Guns on board? - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

TomD · #1 05-17-2013, 08:33 PM

Is it Federal law says no guns on the waters. Is that as it is? I sure would like to be able to legally carry my hand gun on the water.

I actually had what Im pretty sure was a Cotton Mouth swim out 25 - 30 yards and try to get in my boat Id bat him off with a paddle and he'd try again and I finally got away, well he swam away back to shore. I dont think I would even consider shooting it if didnt treaten. Probably had a nest on the shore line maybe I sure would like to have had some 38spl snake shot or a slug or even my shotgun. How does it apply to hunters using boats to get to their hunting site. How do they legally transport the gun?

I think its a stupid law.

Has anyone every been asked by fish and game if you had a gun in the boat when they are checking catches and such? I just wonder if in a tackle box and they found it my thoughts are it could really be a problem in todays atmosphere with gun law violations. Im thinking it would be real easy to be made an example of.

Ive started to reconsider some of my positions on it. Especially if it were night time on the water or even at the launch at night.

Alphahawk · #2 05-17-2013, 09:14 PM

I dont know about Federal law but one may carry a gun on TWRA Lakes....with carry permit of course.

Regards

Buccaneer · #3 05-17-2013, 09:30 PM

Go here and see post #17. Carry permit? Carry. http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/to...y-on-tn-lakes/

tkwalker · #4 05-17-2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I dont know about Federal law but one may carry a gun on TWRA Lakes....with carry permit of course.

Regards

State Law ... It is illegel to kill Any Snake in the State of Tennessee (Eco System Stuff)... Now with that said ... While on this subject ... I was talking to a TWRA Wildlife Officer a few years ago about poisonous snakes in a life threating situation ... He said this was kind of a Gray area ... Bottom line ... it is just illegel ... But He hadn't heard of any one being prosecuted ...

<'TK><

Jdkxtreme · #5 05-17-2013, 09:53 PM

I had one stop me at the ramp at cairo a month or so ago asking about what I was catching. He asked if I had any weapons on me. I told him the truth that I did and I was a legal permit holder. He thanked me and never asked to see the gun or the permit.

Travis C. · #6 05-17-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkwalker

State Law ... It is illegel to kill Any Snake in the State of Tennessee (Eco System Stuff)... Now with that said ... While on this subject ... I was talking to a TWRA Wildlife Officer a few years ago about poisonous snakes in a life threating situation ... He said this was kind of a Gray area ... Bottom line ... it is just illegel ... But He hadn't heard of any one being prosecuted ...

<'TK><

I believe you have some wiggle room in killing a snake if it is going to harm your livestock or in your home to where you feel threatened. Outside in the woods or at a lake you could very well end up with a fine.

Bottom line it's illegal like tk said.

j19bill · #7 05-17-2013, 10:20 PM

Had a TWRA officer stop me as I was putting in below the dam on the Caney last year. Checked my boat registration, fishing license and asked if I had any weapons on me. I said yes gave him my CCP and he told me to have a nice day.

Sent from my Droid Bionic complete with typos and sarcasm.

TomD · #8 05-17-2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkwalker

State Law ... It is illegel to kill Any Snake in the State of Tennessee<'TK><

Better to ask forgiveness sometimes than permission especially when its him or you.

Thanks for the update post #17 makes it pretty clear.

Thanks.

Gene G · #9 05-18-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomD

Is it Federal law says no guns on the waters. Is that as it is? I sure would like to be able to legally carry my hand gun on the water.

Ive started to reconsider some of my positions on it. Especially if it were night time on the water or even at the launch at night.

The old saying "Better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by 6" still holds true today.

ttitan27 · #10 05-18-2013, 08:31 AM

I have a HCP and always carry on the water. Some boat ramps I use are a little sketchy.

Saltwaterwalt · #11 05-18-2013, 10:05 AM

Tom,
It sounds like you get a little bent over a snake. Cottonmouths are rare. Most our water snakes are just that, either common watersnakes or diamondback watersnakes, or the northern watersnake. Lots of them around and they're harmless. They're not out to get you and will just pass on by. I've had them swim between my waders, not a big deal, its a mental fear, work on it.

By the way, have never heard of livestock being threatened by a snake, that's a new one!

Jdkxtreme · #12 05-18-2013, 12:49 PM

State park ramps are no guns allowed places. Just the ramps though

bd- · #13 05-18-2013, 01:29 PM

I've thought a few times about carrying a gun when fishing in remote areas, but only because of people, not snakes.

I can't think of any situation where I'd ever need a gun to deal with a snake.

bd

bd- · #14 05-18-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltwaterwalt

By the way, have never heard of livestock being threatened by a snake, that's a new one!

Maybe baby chickens or pen-raised quail. If it's anything beyond that, you've got a python problem.

bd

JandSCattleCo · #15 05-18-2013, 03:19 PM

I carry everywhere I go. As said earlier "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6." You never know what might happen these days.

However, its for the protection of me and mine only. I had a buddy draw his sidearm a few weeks ago to stop a fight where a guy was getting beat pretty severely. HE was cuffed and questioned because the guys doing the beating said he was waiving it around like a lunatic!

As far as snakes and livestock, I've seen several cattle that were injured by venomous snake bites.