TexasCHLforum.com

I was wondering if i can carry on my boat. I'm still waiting for my chl so i need to know with and without chl. I might be going fishing this weekend and was wondering if i can legally carry my gun with me. without chl: can it be on my person in a holster? or does it need to be concealed withen the boat?

BTW this will be on one of the local lakes.

If the lake is a Corp's of Engineer's Property (and all that I know of in Texas are, except possibly Caddo Lake which is the only Natural Lake in Texas), then you are NOT ALLOWED to carry there! Even on a Boat, in a car, on your person, in your tent, in your backpack, in your pocket, or any other way. Federal Law!

Derekadavis wrote:I was wondering if i can carry on my boat. I'm still waiting for my chl so i need to know with and without chl. I might be going fishing this weekend and was wondering if i can legally carry my gun with me. without chl: can it be on my person in a holster? or does it need to be concealed withen the boat?

BTW this will be on one of the local lakes.

Without a CHL, outside of your home, car or place of business you control you are NOT allowed to carry legally. And, as stated before, if it is a Corp of Engineers lake, then you can't carry even with a CHL.

Keith,

Many of the Texas lakes, perhaps most, are not COE lakes but are owned by local water outfits; e.g., [(LCRA), (SRA), Lake Athens, Lake Jacksonville, Amistad, Falcon, etc.] or local municipalities.

Rayburn, Lake O the Pines, Toledo Bend, etc. are COE Lakes. The COE lakes can be identified and confirmed on the COE websites.

Greg

Oldgringo wrote:Keith,

Many of the Texas lakes, perhaps most, are not COE lakes but are owned by local water outfits; e.g., [(LCRA), (SRA), Lake Athens, Lake Jacksonville, Amistad, Falcon, etc.] or local municipalities.

Rayburn, Lake O the Pines, Toledo Bend, etc. are COE Lakes. The COE lakes can be identified and confirmed on the COE websites.

Greg

I am aware that many smaller lakes are not CoE lakes, but they are not the problem for us to carry. A lot of folks fish or boat on these larger lakes, especially if they live in the metro areas. Texas CoE lakes are:

Aquilla Lake
Bardwell Lake
Belton Lake
Benbrook Lake
Canyon Lake
Cooper Lake
Ferrells Bridge Dam Lake O' The Pines
Georgetown Lake
Granger Lake
Grapevine Lake
Hords Creek Lake
Joe Pool Lake
Lavon Lake
Lewisville Lake
Navarro Mills Lake
O.C. Fisher Lake
Pat Mayse Lake
Proctor Lake
Ray Roberts Lake
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Somerville Lake
Steinhagen Lake
Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
Texoma Lake
Waco Lake
Wallisville Lake
Whitney Lake
Wright Patman Lake

Keith B wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:Keith,

Many of the Texas lakes, perhaps most, are not COE lakes but are owned by local water outfits; e.g., [(LCRA), (SRA), Lake Athens, Lake Jacksonville, Amistad, Falcon, etc.] or local municipalities.

Rayburn, Lake O the Pines, Toledo Bend, etc. are COE Lakes. The COE lakes can be identified and confirmed on the COE websites.

Greg

I am aware that many smaller lakes are not CoE lakes, but they are not the problem for us to carry. A lot of folks fish or boat on these larger lakes, especially if they live in the metro areas. Texas CoE lakes are:

Aquilla Lake
Bardwell Lake
Belton Lake
Benbrook Lake
Canyon Lake
Cooper Lake
Ferrells Bridge Dam Lake O' The Pines
Georgetown Lake
Granger Lake
Grapevine Lake
Hords Creek Lake
Joe Pool Lake
Lavon Lake
Lewisville Lake
Navarro Mills Lake
O.C. Fisher Lake
Pat Mayse Lake
Proctor Lake
Ray Roberts Lake
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Somerville Lake
Steinhagen Lake
Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
Texoma Lake
Waco Lake
Wallisville Lake
Whitney Lake
Wright Patman Lake

Thanks for tthe clarification. We prefer the smaller bodies of water in or near the boonies and didn't consider the waters in or near the metro areas. I stand properly chastised.

Thanks for the clarification Keith!

What about that little trick under federal law of separating the gun from the ammo and having the gun locked in a box which allows transport of your gun anywhere in the U.S.?

That isn't going to do much good in a crisis situation, but let's say you launch at Steinhagen Lake (Dam B) and head north up the Neches River. Once out of the lake and COE territory, you can rearm your gun. Then when you get ashore and get attacked by one of the many wild boars, you have means defend yourself.

I really question if there is any real scrutiny for firearms on Corps of Engineers lakes anyway. And this is not the kind of federal law that is going to stand up under scrutiny after the Heller decision and following the revision of concealed handgun policy in national parks.

Insofar as carrying concealed in your boat under Texas law, a boat is no different for purposes of the statute than your car or truck. Now, if only you can convince a game warden of that while the waves lap at your freeboard. pushiing you ever closer to a citation.

When it comes to CE lakes you just have to make your own call, but it's definitly illegal. As for me, I camp at Potter's Creek campground at Canyon lake and boat on it alot. I've made the decision that I will carry and will NOT volunteer my CHL status to any leo's that I encounter. If they ask I will lie, and see if I get caught. I know this is anathema to many, but the bottom line is I will not go unarmed and won't volunteer myself for a trip to the pokey. I have had one encounter with a Parks and Wildlife Warden on the lake in 4 years, he asked for my fishing license and I complied, I never mentioned my CHL. On a side note, I've always noticed that the parks are patrolled by Comal county sheriff's deputies and not anyone from the C of E.

I have a related question.

I am going to be canoeing the Brazos River between Possum Kingdom and Granbury, and the Brazos River Authority website doesn't mention firearms or CHL. I can't find any information that any of the parks or the river itself are off limits to CHL.

I looked on Army Corps of Engineer website and the Brazos River Authority and found no information. Anyone have any other sources of information?

Weg wrote:...

As a personal rule, I don't admit to committing crimes on an open forum. You may want to edit your post.

Everyone here is a potential criminal. Heck, everyone in America is a potential criminal.

I agree, and I will add you may want to go just go find another forum to be a member of. We try to keep a clean image here of CHL holders as being honest, law abiding citizens. Not potential criminals.

Wow, how closed minded can you be? Do you think everyone should have the same ideas, philosophies, and moral judgement as yourself? I am a law abiding member of this forum and a CHL holder so dont speak for me. This person is allowed to say and do whatever he wishes. He is entiltled to his own opinion and has every right to express it in this PUBLIC forum as long as he follows the rules.

Furthermore, let me ask you a question. Do you ever speed a little when late to a meeting or Dr apt? Have you ever thrown your gum wrapper on the ground or your cigarrete? Have you ever moved from one state to the next and not had your address changed on your DL within 10 days? Dont lie. When you answer those questions truthfully, you will be a hipocrit. Technically you are a criminal breaking the law, only the severity has changed. Get off your high horse.

I doubt you would find a Texas LEO that will enforce a Federal Law that relates to carrying a firearm on Federal property. If you don't have a CHL they may take you in for UCW.

It's hard enough to be up on all the Texas laws, I doubt most LEO's even try to study up on Federal ones.