From the Sierra foothills above Placerville to the oak country around Jackson and Angels Camp, northern California hunting means steep ground and long walks. Blacktail and mule deer in the hills, and wild pigs in the oaks and grass, reward a rifle that is light enough to carry all day.

Fierce Firearms designs the Mini Rogue line for youth, women and smaller-framed hunters. It has a shorter length of pull, an adjustable comb or push-button cheek piece, and a carbon fiber stock that keeps weight low on a climb. Calibers include 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington and 308 Winchester, built on Fierce dual-lug actions with adjustable triggers. For a new hunter in the north state, or a smaller adult tired of a heavy rifle, it is a sensible first choice.

The CT models use a dual-lug titanium action and a Fierce C3 match-grade carbon barrel, which brings the rifle to about 6 lb. Length of pull is 12.75 inches with a push-button cheek piece.

25 Creedmoor sits between the 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor: a flat trajectory and enough bullet weight for deer-sized game, with recoil that stays easy on a light rifle.

This rifle has a 20 in barrel, 3+1 capacity, and weighs about 6 lb. Finish: Distressed Gray.

A stock that fits keeps a new shooter from flinching. With the rifle in the shoulder, the trigger finger should reach the trigger without stretching; that is length of pull. Then set the comb so the eye is centered behind the scope with the cheek resting on the stock. For a first season, a 6mm or 6.5 Creedmoor is easier to shoot well than a 308.

Your rifle ships to the California dealer you choose, and that dealer handles California's long-gun process. That means a Firearm Safety Certificate, a DROS entry and ten full days before the dealer can release the gun. Ammunition goes to a licensed ammunition vendor, while optics and gear come to your door.

Questions buyers ask: Which caliber suits blacktail and wild pigs in the foothills? 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 Remington covers both at normal foothill ranges, with recoil a young hunter can manage. How long before I can pick up a rifle in California? You need a Firearm Safety Certificate and a DROS entry, then ten full days before release. Your dealer handles the process. What caliber is this Fierce rifle? 25 Creedmoor, 3+1 capacity.

Specifications come from Fierce Firearms' published data for part number ROGTCMX25CM20DGM, UPC 853418438565.