Travel to California with gun

[Jamie D Van Roekel]

I have a lousy question. But the is no dumb question right?

The wife and I are driving from Iowa to California for Thanksgiving with her family. I would like to take some extra time and try to do some hunting on the trip or the family has a close friend that has a large ranch that I’m told we may hunt hogs on. The question is what do I do with a rifle in California when we aren’t hunting. Not hot about leaving it in the hotel and even less excited about leaving it in a unattended vehicle. I thought about asking the in-laws about leaving it with them but they aren’t gun people and there will be kids in the house over the holiday.

What say you? Any good advice? Thanks.

 

[mdsalern]

Rent a small storage unit?

 

[WAB]

I have a lousy question. But the is no dumb question right?

The wife and I are driving from Iowa to California for Thanksgiving with her family. I would like to take some extra time and try to do some hunting on the trip or the family has a close friend that has a large ranch that I’m told we may hunt hogs on. The question is what do I do with a rifle in California when we aren’t hunting. Not hot about leaving it in the hotel and even less excited about leaving it in a unattended vehicle. I thought about asking the in-laws about leaving it with them but they aren’t gun people and there will be kids in the house over the holiday.

What say you? Any good advice? Thanks.

Locked hard case at the in-laws. Totally safe, no one has to even see your guns.

 

[Sourdough]

Does the "close friend" have a rifle you can borrow?

Or maybe, assuming your rifle is legal in California, contact the local sheriff office and ask them to store it for you in their arms room.

 

[Tanks]

Locked hard case at the in-laws. Totally safe, no one has to even see your guns.

^^^^ This. Don't forget to get an out of state hunting license. Not having that can get you in more trouble than the gun, not sure if one needs it for hogs on private property but big game one would need it. Also, CA does not have over the counter tags.

I am a CA resident, but I don't hunt there as it is too much of a pain with tags, draws and regulations.

 

[R eight]

As a non-resident alien…I’ve overnighted a couple of times in California when travelling to and from Alaska with a rifle. I’ve always left the rifle in a locked hard case which I secure to a fixture in the hotel room with a cable/bicycle lock. As others have said I’d be more worried about having a “signed “ hunting license.

 

[DLSJR]

Just keep it in a locked hard case, as others have said. No big deal beyond that. You can purchase your non-resident hunting license and pig tags online. They’re cheap and you can have multiple tags.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

when I left Ca 10 years ago the law was all guns have to be in a gun safe and I maybe wrong with a trigger lock installed. please check with a gun shop or the police dept. Ca is to screwed up to take a chance on. and in a vehicle they have to be in a locked case away from the passenger area. I might not be correct as it has been a long time since being there and will never go back

 

[CM McKenzie]

Just keep it in your vehicle with you. I always have half a dozen whenever I go down. I’ve not had any problems.

 

[Still alive]

You can buy tags online and have them mailed to your friends house. You need to fill out the fish and game info on their website and have a hunter safety class for your state. CA should qualify you with that info. As of now one tag per pig but as many pigs as you want. I believe they are $22 per tag. If your state doesn’t meet the requirements for the hunter safety. You can do it online for 24.95$ over the weekend?

But I’m pretty sure with proof of your state hunter safety card they will take it. It says 15 days to receive your tag in the mail, they usually send it to you with in 3-5 days

also if you do everything online with the state, they will give you a go number, with that you can buy your tags at any sporting goods store that sells tags and licenses.

hard case locked up at the in-laws should work. If your in socal area I’ll lock it up for you in a gun safe.

if you need anything else let me know, I’m an instructor for the dept of fish and game of California and teach the hunter safety classes.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

^^^^ This. Don't forget to get an out of state hunting license. Not having that can get you in more trouble than the gun, not sure if one needs it for hogs on private property but big game one would need it. Also, CA does not have over the counter tags.

I am a CA resident, but I don't hunt there as it is too much of a pain with tags, draws and regulations.

You must also remember that you cannot hunt anything in California without lead free bullets. You have to bring the ammo with you as you will not be able to buy ammunition there. Even residents now have to pass a background check to buy ammunition and non residents can't buy it at all.

 

[Mekaniks]

I have a lousy question. But the is no dumb question right?

The wife and I are driving from Iowa to California for Thanksgiving with her family. I would like to take some extra time and try to do some hunting on the trip or the family has a close friend that has a large ranch that I’m told we may hunt hogs on. The question is what do I do with a rifle in California when we aren’t hunting. Not hot about leaving it in the hotel and even less excited about leaving it in a unattended vehicle. I thought about asking the in-laws about leaving it with them but they aren’t gun people and there will be kids in the house over the holiday.

What say you? Any good advice? Thanks.

You need to get a Tuffpak gun case. They will think you have golf clubs....

 

[JimP]

You need to get a Tuffpak gun case. They will think you have golf clubs....

And steal them anyway.

You have to rember that a thief will take anything that isn't bolted down. And if you give them enough time they'll unbolt that.

I'd just leave the rifle at home and borrow one or just enjoy the time there and not hunt.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

in Ca never leave your guns in a vehicle or you stand a good chance of loosing them. last time there many years ago had nothing in the car but still got the window broken out called police to get a report and they would not come out, said it is to much trouble as it happens all the time

 

[PARA45]

^^^^^. Especially with out of state tags.

 

[Leewight]

Just keep it in a Locked hard case at the in-laws. Totally safe

 

[Hunt anything]

Can a non resident even take ammunition into California? I was in Texas hunting cranes with a good friend last week and he didn’t think NR could. In the past I’ve hunted in California 3 or 4 times with the last time back in the early 2000’s and it’s a shame they have gone so overboard with the regulations. I would love to go back and collect a cackling goose, Aleutian goose and give a Eurasian widgeon another go but I think the hassle out weighs the benefits.

 

[dchamp]

Here are a couple of links to help answer your questions.

Transporting Firearms in California

HANDGUNS Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s...

oag.ca.gov

This talks about long guns also.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Home Page

The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

wildlife.ca.gov

 

[dchamp]

Can a non resident even take ammunition into California? I was in Texas hunting cranes with a good friend last week and he didn’t think NR could. In the past I’ve hunted in California 3 or 4 times with the last time back in the early 2000’s and it’s a shame they have gone so overboard with the regulations. I would love to go back and collect a cackling goose, Aleutian goose and give a Eurasian widgeon another go but I think the hassle out weighs the benefits.

Yes, but I think you are limited to 40(?) rounds of ammunition when entering California and that is for residents and non residents alike. I don’t know what is like for a non resident to purchase ammunition. I know it requires a background check for residents so I think it would be the same for a non resident. Best to call a gun store in the area you will be visiting and ask them.

 

[JimP]

It isn't like you are traveling to South Africa and have to pass through customs and have a permit...............YET.