stay in the park not friendly people they would freak if your a hunter. the park is closed down low. will be hunting matheney and clearwater. the game warden's and Fed's arent nice so you dont want to mess up. Rick

[BAR C3]

I grew up on the Peninsula and I would advise not hunting near the Park unless your on private ground that borders it. The tree hugging Rangers will scare the elk back into the park. Got them doing it more than once. I filed a compliant to the Park Superintendent and it was a waste of time.  They assurred me I was wrong. I don't like being called a liar, so I wrote an editorial in the Peninsula Daily News about it. 
I have also had game run back into the park after being shot. Then you could retrieve them. You had to get a game warden and the tree huggers involved. Real fun because then they would try and prove you shot it in the park if you didn't have a good blood trail. You have to remember those animals know there safe there so unless you finish outside, thats where they will head. Just some things to consider.