On page 5 of the document supporting this regulatory action (http://legis.state.va.us/codecomm/register/vol26/iss12/v26i12.pdf),  the Department of Forestry asserts:

Purpose: The right to bear arms is protected by the second
amendment to the Constitution. Citizens are requesting the
department to remove the prohibition against carrying
handguns within state forests because they believe this action
is necessary to protect their health, safety, and welfare against
violent people and wild animals.

The proposed amendment allows the lawful carrying of
concealed handguns by persons with a valid concealed
handgun permit on state forest properties. The current
prohibition against persons carrying open carried handguns
will remain in place. The agency received a petition to
eliminate the prohibition against both open carried handguns
and concealed handguns from the Virginia Citizens' Defense
League. The department received 1,926 comments supporting
the amendment during the notice of intended regulatory
action (NOIRA) comment period. The State Forester
proposes to amend the regulations to match the state park
regulations regarding handguns.

It's a shame that the State Forester does not  appear to be aware of the contents of this Commonwealth's foundational document, the Constitution of Virginia.  Otherwise, why cite the Constitution of the United States instead of that of our Commonwealth.  (My use of "our" presumes the Forester is indeed a Virginian.  If he/she is not, may I suggest that new employment be sought?)

If he/she understood our Founders' belief that Mankind's Creator had imbued Man with the inalienable right to bear arms, infringements such as that proposed by the State Forester are more easily considered.  Here's an excerpt that should provide a context for the ridiculous proposal to further codify unconstitutional infringements (at the State and Federal level) of Virginians right to keep and bear arms ... whether or not the Virginian happens to be in an enclave that is in the custodial responsibility of the State Forester.

An excerpt of one of the most applicable sections is provided below, in the hope of easing the correction of this egregious unconstitutional stance.  (The full text of the Constitution is accessible at http://legis.virginia.gov/Laws/search/Constitution.htm.)

Constitution of Virginia

Article I - Bill of Rights

Section 13. Militia; standing armies; military subordinate to civil power.

"the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"

What part of "shall not be infringed" is so difficult to understand?

The Virgina Citizens Defense League rightfully seeks to ensure that no distinction is made between the treatment of lawful bearers of firearms based on the type of holster, and whether or not it is obscured from public view.  Similarly, unlawful bearers of firearms should be held to account for their crime(s) to the fullest extent of the law ... without regard to whether they carried their weapon(s) openly or concealed.