I always heard it was illegal but all sources say it is legal. Loaded and open view also.
Motorist Protection Act ?

Why do game wardens always get bent about it ?

School me please.

https://guides.sll.texas.gov/gun-laws/vehicles-traveling

No law against having a loaded long gun in your vehicle.

Game Wardens getting bent about it is their choice.

Trooper, Police, Deputies have not said a word to me about it.

This changes my game. I like carrying my levergun everywhere but didn’t because I didn’t like unloading it.

I read somewhere where they want it “within reach” which works for me because I keep it wedged between the console and seat on my passenger seat.

The day we met up in San Antonio, I had two in my truck!! Both LOADED.

Frio

Guess I’m late to the party

Game Wardens get bent about it on certain public hunting land.

Sometimes they get bent outta shape if there has been a lot of road hunting in their area.

Frio

Thanks

possum cops get pissy about a lot of things. Them and motorcycle cops take stuff personal on their job. Nothing wrong with a loaded pistol or rifle in the truck, unless they can prove you were road hunting.

It's probably the combination of the rifle and the spotlight in your seat or the KCs on with the covers off that is riling them up
But seriously on public roads around remote private lands known for big game, it probably gives them just enough to think about to ask questions about it. Like if you were to happen to get pulled over with a battery powered sawzall in the seat next to you while driving around a parking lot with several Toyota Priuses in it. Perfectly legal, but they are going to inquire about it if they had a reason to pull you over to begin with. Driving home from range, lease, or hunting, I don't think I have ever been pulled over and had a cop concerned about it. If asked about rifles in the truck, I always tell them and anyone else who asks that they are loaded even though they are not.

Public lands like under the annual public hunting permit or drawn hunts you can't do it per regulations. They have covered it well at every public hunt orientation I have ever been on. Corps and National Forest are going to have similar rules.

"Persons may not possess a loaded firearm within a motor vehicle, except as provided for a disabled person. Persons may not possess a loaded firearm within a designated campsite, designated parking area, or at the WMA headquarters or check station."

Its about showing intentions.

I explained it to my son:
He wanted to go hunt ducks but on the walk back he wanted to look for doves.

He put steel for ducks and lead for doves in his pockets.

Now, if he would get checked while duck hunting, what will it look like?

I keep a battery powered sawzall in my truck for cutting limbs too

What is considered "loaded", a round in the chamber and the safety on? Empty chamber but rounds in a magazine?

Locked and Loaded...magazine inserted, one in the chamber, gun on "safe"

Hopefully the Game Warden helps you up your game on getting a battery powered chainsaw for that.

Funny you say that. I got a battery powered chainsaw this year, and there’s no going back. Great tool.

I don't believe there is a distinction made between loaded/unloaded. It would definitely make the law difficult to enforce.

If I worried about the GW's perception of my "intentions" then I would never hunt hogs at night with thermal or NV out of fear some GW will be concerned my intentions were to hunt deer.

***Edited

I wrote a long post about my confusion between the law as regards a "firearm" being a hunting rifle on public lands vs a pistol carried concealed. But then I deleted it because I found the answer. I found in the Annual Public Hunt book where it addresses this directly.
"Firearm restrictions contained in the Public Lands Prohibited Acts do not apply to a person in possession of a handgun in compliance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, Penal Code, Chapter 46, and Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H."
So, like Sniper John already posted, you can't carry a "loaded firearm" (meaning a rifle or shotgun) in a vehicle on public hunting lands in Texas, nor in a campground. (I'm not sure about a state park). But you can carry a pistol.

Doesn’t matter what it would look like, he would be getting a ticket.

No person, while hunting waterfowl anywhere in the state, may possess shotgun shells containing lead shot or loose lead shot for use in muzzleloaders. Approved shot includes steel (including copper, nickel or zinc-coated steel), bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer (e.g. moly-shot), and any other nontoxic material approved by the Director of the USFWS.

Especially at night in East Texas and rightfully so.