LA County Sheriff Question

[Nahuatl]

Not looking to be a trouble maker or a test case here, just trying to follow the law.

Consider the following excerpts from LA Co. PC 13.66:

13.66.010 Use of weapons permitted when.
This chapter, except as otherwise provided in this Part 1, does not prohibit the discharge of any rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver or firearm of any kind, or the shooting of any arrow or other missile, when necessary so to do to protect life or property, or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animalThe exception in Section 13.66.010 to destroying or killing any predatory or dangerous animal does not apply to this section.The exception in Section 13.66.010 to destroying or killing any predatory or dangerous animal does not apply to this section.

[SoCalDep]

Do you have a hunting license?

[P5Ret]

I'd spend a few hours reading the Fish and Game regs on non-game animals. Especially if you are hunting opposed to shooting coyotes to protect your self livestock and pets.

[Nahuatl]

I always have a hunting license and am not new to hunting coyotes.

As I continue to try to interpret the county's lengthy regulations, I'm struck by the text that apparently a hunter only needs to put his back to the road or any inhabited dwelling and maintain a respectful distance from them to be legally hunting.

[SoCalDep]

I don't see an issue as long a you maintain reasonable distance from roads/dwellings...

we've had many calls every year regarding Hunters... Some of the time we'll drive up to get a visual, then wave and leave, or maybe just say hi and see how the hunt is going. Sometimes based on the call we don't know if they are hunting so we have to go find out...or we get a call of an abandoned car out on a dirt road and run into the hunter when they see us at his car. I've never had a negative experience with a hunter...they have all been nice and get that from me in return.

[RickD427]

Nahuatl,

The reference to L.A. County Code section 13.66 would not prevent me from taking enforcement action if otherwise warranted. I agree with the above poster that strict enforcement is not appropriate in all cases. We are very much concerned with the safety aspects of the hunt.

It's important to read legal stuff in context. Section 13.66.010 covers "stuff" where there is immediate jeopardy and where the dangerous animal being shot is the same animal that presented the immediate threat.

That's a very different context than what you've posed in your hypothetical.

Some folks are good at stretching the law a little bit, but I think you're stretching a little bit beyond the breaking point.

[Nahuatl]

So in your opinion Rick, hunting a quarter mile off the road and a mile from any inhabited building is too close and deserves a cite.

[RickD427]

So in your opinion Rick, hunting a quarter mile off the road and a mile from any inhabited building is too close and deserves a cite.

Nope, I didn't say that. It may or may not deserve a cite, or an arrest, depending on all of the circumstances. Can't cover all of the hypotheticals in this forum. I just responded to your original question about the application of L.A. County Code section 13.66.010.

[John1960]

Mr. Nahuatl,
In my humble opinion, if you have a pleasant demeanor, as mentioned earlier, you will probably never have an issue. At the most, someone may check the serial number on your gun. If you are hunting coyotes with a shotgun, you must be a very good hunter, or using a call, etc. I'm not a hunter, but from my experience if you see a coyote, it's out of shotgun range. Rifle ? Plenty of remote desert in the far corners of the County.....

[TrailerparkTrash]

I'm hunting coyotes. Just coyotes. With a shotgun and only a shotgun. Predators for sure. Dangerous? I've been attacked 4 times and bitten once.

You lost me when you claimed to have been "attacked" 4 times..... By what, a coyote??? How are you attacked "4 times" but bitten "once?". Do they head butt you or something? I'm trying to figure out by what other means the coyotes "attacked" you those 4 times but was bitten "only" once???

Second, what are you doing to yourself to be "attacked" "4 times" by a song-dog???? Pouring fresh blood all over yourself and lying on the ground as bait??

Seriously, what are you doing to yourself to get "attacked" so much? I hunt predators, deer, elk, brown bear in Alaska and mt lion in Idaho. I've NEVER been attacked, not even in the off season while hiking and/or scouting. Sorry, but Im confused by your claim. My brother lives in the desert on a dirt road. His two young children grew up on dirt roads and saw several coyotes almost every night. NONE of his family have ever been attacked once, let alone "4 times.".

I'm sorry, but the little "Praire wolf" (Sioux Nation original translation for "coyote") just isn't that aggressive. Sure they eat small pets all the time, but physical contact with a human is extremely rare. One is more likely to be struck by a car than to be "attacked" by a coyote "4 times."