Does CA allow open carry?

[for2nato]

Then what the hell am I supposed to do if an angry bear comes into my camp?!?

Save your life and worry about the legal ramafications later. Or let the bear eat you and become a marter for the rest of us to file suite against the state for stripping us of the right to protect ourself. But I would personally go with option 1

[M1A Rifleman]

Then what the hell am I supposed to do if an angry bear comes into my camp?!?

1. Call 911,
2. Wait for help and become the bears meal.

Sorry, this is California, where you do not have the right to defend yourself - unless you are an LEO or part of the Legislature that has the right to a CCW.

[sigfan91]

Then what the hell am I supposed to do if an angry bear comes into my camp?!?

1. Pack a few liberal anti-gun friends with you (why would you have them in the first place is the question).

2. Push them at the bear to distract it.

3. Run away.

[510shooter510]

Pack the gun and shoot a damn bear if it gets near you or the family. For Christs sake!

[cineski]

Pack the gun and shoot a damn bear if it gets near you or the family. For Christs sake!

[bigcalidave]

Darn I was gonna say
Bring idiot anti friend
Run faster than that friend

But sigfan beat me to it.

[MudCamper]

If your in a State or Federal Park - then no guns. If National Forest, then you can have guns, however, you will need to abide by the rules of the campground. LOC in public areas around the camp may be a problem since these area areas that you can not legally target shoot.

Not entirely correct.

Operable firearms are not permitted in State Parks. However you can have them in vehicles or temporary residences if they are locked up or taken apart.

Operable firearms will be allowed in National Parks after February 22, 2010.

Like I've already stated, I recommend reading the Firearms in Forests and Parks thread if you want a complete picture.

[CalNRA]

it depends on what county you live in on how hard it is to get a CCW...dont believe most people, it's actually not that hard, and it's good for the whole state.

care to expand on the second part of that? I agree with the part about your location being important.

It's very hard for most people to move to a county with excellent CCW issuance but no economy and have to commute 4 hours each way to go to work.

[HighValleyRanch]

CCW

You can always buy vacation property, get a permit and work in the city.

[floogy]

Everything here seems to go right in to a CCW thread. But it is sad that we would have to choose between protection and the law. Frustrating.

[BunnySlayer]

The best defense against bears is a little bear knowledge and some common sense. Having said that I pack a sidearm while camping also. I do so concealed. Truth be told I'd far more worried about two legged predators than four legged ones. If your truly afraid of bears I suggest a .22 short or CB cap handgun. When the bear charges. Shoot you hiking partner in the foot and run. You dont have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun him.

[timdps]

Are there any statistics for bear attacks on people in California? Seems to me that attacks are very rare.

Have run into bears while camping in the high country and have never felt threatened by them. They are looking for your food, not your body. Have even chased a momma bear out of our campsite at night with a couple of pots and pans. The three young bears were not with her, but were waiting back in the trees a bit.

tim

[k1dude]

I've had a black bear charge our fishing party. Scary and no fun. Fortunately when it saw how many of us there were, it changed his/her mind. We all had firearms, but they were packed away in backpacks.

Someone here said it was better to be alive with legal problems than be a bears meal. Although I agree in principle, the reality is it might be more pleasant to be eaten by a bear.

[T.C.]

Are there any statistics for bear attacks on people in California? Seems to me that attacks are very rare.

Have run into bears while camping in the high country and have never felt threatened by them. They are looking for your food, not your body. Have even chased a momma bear out of our campsite at night with a couple of pots and pans. The three young bears were not with her, but were waiting back in the trees a bit.

tim

I watched an outdoors program a while back...men were traveling peacefully down a shallow river...not too far from the bank. Before they knew it, a bear came charing out of the brush and would have gotten to them if one of them had not shot at the water in front of it. If that hadn't stopped it, I'm farely certain a volley from 4 hunting rifles would've brought it down

I do realize the odds are against it (being the victim of a bear attack), but that won't be comfort to me if I wind up having a bear chompin on my guts

[dwtt]

Would a .357 magnum do any good in deterring a brown bear or black bear? I keep hearing people say they need a .44 magnum to deal with a bear, but is it really needed?