Fish and Game gun inspection.

[Zorgnot]

I was out camping with my 458 Socom and my BCM 5.56. I like to do some plinking in the back woods when I camp , it's national forest. I guess hunting season just started and I think it was fish and game who was inspecting people's guns and hunting permits. I wasn't there to hunt and I didn't get talked to. I just blew up a few water bottles and went back to camp.
My question is, if I had been stopped would they have cited me for hunting with no permit. My guns were in transport legally and ive got a T1 on my 5.56 and an Eotech on my 458. No hunting or precision type optics on either gun.

[rolo]

They probably would have given you a thorough tongue lashing trying to get you to incriminate yourself, but if you tell them you're target shooting and have targets set up it's unlikely they would cite you for hunting. You can't account for a warden having a bad day, but I've had more interference in lawful activity from rangers than wardens.

[CSACANNONEER]

What does having optic on a firearm have to do with hunting? I prefer hunting large game with irons.

[XVIga_Rob]

When was this & what zone?

If it was during bow season, or between bow & general season, they are just doing their job.

[therealnickb]

What forest? Cleveland is no shooting except for lawful hunting everyplace I've been.

[mif_slim]

If its legal its doable.. only thing is hunters just may not like target shooters blasting away during their hunts but it doesn't mean you can't.

[Zorgnot]

What does having optic on a firearm have to do with hunting? I prefer hunting large game with irons.

I don't know, I don't hunt.

It is in the Sierra national forest. It is perfectly fine to shoot there, I just didn't know if there was some law about shooting during hunting season.

As far as what zone, no idea. I guess this is the first weekend of deer season I guess. And judging by the number of gunshots I've heard I'm going to guess its not bow season.

Thanks for the replies.

[hsiehjohn]

BLM land you can plink, certain national forest you can't plink but only hunt.

[thenodnarb]

I don't know, I don't hunt.

It is in the Sierra national forest. It is perfectly fine to shoot there, I just didn't know if there was some law about shooting during hunting season.

As far as what zone, no idea. I guess this is the first weekend of deer season I guess. And judging by the number of gunshots I've heard I'm going to guess its not bow season.

Thanks for the replies.

I don't think they can determine that you were hunting, short of seeing you shoot at wildlife, or find you in possession of taken game. Perhaps if you were in camo, sneaking through the forest obviously looking for game, then perhaps. But since it is totally lawful to shoot in that national forest, I'm sure they are used to seeing people there just to shoot. I wouldn't worry about it.

[socalbowhunter]

I don't think they can determine that you were hunting, short of seeing you shoot at wildlife, or find you in possession of taken game. Perhaps if you were in camo, sneaking through the forest obviously looking for game, then perhaps. But since it is totally lawful to shoot in that national forest, I'm sure they are used to seeing people there just to shoot. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think this is the best answer. The people they were checking, were they in camo? It's pretty obvious who is hunting and who is not, when camo clothing is involved.

[1000stars]

They make observations from a distance of ones activity before approaching. They probably observed you were target shooting that is why you were not talked to.

[KWalkerM]

I think this is the best answer. The people they were checking, were they in camo? It's pretty obvious who is hunting and who is not, when camo clothing is involved.

false, i hunt mountain quail right now in a tee shirt and jeans. i see more people target shoot in camo than i do hunters in camo around my area. camo does not mean hunting and vice versa.

i dont look like a hunter til i go pick up my birds, thank you very much.

[monty4756]

I heard some guys shooting on private property no to far from where we were bow hunting a few weeks ago. Im sure they were legally shooting or hunting coyote or rabit or whatever. Although probably leagal shooting its bad manners to shoot during bow season. Some bow hunters put alot of time scouting locations and already have to deal with very strict hunting laws.

[Loubot10]

I heard some guys shooting on private property no to far from where we were bow hunting a few weeks ago. Im sure they were legally shooting or hunting coyote or rabit or whatever. Although probably leagal shooting its bad manners to shoot during bow season. Some bow hunters put alot of time scouting locations and already have to deal with very strict hunting laws.

Are you serious?

You might be a little less special than you think you are bow hunter.