i would keep my gun in a case to not damage it but i think as long as it is not armed it's alright. i'm not sure wether it's legal or not but i do know it's not a good idea to have your gun out of it's case as pepole do get alarmed naturally when they see a rifle.
pigoen plucker
He normally has it in the case but it was 2.00am and it was a back lane where there are only about 4 farms and he has permission on all of them, was just driving from one where he had been shooting to the next one, just his luck that the police were there!
me an my mate had are guns out at the side of a main