Does CA allow open carry?

[RolinThundr]

Warning: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, recently issued this bulletin:

In light of the rising of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.
"We advise outdoorsmen to wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat:

Black bear scat is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear scat has little bells in it and smells like pepper."

[peter95]

if a bear comes at you..... i dont know if a couple of shot would stop him, but only piss him off even more..

[T.C.]

if a bear comes at you..... i dont know if a couple of shot would stop him, but only piss him off even more..

You hit him in that big ol' head of his with a .44, and he'll go down

[resident-shooter]

Fron the California Holistic Camper's guide:

If you explain to the bear in a morally neutral manner than you don't wish to be injured, killed, or eaten, the bear will respect your opinion, and value you for your non-judgemental humanistic/animal interaction.

Only someone who obviously wants to legalize marijuana could write that

As for .357 or .44.... I am not even sure if handguns will be good. My grandfather went deer hunting back in the days with Mosin-Nagant rifle and encountered a brown bear. Then he decided to take down the bear. First shot in the torso didn't help to kill the bear but really pissed it off. He was luckier with the second shot which killed a huge bear that was running at him.... Once again, he had a bolt action rifle that shoots past like 3 miles, not a handgun. I am not even sure if I would try to shoot at a bear unless I had a 12ga or something better. Just my opinion Are there any people with good experience in bear hunting? Anyone who can confirm that a handgun can take down a bear if something besides the head is hit?

[Quemtimebo]

Only someone who obviously wants to legalize marijuana could write that

As for .357 or .44.... I am not even sure if handguns will be good. My grandfather went deer hunting back in the days with Mosin-Nagant rifle and encountered a brown bear. Then he decided to take down the bear. First shot in the torso didn't help to kill the bear but really pissed it off. He was luckier with the second shot which killed a huge bear that was running at him.... Once again, he had a bolt action rifle that shoots past like 3 miles, not a handgun. I am not even sure if I would try to shoot at a bear unless I had a 12ga or something better. Just my opinion Are there any people with good experience in bear hunting? Anyone who can confirm that a handgun can take down a bear if something besides the head is hit?

Personally, I'll be taking both my rifle and a sidearm into brown bear country. It helps that they're chambered in .45-70. I'm a pretty new shooter, so I'm not yet confident that I could shoot accurately with my handgun with a grizzly bearing down on me. It's definitely my gun of last resort.

Get a good sling and practice with your rifle. You'll be able to control your shots a bit more : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-AVr...rom=PL&index=2

[resident-shooter]

I would want at least a pump action shotgun, 12ga with 00 buckshot. A better option would be Saiga 12 with 20 round drum and 000 buckshots. An even better option would be Saiga 7.62 with 30 round mag. A handgun wouldn't even be an option.... Again, just my opinion.

[IrishPirate]

Remember, 12027 exempts you only from 12025 (concealed), not 12031 (loading). See Firearms in Forests and Parks.

The law does apply to loaded, concealed weapons...any weapon considered to be concealed by the state in regards to laws is considered to be loaded also in the context of that law. basically, when they make provisions for concealed weapons, they assume the weapons to be loaded. That's why people carry concealed weapons...to have a loaded gun hidden from sight.

[Swatguy10_15]

Hi Irish pirate, honestly youre best bet is to just contact the has jursidiction over wherever youre camping. The problem lies within state law vrs. county ordinance vrs. fed law when youre in a national forest. i.e. I go up to the el dorado national forest alot..I have a CCW, the rangers tell me its no good there as Im now in theyre federal jurisdiction. Best Bet to get accurate info is to do the research. Albeit I do agree that Id rather take the chance of carrying a weapon vrs. becoming bear turd.
National Forest and BLM: On these federal lands firearms are generally permitted, if carried and used in a safe manner, and if the users comply
with state and county laws. Most of these lands qualify as “unincorporated territory”, but there are some restrictions on shooting (near structures,
developed areas, roads, bodies of water) so 12031(f) applies in these areas. Check with your local ranger station for any other local restrictions

[MudCamper]

The law does apply to loaded, concealed weapons...any weapon considered to be concealed by the state in regards to laws is considered to be loaded also in the context of that law. basically, when they make provisions for concealed weapons, they assume the weapons to be loaded. That's why people carry concealed weapons...to have a loaded gun hidden from sight.

This is a dangerous and incorrect assumption. The only place this line of reasoning is close to accurate is with regard to 12050, concealed carry permits. Otherwise you are inviting legal disaster.

[hawk81]

What he said.

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

[Sky_DiveR]

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

I was told...

grab an Anti...

poke him in the eyes...

kick him in the nuts....

and run like a bat out of hell!

[-hanko]

I would want at least a pump action shotgun, 12ga with 00 buckshot. A better option would be Saiga 12 with 20 round drum and 000 buckshots. An even better option would be Saiga 7.62 with 30 round mag. A handgun wouldn't even be an option.... Again, just my opinion.

buckshot is a ludicrous choice...you're needing solid bullets that penetrate a LONG way.

-hanko

[Plinkin]

The problem lies within state law vrs. county ordinance vrs. fed law when youre in a national forest. i.e. I go up to the el dorado national forest alot..I have a CCW, the rangers tell me its no good there as Im now in theyre federal jurisdiction.

I go up to eldorado too. I've never had any encounters with rangers, and i go up there to hike and shoot. Will it be a problem for me if im hiking and encounter a ranger wile loaded concealed carry? I have no ccw but assumed its ok in the forest? I also have my mini-14 loaded on my back. The concealed is just a ruger mkiii in the back pack, in an easy access pocket.

Sorry for the stupid to some questions, im sure this stuff been gone over a million times but its never really completly clear with kali laws

[a1c]

First, I don't think you have been telling us where you were going camping. National Park or National Forest? State or county park? Private grounds? BLM? You need to be specific.

Second, every person I know who's encountered a bear while camping (and I know a few, I heard quite a few stories) showed negligence. They left food, toothpaste or other flavored goods on the campground or in the car, instead of putting it away up a tree, or securing it in a bear-proof container off the camping site. Even in those occurrences, the bears were only interested in the food, not in humans - most ran away when faced with humans, except for those too busy eating.

Bears are generally only going to attack humans if you're a threat to their progeny, or stealing their food, or acting aggressively. Your first worry should be to make sure you bring some rope to secure your food and toothpaste up in trees, not if you can open carry. A hunting license can allow you to open carry in a national forest or on BLM land, BTW. But in this case, if a DFG warden or ranger asks you if you're hunting, you should stay yes, and be ready to show your license and weapon for inspection.

[Lead Lobber]

My wife any I are talking about going camping next year when the weather warms up again. The thing is, I really have no desire to go into bear country without a .44. I know that no one can get a CCW around here short of a handwritten note from God, so I'm wondering if I'm allowed to have one on my hip. I realize that it would probably get me some strange looks from some gun-phobic liberals, but I'd rather deal with that than have a bear gnawing on my head.

Forget it. Bears love your meat (we are the Bear Flag State). You are not allowed to protect yourself anywhere in this state, bears, or not. The government knows best, because they do, see?