51 replies to this topic

[KernRiverArcher]

Sorry to reincarnated this thread. But DAMNIT, is it legal to hunt with air rifles for cottontail in Angeles national forest or what?

[TonyS]

To be safe, look it up!

[KernRiverArcher]

i have, and ive come to the conclusion your not allowed to hunt with rifles in angeles national forest. and i use an air rifle. people say its fine on here, but the law says otherwise and im confused.

[True2ThySelf]

i have, and ive come to the conclusion your not allowed to hunt with rifles in angeles national forest. and i use an air rifle. people say its fine on here, but the law says otherwise and im confused.

Welcome to the confused club.

In the 12-13 Mammal Hunting Regulations Booklet (which the warden I called used as reference) it states the following
311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game.
(f) Air rifles firing pellets and powered by compressed air or gas; and firearm rifles and pistols for taking rabbits and squirrels, except in Los Angeles County, in addition to the methods listed in (a), (, ©, (d) and (e) above.

In the 11-12 (12-13 doesn't seem to be available) Waterfowl and Upland Game Hunting & Department Lands Public Use Regulations it states the following:
311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game.
(f) Air rifles powered by compressed air or gas and used with any caliber of pellet, except that wild turkey may only be taken with a pellet that is at least 0.177 caliber;
(g) In addition to the methods listed in (a), (, ©, (d), (e), and (f) above, firearm rifles and pistols may be used for taking rabbits and squirrels only; except in Los Angeles County where rifles and pistols may not be used;

Now I think it really depends on what the warden references and how they interpret the code. In the mammal book due to the semicolon, I see it as two distinct regulations but the warden may not which was the case when I called and he said "NO!" (he was referencing the mammal book). In the bird book, it seems clear.

This whole post is only my opinion and not legal advice! Just to be safe though, I don't use air guns in LA county and don't plan on doing so unless I run into a warden when I'm out that way and they say yes...and even then I'll be hoping to run into the same warden if I am carrying an air gun.

[TonyS]

Let's quote Eastwood: "do you feel lucky? .....well, do you?"

[True2ThySelf]

I did a little more digging and found this which seems to indicate that you can use air guns to hunt rabbit in Los Angeles County. You would still need to find out where it is legal to discharge a deadly weapon.

http://weblinks.west...00&sr=TC&vr=2.0

[ShooterJohn]

I can't get the link to open.

[True2ThySelf]

I can't get the link to open.

I just checked it and it looks like you'll have to follow the following link and expand to the required section
http://government.we...asp?SP=CCR-1000
TITLE 14. NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 1. FISH AND GAME COMMISSION-DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
SUBDIVISION 2. GAME AND FURBEARERS
CHAPTER 2. RESIDENT SMALL GAME
§ 311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game.

[ShooterJohn]

So is this the link you are referring to?

http://weblinks.west...00&sr=TC&vr=2.0

If so it still doesn't state that this is the case in the Angeles National Forest. I'd call the sheriff's department that covers the area and they should be able to give you the correct answer.

[True2ThySelf]

So is this the link you are referring to?

http://weblinks.west...00&sr=TC&vr=2.0

If so it still doesn't state that this is the case in the Angeles National Forest. I'd call the sheriff's department that covers the area and they should be able to give you the correct answer.

For some reason, the links to the proper section don't work. The Angeles National Forest is in Los Angeles County but I agree with you, the sheriff's department that covers the area should be able to give you the correct answer.

[stevoe0970]

http://www.fs.usda.g...reation/hunting

The link above indicates that it is legal in parts of the angeles forest. And according to my firearms map for la county, most of the angeles forest is zoned rifle/shotgun for hunting purposes but not target shooting. However there are some areas zoned as closed area parks. Netcomp technologies sells the firearms maps here http://www.firearmsmaps.com/

I forgot to mention also that if you have an Iphone, the Apps store has the maps cheaper than the ones on the Netcomp site.

[KernRiverArcher]

im going to call the ranger station in sunland and ask them tomorrow.

