S2 Ep6: CA Hunting Regulations Explained (Your Questions Answered)

[@toeknee4B11T]

I’m pretty sure bears have to be at least 50lbs or more as well to be considered legal to take.

[@grizzly.brothers]

Can you post the resource for that regulation? All I can find is “it is unlawful to take a cub…” and it doesn’t provide any specifics as to the size (CADFW 2024 Big Game Digest, page 59).

[@toeknee4B11T]

@@grizzly.brothers Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 366. It states that cubs are defined as bears less than one year of age or weighing less than 50lbs.

[@grizzly.brothers]

@@toeknee4B11T Awesome! Thanks for sending this. It’s exceedingly difficult to judge bear weight on the fly, but 50 pounds is pretty dang small.

[@grizzly.brothers]

@@toeknee4B11T Awesome! Thanks for sending this. It’s exceedingly difficult to judge bear weight on the fly, but 50 pounds is pretty dang small.

[@RuckDocBen]

This is absolute GOLD

[@firstgenoutdoors]

Here’s a gray area that I’ve talked to two Wardens about over the last few years: The CA Big Game Digest says - It is unlawful to possess a firearm while hunting during archery season or while hunting during the general season with an archery-only tag. CCR T14-354(h). Now where it gets tricky is that if you read further into the law, it states: (1) An archer may carry a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person while engaged in the taking of big game OTHER THAN deer with a bow and arrow in accordance with subdivision (h), but shall not take or attempt to take big game with the firearm. Meaning that you are allowed to carry a concealed firearm for self defense while archery hunting bears. But you can’t hunt or dispatch a bear with said firearm. As we know, bear seasons align with the archery seasons in multiple CA zones. I asked two wardens about this law individually. Here were their two answers: 1. Yes you can carry during archery season if you’re hunting bear. However, if you’re in possession of a deer tag while hunting, you’re getting a ticket. In addition, if you carry a sidearm for protection while hunting the ammo has to be lead free. (This is actually INCORRECT. His own Lieutenant confirmed it was false.) 2. Yes you can carry during archery if you’re hunting bear, but it’s up to every Warden’s discretion whether or not you’re also hunting deer at the time. In addition, he suggested to carry lead free ammo, although said it wasn’t required. His reasoning was to mitigate the risk of getting cited for non-lead by other wardens that interpret the law differently (Coincidentally see above!) Now what do you do if you actually run into a self defense situation and have to shoot a bear with a firearm during archery season? Well, good luck! Like you mentioned in the video, the best thing to do is be honest and act as quickly as possible to address the situation. I didn’t get an official answer on this besides to call CA DFW immediately. After these two answers I’ve decided the safe play is to just carry bear spray during archery. It’s clear that you could easily end up with a ticket for multiple offenses if you run into the wrong warden or situation. You may end up winning in court, but is it worth the time or risk of getting mauled? That’s up to every hunter. I wish there was a clear understanding and direction on this by CA DFW, but it’s just not the case.

[@Terpedup925]

Man with the amount of mountain lions and bears cali has they should just let us carry a side arm no matter if you are hunting deer. Ugh we need to change this law.

[@grizzly.brothers]

Good stuff! You’re absolutely correct. Considering that the vast majority of bear hunters are hunting deer simultaneously, it’s largely a moot point.

[@beastlee9420]

I've talked to 2 game warden in the D5 zone a couple weeks ago (2024 opening) about the archery hunting with a side arm and he said the same thing to me also. He said, if you're doing archery hunting and you have both deer and bear tags, than you can carry a handgun, but if you only have a deer tag than no, you can not carry a handgun. He did mention that each game warden understands it differently so you'll have to decide if you wanna spend all them time in court.

[@aclarkgraphics]

Thank for this info. What about bowhunting wild pigs in CA? Can I carry a sidearm?

[@jonathangomez-vv2dh]

Great info. Thank you for sharing

[@boomer6942]

The heart is the best part.

[@grizzly.brothers]

Yeah? I should try it… what’s the best way to cook it?

[@ashtonmccants]

@@grizzly.brotherscut it up into chunks. Clean out your heart (remove valves and all pieces that don’t look like muscle). Season it with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pan sear it and make tacos 🌮. I top it with a little onion, lime juice and cilantro on a corn tortilla. Some of the best tacos you’ve ever had in your life.

[@teejay6421]

You must look up the legal meaning for “Loaded.” It also means you having a magazine attached with rounds in them…this applies even if you do not have a round in the chamber. So long as you have a magazine in, it’s considered loaded. It’s up to the Warden at this point if he wants to press further.

[@grizzly.brothers]

It's legal to have a loaded weapon on national forest, non-paved roads. Just can't have a round in the chamber, which you shouldn't want to anyway - way too dangerous.

[@beastroides]

is there any where not to far from sac to get bear processed i cant find anything online and I've seen bears every time I've gone out and wanna get a tag

[@grizzly.brothers]

We use Kountry Meats in Elk Grove

[@Terpedup925]

I got a question. Can you shoot a deer or bear while standing on a trail, not a road?

[@grizzly.brothers]

Good question - yes you can. Anything that is not a road is legal.

[@IanJarrold]

The only people who are allowed to carry firearms during deer archery season are peace officers.. on duty or off duty..

[@Terpedup925]

New hunter here!! What do you put on the tags for location? Do you put GPS coordinates?

[@grizzly.brothers]

@@Terpedup925 the common thing to do is write “x miles NE of x trailhead” or just pick any commonly known landmark and give your approximate location to it.

[@samuelgarcia5968]

Can you hunt wild pig at night on private property ? And can you use any sort of spotlight while doing it?

[@grizzly.brothers]

Definitely check the regulations for that one

[@josheusted4198]

Either there websites and or social media to know if forest land has shut down access like this year all SPI land is closed to public access

[@grizzly.brothers]

Good info

[@JoelI-v4e]

3004 “(b) It is unlawful for a person to intentionally discharge a firearm or release an arrow or crossbow bolt over or across a public road or other established way open to the public in an unsafe and reckless manner.” So based on this, you can shoot on or across a road as long as it’s not in a “”unsafe and reckless manner”” Let me know what you think?

[@grizzly.brothers]

I would say better off to just avoid it and be safe

[@boomer6942]

OnX will have that info.

[@antman993]

in California a mag in the gun is considered loaded i believe and you can not have a mag in the gun once your off a paved road. its still considered a public roadway. and i wrong in thinking this way?

[@grizzly.brothers]

Good question. If you’re on an unpaved road you may have a loaded magazine in your firearm, but you can’t have a bullet in the chamber. We’ve been stopped several times by wardens checking for this.

[@guygrayson9859]

​@grizzly.brothers if you're in the National Forest and the area is huntable, you don't have to be on a dirt road to have a loaded firearm. Just not one in the chamber. I've seen many bucks shot from paved roads. Only rules are step off the road and don't shoot across the road.