Who Trumps Who?

[BC9696]

California restricts bow hunters from carrying sidearms during archery season but do CCW permit trump this or does the CA DFW the determining factor. Frankly, with all the damn lions, asshats, addicts and crazies running around in the backcountry...not being armed is kinda stupid. Had 5 close encounters with big cats. Can't strap a sidearm on my August muskox hunt and that's in Arctic Circle polar bear country. But what about California?

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[One in the pipe]

I never understood this either. You hunt with rifles, not pistols. In hunting, pistols are for self protection.

Could go with, "concealed is concealed."

[Ewok55]

The no handguns rule during archery deer hunts (all other species is ok) applies to CCW permit holders too. I think LE has an exception, but I might be spreading FUD on that. It's fish and game code.

[BC9696]

Wait...so what? If you are holding a deer tag and a bow you're a criminal but if you're only holding a bow you're fine? That's really dumb. What difference does it make what you're hunting??? Only in California...a state of perpetual political stupidity. Thanks.

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[Ewok55]

Not saying it is reasonable. This is from page 33 of the 22-23 mammal regulations. You can carry with a CCW unless hunting deer in an archery only season. Sounds like elk or antelope on an archery only tag would be ok.

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[P5Ret]

You hunt with rifles, not pistols.

That'll be your little secret.

I have hunted both deer and hogs with a handgun. I know several people who also have hunted with handguns.

I'm sure you can find Youtube video's of people hunting with handguns all over the planet.

[BC9696]

That'll be your little secret.

I have hunted both deer and hogs with a handgun. I know several people who also have hunted with handguns.

I'm sure you can find Youtube video's of people hunting with handguns all over the planet.

Yup...taken several coyotes with a pistol.

[BC9696]

Finally heard back from a GW confirming i can carry unless hunting deer with a bow. So strange.

[Quiet]

If hunting deer with bow, then not legal to CCW unless you are an active or honorably retired LEO. [FGC 4370 and 14 CCR 354(h)]

If hunting anything other than deer with bow, then legal to CCW. [PC 25640, 25655, and 14 CCR 354(h)(1)]



*EDIT*
Forgot to add...
Before 2013, a person with a valid CA CCW permit was also granted an exemption to the no firearms while archery deer hunting prohibition.
This exemption was amended away in 2012.
If I remember correctly, it was because of one incident that involving a CA CCW permit holder using their handgun to finish off a deer that they had been bow hunting.



Penal Code 25640
Section 25400 does not apply to, or affect, licensed hunters or fishermen carrying pistols, revolvers, or other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person while engaged in hunting or fishing, or transporting those firearms unloaded when going to or returning from the hunting or fishing expedition.

Penal Code 25655
Section 25400 does not apply to, or affect, the carrying of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person by a person who is authorized to carry that weapon in a concealed manner pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150).

Penal Code 26010
Section 25850 does not apply to the carrying of any handgun by any person as authorized pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5.

Fish and Game Code 4370
(a) In every area in which deer may lawfully be taken during the general open season there is an archery season for the taking of deer with bow and arrow. The season for each area shall be as the commission may prescribe, with a minimum interposing interval of three days immediately preceding the regular open season on deer in that area. Except as provided in subdivision (b), a person taking or attempting to take deer during such archery season shall neither carry, nor have under his or her immediate control, any firearm of any kind.
(b) A peace officer listed in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, whether active or honorably retired, may carry a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person while engaged in the taking of deer with bow and arrow in accordance with subdivision (a), but shall not take or attempt to take deer with the firearm.

