This is a plea to private property owners/ renters in residential areas of Mariposa County: If you are licensed and experienced hunters, please go to the uninhabited areas of the county where hunting is authorized.
During the last week of September 2026, we had to deal with the aftereffect of two beautiful bucks shot by careless hunters. One 4-point buck entered our residential property and had been shot in the face suffering horrible injuries but was still mobile. We understand that this deer was subsequently dispatched.
The other 3-point buck was shot on its side and was crippled and suffering. It had been shot on an approximate five acre residential parcel within 190 yards from our residential property/occupied dwelling.
After one shot, we observed this deer running across a well-traveled road near our residential property with other deer, and where it was dispatched on our residential property to end its suffering. The shooter of this deer stated that it was “their property” and they “could do what they want,” and we should “move if we didn’t like it’ and threatened to “skin it on the road.”
We did not permit this owner to trespass onto our property to complete the kill which is our legal right.
It is not our responsibility to take care of these poor creatures but we did as best as we could. However, the memory of these two incidents is embedded in our minds and impacts how we enjoy our own residential property and our legal right to what is called the “quiet enjoyment” of our property where we have lived since 1984.
Over the years, there have been many illegal hunters in our area — baiters, trespassers and hunters with spotlights. A few years ago, a deer came through our property with an arrow in its neck. Every time we hear a gunshot in our area (which is often), it causes us distress and concern for the safety of others.
While hunters have rights, which we do not dispute, we have rights also. Hunting in residential areas represents a reckless endangerment of others.
Individuals who hunt in residential and well-traveled areas impact not just our own safety, but the safety of walkers and runners, the safety of drivers and passengers in vehicles, the safety of pets. All are put in peril in a residential area.
Eventually, a tragedy will occur as it has in other parts of this country. There is a very large parcel above our residential area where the owner has historically given permission to hunters.
Once again, this is within this property owner’s rights but inconsiderate to those of us who deserve tranquility and safety in our residential areas. Further, any private property owner may be legally responsible for negligence if a hunting tragedy occurs after giving permission to outside hunters or hunting themselves on their own property.
It is unlawful in California to hunt or discharge a firearm, bow or other deadly weapon within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling or residence. Some counties have even wider distance restrictions.
As Mariposa County has grown, and many new residences on small parcels have been built, 150 yards is not enough to protect residents of residential areas. It is also illegal to intentionally shoot a firearm or release an arrow across any public road.
Additionally, in many states, there are laws that make it illegal to hunt on less than a 10 acre parcel. There apparently is no minimum acreage requirement to hunt on your own private land in California but that does not preclude a county government from establishing such a restriction.
Finally, we would like to commend the Fish and Game officer for Mariposa County and the Mariposa County deputy sheriffs who responded to our calls for their professionalism and assistance. While they routinely have difficult and demanding jobs, this part of their job has to be hard.
Bryce and Chris Johnson are residents of Mariposa.
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