Hey guys.. Since last hunting season I became a ccw permit holder. The areas that I hunt in are in the lead free zone. I know you can't have lead in your possession while hunting but what about in your personal protection firearm? I hike in miles and hunt very rugged terrain. I would not “carry" while hunting do to the extra weight and plus the whole reason I hunt the way I do is to get away from people. Plus if god forbid I needed to protect myself I still have my rifle. I was just curious if some of you knew the law on this? In certain areas I travel through to get to hunt or in some areas where I might sleep in my truck before the hunt I would carry if it was allowed.
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Common Sense
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Pretty sure to be legal you need lead free ammo in the handgun to be legal. However, doubt LEO's would cite you. ???????????????????????
Aught-SixGuy
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Let me put this in Spanish: No!!! It's my understanding that it's zero tolerance, be careful.
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My understanding is lead free ammo is mandatory for large game such as deer and pigs. Lead ammo is ok for small game such as rabbits. Lead shot is ok for birds, except waterfowl. Lead ammo is ok for target practice since this doesn't fall under a fish and game code. As for varmints, I'm not sure so to be safe, lead free would be recommended. If you're hunting large game, all weapons in your possession must have lead free ammo, even a sidearm you're wearing when hunting with a rifle as the primary hunting weapon.
T F Coyote
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Yes, you can have lead ammo in your pistol, so long as you are not hunting with it--i.e., trying to kill game animals.
I usually carry a revolver with me when hunting, and this year I'll be in D-7 (lead-free zone). I just paid $43 for 20 rounds of lead-free .357 magnum, just in case I get a chance at a deer while I'm away from my rifle--cooking, fishing, crapping, etc.
I usually carry a revolver with me when hunting, and this year I'll be in D-7 (lead-free zone). I just paid $43 for 20 rounds of lead-free .357 magnum, just in case I get a chance at a deer while I'm away from my rifle--cooking, fishing, crapping, etc.
PCguy760
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I am headed to D 7 soon also, 2-3 days early before rifle season next saturday , if I wanna hunt squirrels can I do that with lead in a .22? My guess is NO , I plan to get handgun lead free in the next few days , already got my 7mm lead free rounds
Squirrels are considered small game so lead is ok.(is there non leaded rounds for .22?) If you're shooting ground squirrels which generally are left for the scavengers, I'm still confused since theyre considered a non game animal.
Common Sense
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tree squirrels with lead is okay, but ground squirrels cannot legally be shot with lead .22. After the season opens if you have your deer rifle and tag in the same vehicle as the lead .22 ammo and firearm you are in violation.
SteadyAimBuckHunter
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Negative. While engaging in big game hunting, you cannot have in your possession any lead ammo at all, even for a side arm. I was politely given a verbal warning from a Game Warden a few years back up in D7 for carrying my Glock 23. I ordered some non-lead .40 cal shortly there after. It's been in effect for some years now so I wouldn't chance it.
TakeABackRoad
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This is very true. I talked to a warden about it last year. Any firearm you have in your possession that is capable of taking a deer. Meaning anything center fire. Must have non lead ammo. They can even give you a ticket if you have lead ammo in your pack. They are getting better now but I was told to bring the box my non lead ammo came in. Because the wardens can't always tell if the round is lead or not. They are able to confiscate rounds from you to test if they are not sure. Basically if your in a condor zone during hunting season don't bring any lead rounds with you.
PCguy760
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a semi auto handgun sidearm with non lead rounds is OK right? I don't have to have a revolver? When I hunted in PA you could not have semi-auto anything in the woods during deer season, not even if you had a concealed carry permit, you could only have single or double action revolver or 1 of those custom 1 shot handguns .......................................... I will see about non-lead .22 , if I cant get it then I wont bother
PCguy- California isn't as wacky as some of the eastern states when it comes to what is allowed and what isn't. Not to say that we ain't wacky, just not AS wacky. So, any firearm is OK in California. Like I said, we ain't as wacky as some other places. Just don't carry a gun while hunting during archery season. And, at this point in time, lead free .22 doesn't exist.
A CCW doesn't exempt you from non-lead ammo. F&G laws say that any centerfire cartridge capable of taking big game must be lead free. Thus, if you are hunting, any centerfire firearm in your possession must have lead free ammo in it.
The big conundrum happens when you are just scouting. If you are carrying while scouting then you SHOULD be carrying lead free. The reason for this is that F&G can ask if you have a hunting license. If you say yes, then you could "reasonably" be engaged in hunting. If so, then you are required to have lead free ammo.
You can argue that you were just scouting and not hunting at that time. It won't matter. You will be given a citation and your argument will be to the judge in the courtroom. At that point your time/trouble/expense will exceed the cost of a box of Corbon even if you win.
Interestingly enough, lead free doesn't stop at the national forest border. The law says ANYWHERE in the condor zone you must be lead free while hunting. And, since you are carrying a firearm, you could be presumed to be "hunting" even downtown. Don't expect judges to be experts or sophisticated on this issue - if the warden says you were "hunting' you WERE "hunting." Even if it's obvious you weren't, the judge won't care.
Because of this line of reasoning, I bought lead free as soon as the law was passed for everything I carry. Regardless of where I am in the zone, I am lead free. You should be too. Even when wearing a business suit.
A CCW doesn't exempt you from non-lead ammo. F&G laws say that any centerfire cartridge capable of taking big game must be lead free. Thus, if you are hunting, any centerfire firearm in your possession must have lead free ammo in it.
The big conundrum happens when you are just scouting. If you are carrying while scouting then you SHOULD be carrying lead free. The reason for this is that F&G can ask if you have a hunting license. If you say yes, then you could "reasonably" be engaged in hunting. If so, then you are required to have lead free ammo.
You can argue that you were just scouting and not hunting at that time. It won't matter. You will be given a citation and your argument will be to the judge in the courtroom. At that point your time/trouble/expense will exceed the cost of a box of Corbon even if you win.
Interestingly enough, lead free doesn't stop at the national forest border. The law says ANYWHERE in the condor zone you must be lead free while hunting. And, since you are carrying a firearm, you could be presumed to be "hunting" even downtown. Don't expect judges to be experts or sophisticated on this issue - if the warden says you were "hunting' you WERE "hunting." Even if it's obvious you weren't, the judge won't care.
Because of this line of reasoning, I bought lead free as soon as the law was passed for everything I carry. Regardless of where I am in the zone, I am lead free. You should be too. Even when wearing a business suit.
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PCguy760
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got it .......... the reasoning, IMO, for the no semi-autos in PA is that the hunting areas were often very close to farms and homes and they don't want people blasting 3-4-5-6 rounds off like a freak at a running deer , 1st day of rifle in PA sees over 1 million armed hunters in the woods .......................... so no such thing as lead free .22 ? How the heck do you squirrel hunt up there ? just curious
Fish Hunter
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Is there any Warden here that can clear this matter out?!!!
rayin :
rayin :.22 and .17 are currently exempt from the lead free requirement.
But, once the new bills are passed and signed, they won't be exempt any longer.
Schanna
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After nearly a full year of public testimony, discussion, and environmental analyses, the Fish and Game Commission modified the Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game (Section 353, Title 14, CCR) in December, 2007 to prohibit the use of projectiles containing lead for hunting deer, bear, wild pig, elk, and pronghorn antelope in areas designated as California condor range. Modifications to Methods of Take for Nongame Birds and Mammals (Section 475, Title 14, CCR) were also adopted to prohibit the use of lead projectiles in the same areas when hunting coyotes, ground squirrels, and other non-game wildlife. These regulations become effective July 1, 2008.