California Code of Regulations Title 14 Division 1 Subdivision 2 Chapter 3 Section 354
Archery Equipment and Crossbow Regulations.
(a) Bow, as used in these regulations, means any device consisting of a flexible material having a string connecting its two ends and used to propel an arrow held in a firing position by hand only. Bow, includes long bow, recurve or compound bow.
(b) Crossbow, as used in these regulations means any device consisting of a bow or cured latex band or other flexible material (commonly referred to as a linear bow) affixed to a stock, or any bow that utilizes any device attached directly or indirectly to the bow for the purpose of keeping a crossbow bolt, an arrow or the string in a firing position. Except as provided in subsection 354(j), a crossbow is not archery equipment and cannot be used during the archery deer season.
(c) For the taking of big game, hunting arrows and crossbow bolts with a broad head type blade which will not pass through a hole seven-eighths inch in diameter shall be used. Mechanical/retractable broad heads shall be measured in the open position. For the taking of migratory game birds, resident small game, furbearers and nongame mammals and birds any arrow or crossbow bolt may be used except as prohibited by subsection (d) below. Notwithstanding the general prohibition of the use of lights in Fish and Game Code section 2005, arrows or crossbow bolts with lighted nocks that do not emit a directional beam of light may be used.
(d) No arrows or crossbow bolt with an explosive head or with any substance which would tranquilize or poison any animal may be used. No arrows or crossbow bolt without flu-flu fletching may be used for the take of pheasants and migratory game birds, except for provisions of section 507(a)(2).
(e) No arrow or crossbow bolt may be released from a bow or crossbow upon or across any highway, road or other way open to vehicular traffic.
(f) It shall be unlawful to use any bow or crossbow without a draw weight of at least 30 pounds for a bow or 125 pounds for a cross bow.
(g) Except as described in subsection 354(j), crossbows may not be used to take game birds and game mammals during archery seasons.
(h) Archers may not use or possess a firearm while in the field engaged in archery hunting during an archery season or while hunting during a general season under the provisions of an archery only tag except as provided in subsections (h)(1) or (h)(2).
(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.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the lawful possession of a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person by an active peace officer listed in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code or a retired peace officer in lawful possession of an identification certificate issued pursuant to Penal Code Section 25455 authorizing the retired officer to carry a concealed firearm.
(i) No person may nock or fit the notch in the end of an arrow to a bowstring or crossbow string in a ready-to-fire position while in or on any vehicle.
(j) Upon application to the department, the department may issue a Disabled Archer Permit, free of any charge or fee, to any person with a physical disability, as defined in 354(k), which prevents him/her from being able to draw and hold a bow in a firing position. The Disabled Archer Permit authorizes the disabled archer to use a crossbow or device which holds a string and arrow in the firing position to assist in the taking of birds and mammals under the conditions of an archery tag or during archery season.
(1) Applications for a Disabled Archer Permit as specified in Section 702 shall be submitted to the department at the address specified on the application and shall include:
(A) Applicant's name
(B) Applicant's physical address
(C) Applicant's date of birth
(D) Applicant's Driver's License or DMV Number
(E) Applicant's telephone number
(F) Applicant's signature
(G) Medical Physician's name
(H) Medical Physician's business address
(I) Medical Physician's business telephone number
(J) Medical Physician's State medical license number
(K) A description of the disabled archer's disability. The physician shall designate if the disability is permanent or temporary. If the disability is temporary, shall provide date the disability is expected to end.
(L) Medical Physician's signature
(N) Signature of the authorizing department employee and date issued
(2) Proof of meeting eligibility requirements may be met by providing a previously issued Disabled Archer Permit when the disability is still in effect.
(3) The valid Disabled Archer Permit shall be in the archer's immediate possession while hunting and shall be shown on demand to any person authorized to enforce this regulation.
(4) The Disabled Archer Permit is valid beginning July 1 through June 30 of the following year or if issued after July 1 of the license year, it is valid beginning on the date issued through to the following June 30. For any person with a permanent disability, the permit is valid through the end of the license year. A Disabled Archer Permit for a permit holder with a temporary disability that ends prior to the end of the license year is valid only through the date specified by his/her physician.
(k) For the purposes of this section a physical disability means, a person having a permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing a hunter to draw and hold a bow in a firing position.

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[BC9696]

Cuz you won't ever encounter bears when deer hunting...