Pre Season Scouting and fire arms???????

[motor-vater]

So I drew my tag finally x7a and have some scouting and exploring to do... I have not been in the area previously so I want to spend a week up in the bush come August, mostly to familiarize myself with the area so that I will be chasing game vs. my own ass come hunting season. I plan on backpacking into some deep area's camping in my bivey and sleeping under the stars in the great outdoors. Every once of my common sense tells me to carry a firearm. After all its always coyote, pig, critter season. I am always worried about big cats, and in that area that time of year dope growers! A hand gun would be my preferred side arm but Even a shot gun or rifle would work if it had to, obviously copper bullets. Reasons that I think its a smart play is protection, and if I were lost it could be used signaling, etc. disadvantages are obvious, its Commi-fornia and I always am fearful of losing my right to own firearms. Can I carry a handgun with copper bullets openly in a hip holster, should I carry a shotgun instead, or do I just hope I don't stumble upon a angry grower or hungry cat?? Thank you for you input.. Should I carry a fishing pole and licence.. lol but seriously it really sucks that in this state you have to use some bs loop hole just to justify the fact that the woods can be a scary place WTF!

 

[Waterguy]

My understanding is that you can still use lead until 2019?

 

[Bubblehide]

Motor-Vader, I know, I got it wrong. On National Forest, you can legally open carry, any time of the year. If you are fishing, and have a fishing license in possession, you can legally carry concealed. However, Personally, I would open carry the weapon of my choice. I get that your more worried about bipeds, but, research exhibits that bear spray is more a effective deterrent than lean/copper. You may want to consider carrying some bear spray.

 

[motor-vater]

I do always carry bear spray, but they dont make cartel spray!

 

[hks95134]

The only time when you cannot carry a firearm in the Calif USFS or BLM lands is when you are also carrying a bow AND it is archery season.

Otherwise, you are good to go for open carry of a loaded firearm in the Calif USFS or BLM lands.

You would need a Calif CCW permit to carry a concealed firearm ANYWHERE in Calif whether USFS or BLM or not.

And Peruta is looking good so far.

The copper requirement is not yet mandatory outside of the condor zone, but since copper ammo is now readily available in many calibers and cartridges, I always carry copper ammo anytime I am out in the wilderness.

You should never go out into the Calif wilderness unarmed. It is 2 legged predators that you are most likely to encounter rather than 4 legged ones.

You may see lion tracks, and you may see bear dung piles, but you are very unlikely to see a lion or a bear.

 

[motor-vater]

I have actually encountered black bears 3 times in California 2 of those times they were running as fast as they could away from me. The other time, he was sitting on his but eating something about 20 feet from my truck as I returned from a turkey hunt. None of those times did I ever really feel threatened. But the only time I ever saw a lion, all I saw was its tail about 100 yards off on a hill and I creeped me out. I just felt like it was stalking me, so I took a few shots at a "ground squirrel" as I cautiously made my way back to the truck. But this will be the first time I actually plan to do some "coyote camping" and really venturing deep into them woods. I want them horns!!!

 

[hks95134]

I have seen 3 lions in California -- two at FHL and one in the southern Sierra. All 3 of them were running like heck to get away from my jeep, which they must have thought was a tyrannosaurus rex.

I have seen 1 bear in California -- inside Yosemite. It was running away from our backpack group which was hiking towards Half Dome.

I have seen loads of lion tracks and bear dung piles all over the State though.

But the main need for the copper hollow point 45ACP ammo in my pistol is for 2 legged predators.

I have encountered 5 individuals so far that looked and acted like they intended robbery, until they saw the open carry weapon, and then they scurried off too.

 

[motor-vater]

Yup just ordered some barnes 45 acp from midway. 1911 on the hip for them bipeds LOL...God help me I pray I never need to even consider using it.

 

[SpiritWalker]

Hope I'm not hijacking here but what is the best method for getting your open carry pistol from your car to the forest boundary when hiking in from non Federal land?

 

[Common Sense]

Hope I'm not hijacking here but what is the best method for getting your open carry pistol from your car to the forest boundary when hiking in from non Federal land?

Get a CCW.

 

[SpiritWalker]

Get a CCW.

Workin on it with the OC Sheriffs dept.. Hope to finalized soon.

 

[motor-vater]

I plan on just using a locked soft case in my back pack with the clips locked in the front pocket of said backpack. Not sure what else I can really do?

 

[Common Sense]

I have seen 3 lions in California -- two at FHL and one in the southern Sierra. All 3 of them were running like heck to get away from my jeep, which they must have thought was a tyrannosaurus rex.

I have seen 1 bear in California -- inside Yosemite. It was running away from our backpack group which was hiking towards Half Dome

In D8, you will see cats and bears more often, I've seen several(but only shot one bear and one lion, and yes it was legal back then). But I don't fear either of them, hks is right, they are more afraid of us than we are of them. A few years ago while quail hunting with low base 20 gauge bird shot, I did have a lion follow me for about half a mile. It stayed in the brush about 200 to 300 yards away, but I could see it from time to time until I jumped a covey of quail. After shooting at the birds, I never saw the cat again.

I usually have a small revolver in my vehicle if I leave my little home town, but up in the hills I usually leave it at the cabin. A handgun isn't going to help if you have cat or bear trouble, because if they do attack they will have you down before you know they are there.

 

[socalkid]

Hope I'm not hijacking here but what is the best method for getting your open carry pistol from your car to the forest boundary when hiking in from non Federal land?

I think you could Unloaded Open Carry, depending on what that non federal land is. Or unloaded in a locked case, but that seems like a hassle.

 

[hks95134]

Working on my CCW too.

Took the required class.

Submitted the required form.

Perfect driving record of no citations in the past 5 years.

No felony or misdemeanor or infraction convictions, charges, or complaints of any kind.

And I practice for the 40 round test monthly.

Fingers crossed for Peruta.

 

[Common Sense]

Working on my CCW too.

Took the required class.

Submitted the required form.

Perfect driving record of no citations in the past 5 years.

No felony or misdemeanor or infraction convictions, charges, or complaints of any kind.

And I practice for the 40 round test monthly.

Fingers crossed for Peruta.

Sounds like an infrindgment to me. Especially when you add the fee they will charge you. At least in my county they don't make us go to the range and qualify, yet. But now they do make us take the dumb 4 hour class every two years; state required.

 

[hks95134]

Sounds like an infrindgment to me. Especially when you add the fee they will charge you. At least in my county they don't make us go to the range and qualify, yet. But now they do make us take the dumb 4 hour class every two years; state required.

I appreciated the class -- mine was 2 days including range time.

Forced me to learn to shoot one handed with each hand -- never tried that before and now I am getting good at it.

Taught me when it is "permissible" to shoot somebody and when not.

Lots of good info. I highly recommend it to everybody.