What type of shooting do you do the most?

PBJ - 7/21/2006  8:25 PM

I try to shoot rabbit every day if I can - most often from my dining room porch. I seem to have an endless supply of rabbits and jacks. I have five or six covey of quail and way too may dove. This season, the dove are on the "shoot list" as it is legal in California to hunt upland game birds with air rifles (you need a license and a stamp).

Bob:

Thanks for participating!  I'm also in California and quail are my favorite game.  You absolutely right that it is legal to hunt upland game birds in California with air rifles, BUT the regulation covers resident game birds -not migratory birds, which mourning doves are classed as.  Their take is superceded by Federal law, and air rifles are taboo.

The stuff that you can take with an air rifle in California is listed in Section 257 of the California Code of Regulations, which defines "resident small game," but you can only take it if there is a general season for it.  There is a general season for all of the species in that list except spotted doves and ringed turtledoves, which are classed as resident small game, but can't be taken with an air rifle legally because there is no general season for them.

So, in essence, shooting doves with an air rifle in California is illegal.

Just tryin' to keep you out of trouble, Bob.......

But hey, that still leaves us with three species of quail, sage hens, blue grouse, pheasant, chukar, turkey, and some others, on top of rabbits and squirrels.

It doesn't do much for your dove problem or mine, however.

If you haven't checked it out, you might enjoy my http://www.uplandhunter.net site.  It's all about hunting upland game with air rifles in California.  It's kind of like an online magazine, with content that changes bi-monthly.

Blessings and Tight Groups,
-JP

100% Informal Target Shooting
99% indoors & 33'
Cat food cans, paper targets, tooth picks, beer caps, pennies, silhouettes, GamoRocker

[PBJ]

JP,
    Thanks for keeping me out of trouble. I just read the California Regs and did not catch the migratory versus resident idea. Seems like a lot of words but not much clarity. I must have read the Cal Regs five times. It is hopeless to try to talk to a game warden, they are way overloaded!! Thanks for the tip on the hunting link - I will give it a try!

[raterminator]

nt

Well, last year I was popping two or three squirrels a day, but this year I'm punching a lot more paper...
... this year I only seen the lady next door  fill up her squirrel feeder with peanuts one time...funny how that works!! : D

I shoot trees, takes 2000 to 3000 rounds to kill them dead.

Peterdragin:

So, uh, what kind of powerplant do find works best for tree shooting?  What about caliber?  Do you prefer the penetration of .177 or the thump of something larger, like, oh, 20mm?  Does it taste like chicken?  Or does it taste like the wrapper?

And what about the poor spotted owl?  Where does he call home now that you've mercilessly slaughtered one of God's innocent, helpless creatures that is no match for a high powered sniper rifle?  

Cool post!  I'm still laughing!

-JP