Are you allowed to carry within the park? Will be headed out there in July and would like to have something other than a flyrod to defend myself.

Alaska has never had pistols restricted anywhere on Fed Land up here, only state that wasn't affected in the past because it was unenforceable. Many Federal laws are not enforced, too many problems feds don't want to deal with; kinda nice actually. Whenever one of our Parks gets an overbearing head ranger, doesn't get along with locals; they are usually transferred out pretty quick.

In rural Ak, practically everybody has sidearms when out and about during warmer weather. Ya know, up here; many animals have never seen people like back east. They look you over, figure what you must taste like, no joke. I've had yearling blk bear come in on me like a cat on a rabbit; front quarters down; butt up in the air, ears going like crazy.

Wife and I are teachers. We have seen people walk in and out of schools with pistols on belt everywhere we have been, no big deal. In most rural areas, kids bring guns to school on bus for bear protection at bus stop in morning. They are placed in locker at school. You'd be surprised how people say the heck with the Feds when a grizz is seen walking the road, looking kids over this time of year.

Here's one for ya: The Feds are besides themselves because they can't get the Indians to buy Fed duck stamps during the SPRING duck migration. Indians eat duck for a couple weeks this time of year. Every other day or so somebody in the village shoots 30 ducks, passes them out in village. Feds thought they were being awful fair letting them Indians hunt ducks at all in Spring; Indians don't see it that way, ha.

Ya, Alaska is a great place to call home.

I believe they just recinded restrictions on carrying handguns in National Parks on a national level. I would call Katmai and speak directly to them.

Brett

Originally posted by Brett

quote:

I believe they just recinded restrictions on carrying handguns in National Parks on a national level. I would call Katmai and speak directly to them

This is my understanding as well. Till now the answer was no you could not do it. in the hard park but you could in the preserve.

Like Zhura said many Alaskans do what they want regarding federal oversight but I would contend that Katmai is not a place too expect the normal lack of enforcement.
Last fall when I hunted Katmai preserve we had myself and my hunting partner in my camp. The only other camp was about a mile away I assume 2 hunters there as well based on the size of there camp.
On opening day park service flew in with three rangers who set up camp between us and the other camp.

Three rangers for four hunters is intensive enforcement and you can be sure lisence and tags were checked on the spot for every bear taken. They are there all summer as well.

You might not want to advertise. Especially at Brooks the Feds have seasonals do a pretty involved orientation regarding bear behavior. The seasonals feel the bears OWN THE PLACE! I spent a few 4 month stints at Brooks and have literally stepped on a sleeping brown bear while hiking up on of the trails to go up to the outlet of Brooks lake. Nothing worse that a face full of bear snot and compromised pant sanitation. In all the years at Brooks I'm thinking there has been one person bitten in the ass at the campground. The bears there are used to folks and do act like park bears. The two times to worry are right when the sockeyes get there. The bears know they are there but the fish are hard for them to get and they can be a little more aggressive. Also, after mid- September many "new" bears come in to the area for what is a very sustained run of fish and denning. These bears can be very aggressive. At the other locations in the park, generally speaking, the NPS presence is not so great and the bears behave like they are supposed to. I was not allowed to carry back in the early 80's. There are many great fishing spots beyond Brooks, PM me if you want more. Good luck.

The law that went into effect in feb says state law applys in national parks. So in AK open or concealed is allowed Now.

Confirmed that it is ok to carry in Katmai..

thanks all.