[DirtyDave]

You are good to go in LAco with an Air Rifle on rabbits.
Key word is FIREARM. Air rifles are NOT firearms

(g) In addition to the methods listed in (a), ( , ©, (d), (e) and (f) above, firearm rifles and pistols may be used for taking rabbits and squirrels only; except in Los Angeles County where rifles and pistols may not be used.

[BCF]

You can use air rifles or shotguns. Rifles are not allowed for rabbits in LA County.

If you hunt in the Angeles, you should call and ask the ranger to send you a map, because there are different rifle and archery closure maps for both the West (2 hwy) and East (39 hwy) areas. I got mine at the ranger station off the 39 hwy. A lot of the area is closed to rifle hunting ever since the fire a few years ago but much is still open for archery.

I would ask if the rifle closure includes shotguns and air rifles, also...I didn't ask so don't know.

[KernRiverArcher]

"

• (g) In addition to the methods listed in (a), (, ©, (d), (e) and (f) above, firearm rifles and pistols may be used for taking rabbits and squirrels only; except in Los Angeles County where rifles and pistols may not be used.
• (h) In San Diego and Orange counties only, rabbits may be taken at any time during the open season by means of box traps. Such traps shall not exceed 24 inches in any dimension, shall be tended at least once every 24 hours, and shall show the name and address of the trap owner. All rabbits taken under this section shall be immediately killed and become a part of the daily bag limit.
• (i) Electronic or mechanically-operated calling or sound-reproducing devices are prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds.
• (j) Coursing dogs may be used to take rabbits.
• (k) Archers hunting during any archery season may not possess a firearm while in the field engaged in archery hunting during an archery season.
• (l) The use of live decoys is prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds.
• (m) Pistols and revolvers may be used to take sooty and ruffed grouse in those counties only and for the season described in Section 300(a)(1)(E).
• (n) Crossbows, except for provisions of Section 354(d) and (g).
• (o) Dogs may be used to take and retrieve resident small game.

Amendment filed 8/8/2011, effective 9/10/2011.
§311.7. Use of Rifles and Pistols in Los Angeles County.

In Los Angeles County the use of rifles or pistols is prohibited in the taking of rabbits. "



that last part confuses me because it fails to exclaim "Firearm" before rifles like it does in (g).

[KernRiverArcher]

well i just called the forest rangers at 12371 Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the angeles national forest, and they seemed really misinformed. but they said no air rifle hunting is permitted for small game... only shotguns in designated hunting areas. are they wrong? can others please call them and press them on the situation. their hours are mon-fri open until 4:30 pm. phone number is (818) 899-1900 .

[True2ThySelf]

They could have meant in the Angeles National Forest. If one person tells you no then it's probably not a good idea to find someone who will tell you yes since the warden you meet in the field may have the same no opinion. Play it safe and drive a little bit out of the way and go to the Los Padres National Forest in Kern County.

[KernRiverArcher]

easy for you to say up there in simi lol. its just tedious to go all the way to frazier park for some wabbits.

[KernRiverArcher]

well i just called the forest rangers at 12371 Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the angeles national forest, and they seemed really misinformed. but they said no air rifle hunting is permitted for small game... only shotguns in designated hunting areas. are they wrong? can others please call them and press them on the situation. their hours are mon-fri open until 4:30 pm. phone number is (818) 899-1900 .

bump

[UNLICENSE_HUNTER]

Just called the number and they gave me a new number 626 574 5200 and ask for the LEO(Law Enforcement Office). They say as long as you are in the act of hunting you may Shoot Rabbit with air riffle.

But i have 2 friends that been hunting longer than me and they tell me it is illegal to use Air riffle.

let us know how it goes lol

[KernRiverArcher]

I'm going to call that's Leo tomorrow. Did you mention to the LEO that the rangers were stating otherwise?

Thanks for calling and helping me clear is up.

[~DEVO~]

http://www.fs.usda.g...prdb5395913.pdf