How to limit damage to my car in National Forest?

I am fortunate that I live in a big city that has a gigantic National Forest right behind it (Los Angeles, with the Angeles National Forest). The forest is huge. Nelson Bighorn Sheep, bear, deer, cougar, waterfalls, 10,000 foot peaks, etc.

It is also considered the most dangerous and crime ridden National Forest in the Nation.





http://outside.away.com/outside/magazine鈥?/a>



I go there to scope out hunting opportunities. And I park my car alongside the road for long periods. I have a Honda Insight, which I don't think is too desirable to thieves. I keep nothing visible in the car. I have Lo Jack, but I put a "club" on the steering wheel for appearances. Is there anything else I could do to make it less desirable to thieves? I wish you could buy a "boot" or something to put on the wheel. I am always scared that when I walk back to my car it won't be there.How to limit damage to my car in National Forest?
Newell:

Nice article. I live in Orange County, but go to a shooting range up Highway 39, up above Azusa. I go to the Burro Canyon Shooting Range. I've seen the cars parked along the Highway, but I never realized how dangerous this area was. I thought it was a bunch of guys hiking, and going 4-wheeling by East Fork Road. I guess I need to be more careful as well, although a lot of Law Enforcement goes to Burro Canyon Range to shoot as well. That is steep terrain up that way.



Regarding your car --- You are probably OK. If they see something valuable in the car --- sunglasses, jackets cell phones -- they will break the glass and just take the easy pickings. They probably won't mess with you, since you have a rifle. But I can see where you may be concerned -- I would be as well. You may want to look at other, much safer areas.



A couple of suggestions:

1) I have hunted at Tejon Ranch several times. It's an hour north of you, and fantastic. Lots of game, lots of wilderness --- absolutely beautiful area. Two options there: 1) Guided Hunts for Wild Boar are great. It is a weekend hunt -- about 2 or 3 days -- $1000 but it includes lodging, meals, and a guaranteed shot opportunity (or you get to come back again for free) which is defined as a standing shot at under 200 yards. or 2) The have something they call a "Wild Pig management hunt". It is $400, and only includes "permission" to hunt wild boar on the Tejon Ranch property (270,000 acres, or about 20 sq miles). It goes from Friday afternoon, to Sunday at noon. Offered about every 2 months. You can get a hotel in Gorman ($100/ nt), or camp outdoors on Tejon property.



2) There are some hunting maps for California from BigGameHuntingMaps.com and I have attached a link below. They show highlighted/ circled areas of National Forest areas that are prime/ good hunting areas for deer and wild boar. There are some nice areas near Castaic that should be close to you (~1 hr) that shouldn't have any gang activity. A lot of Sportman in these areas --- Bass fisherman and hunters.

http://www.biggamehuntingmaps.com/maps/m鈥?/a>



My suggestion is stay away from the gang infested areas in Angeles Forest. Lots of gang initiations and armed pot growers. Hunting Los Padres National Forest near Castaic, or $400 for the wild boar management hunt at Tejon would be much more safe and enjoyable. BTW --- for hunting wild boar, you may need something more than the .44-40. The Wild Boar are very tough --- they don't just fall over like a deer, and the shots could be well over 100 yards. A .270 or .30-06 might be a better option up there.



Link to Tejon Ranch is below:

http://www.hunttejon.com/



Big Game Hunting Maps is below:

http://www.biggamehuntingmaps.com/maps/m鈥?/a>



Good Luck in the Fall
1 get someone to drop u off and pick u up

2 id be surprised if someone would take a insite [no offense] but where i live [george washington nat forest] there have been a few cat converter thefts

3 get up in woods with your gun...wait for car thief,,,BANGHow to limit damage to my car in National Forest?
Wow, California is a hell-hole. That article makes me cringe. Are there even hunting opportunities to scope out?? I thought the Texas "wilderness" was bad, I should really move back to Montana...
Honda Insight? Lmao, don't worry about it. That's the last thing a criminal would go for.
If you want to make your car less desirable to thieves---buy an AMC Gremlin.



If this is the old two seat Insight, which is discontinued, the car will be valuable for thieves to part out. If it's a new Insight, well, even thieves have to buy gas- right? (But these will also be valuable for parts.)



Car thieves love Honda's...







Have someone put a hidden kill switch under the hood, switch not on- no start, no matter what. Hopefully they don't have a flatbed wrecker.



Get anti-theft lug nuts, you want to keep your wheels.





Otherwise you'll have to resort to getting a pet skunk and leaving it in the car...