California Hunting Rules

[FNFiveSeven]

Hi, I have a few questions about the legalities of hunting/shooting in California.

If you live in a residential/suburban neighborhood, can you hunt/kill varmints/pests (raccoons, rabbits, mice, rattlesnakes) on your own property (basically, in the backyard) with a bow? Airgun? Rimfire .22? Does time of day matter? If it is illegal, what kind of penalty are we talking about?

If you can hunt on your own property, do you still have to abide by tag/season rules for larger game (e.g. deer)?

Is there a good website that explains all this stuff? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Pendragon]

Some animals are considered "game" and some are considered "pests" and there are different rules.

I am not sure, but I seem to recall that you can shoot ground squirrels without a license - or maybe you need a license, but in any case, there is no limit or season.

Tree squirrels, OTOH are "game" and limits and seasons and all licensing stuff applies.

Just my recolection though...

 

[goblue]

In some counties (maybe cities), discharge of a firearm within county (city) limits is illegal. It has been a while since I moved away from CA, but that is worthi checking into.

 

[BenW]

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_comm/2003/mammalregs03.html

 

[FNFiveSeven]

well, so I read a lot of the dept of fish and game's rules on "what's legal" and "what's not" but they don't seem to specify how illegal it is. Are we talking about parking in the red zone illegal, or something more? Would I just get a fine, or would all my guns be confiscated, or what? Anyone ever have a run in with these guys?