What ammo to carry?

[bug_eyedmonster]

Hi All,

Going to clear brush in mountain lion territory on friend's property, we are planning on hiking out to the area, which is about 3 miles from camp. His property is about 1000 acres in Paso Robles and is where we deer and pig hunt, which is why we are clearing trails. I plan to carry my .500 but should I be keeping lead-free ammo in the cylinder, or does it not matter for defense purposes? We aren't going to be doing any hunting on this trip other than varmint, and we have lead-free for the rifles, but does the same rule apply to a side arm, even when not hunting?


Jerry

[glockman19]

If in the condor area all mo must be non-lead.
Be safe.

[bug_eyedmonster]

From what I gather, it is in the protected area. That's what I was afraid of. Our game cameras show cats all over the property, along with a few black bears and pigs. We've come across rattlers as well, which scare the hell out of me. The babies don't rattle like the adults, and like idiots, we wondered what the sound was and looked for it. When we found it, the machete came in handy, it was less than 15 yards from the tents. My hunting partner doesn't even carry a side arm, and I usually don't either, but after least year's experience and seeing the footage on the game cameras, this year might be a bit different.


Jerry

[toby]

You need non lead if your in the act of hunting and I hope you are really, really, really quick on the draw because your most likely never gonna see that Lion coming. IF it ever would.

[bug_eyedmonster]

You need non lead if your in the act of hunting and I hope you are really, really, really quick on the draw because your most likely never gonna see that Lion coming. IF it ever would.

The lions are quieter than they are quick in most cases. We have seen them before, but never close enough to camp. The game cameras show them drinking from the water where we wash up at (natural spring) at the camp flat this year.

I have lead-free ammo for the .500, but I have been using it for pigs and was hoping to load it with the leaded stuff for this trip. So as long as we aren't hunting, and clearing brush, we are good to use leaded?


Jerry

[Tanner68]

If you are genuinely concerned about being bushwhacked by a mountain lion and other vermin, I suggest a few dogs are the best deterrent.

But I get that not all dogs are suited to be companion dogs in the woods (Hunt too hard or far, too timid, not tough enough or woods wise, not physically suited for the woods, etc.). And if it is too hot and there is no water, the dogs just suffer or worse.

And of course packing a gun can be easier than getting a dog. Still, I think a dog or three is a game changer if you are worried about bears and lions oh my.

If you are not hunting, you don't need to be lead free.

[furyous68]

Google is your friend:



Note questions 1 & 2.

This was taken from DFG website: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/

AB 711 only strengthened the lead ammo ban for hunting purposes. It did not regulate anything for sport shooting or self defense.

PS: If you ever need a third to go pig hunting.. hit me up I live about 45min. from Paso!

[bug_eyedmonster]

If you are genuinely concerned about being bushwhacked by a mountain lion and other vermin, I suggest a few dogs are the best deterrent.

But I get that not all dogs are suited to be companion dogs in the woods (Hunt too hard, too timid, not tough enough or woods wise, not physically suited for the woods, etc.). And if it is too hot and there is no water, the dogs just suffer or worse.

And of course packing a gun can be easier than getting a dog. Still, I think a dog or three is a game changer if you are worried about bears and lions oh my.

If you are not hunting, you don't need to be lead free.

I wish I had a dog I could trust out there, but my Corgi isn't trained well enough to be out there. He'd want to explore everything and would get lost within the first 17 seconds out there, and end up a healthy snack for something else. I've never hunted with a dog, and it's VERY dense brush in most of the area.


Jerry

[bug_eyedmonster]

Google is your friend:



Note questions 1 & 2.

This was taken from DFG website: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/

AB 711 only strengthened the lead ammo ban for hunting purposes. It did not regulate anything for sport shooting or self defense.

PS: If you ever need a third to go pig hunting.. hit me up I live about 45min. from Paso!

Thank you for that, I tried to search google and it seemed more nonsense and complaints than anything else. I'll ask my friend, but the pigs out there are scarce. We have better luck up here in the bay area to be honest. Last years camera footage showed three times the number of cats to pigs.


Jerry

[teg33]

I'll take my mossberg 12g buck shot if I was you. Mountain lion are nasty.

[furyous68]

Thank you for that, I tried to search google and it seemed more nonsense and complaints than anything else. I'll ask my friend, but the pigs out there are scarce. We have better luck up here in the bay area to be honest. Last years camera footage showed three times the number of cats to pigs.


Jerry

I'm sure that's why they are scarce. I know in San Miguel they had wild pigs roaming the streets up there causing a bunch of issues (there were reports of them even confronting people in the neighborhoods). Pretty sure it's still going on. Also saw quite a few about 3 miles past Lopez Lake when going out to check a job site. Out in the open, not a care in the world. A lot of horse ranchers out there & they don't allow hunting on their properties.

[bug_eyedmonster]

I'll take my mossberg 12g buck shot if I was you. Mountain lion are nasty.

I would love to take your shotgun!

The reason why I'm going with a handgun and not a rifle or shotgun is because of the task at hand. We are clearing brush for a good part of a few days, it's about eight miles of rather rough terrain, and we'll be carrying water, cutting utensils, and other tools. I'll bring a long gun just in case, but chances are, I won't have time to reach for it if something is getting that close.


Jerry

[bug_eyedmonster]

I'm sure that's why they are scarce. I know in San Miguel they had wild pigs roaming the streets up there causing a bunch of issues (there were reports of them even confronting people in the neighborhoods). Pretty sure it's still going on. Also saw quite a few about 3 miles past Lopez Lake when going out to check a job site. Out in the open, not a care in the world. A lot of horse ranchers out there & they don't allow hunting on their properties.

All the vineyards have depredation permits and have cleaned out a good amount of them along with deer. It sucks but we don't have too much of a choice.


Jerry

[toby]

OP have you ever seen a lion attack a Deer or a sheep or chase one down and pounce on it? They are indeed very fast creatures.

[bug_eyedmonster]

OP have you ever seen a lion attack a Deer or a sheep or chase one down and pounce on it? They are indeed very fast creatures.

They are very fast in the open, don't get me wrong, but they can't be THAT fast in heavy brush... now if they get us on the trail going to and from camp, we're screwed.


Jerry