Not to beat up on you here. But, you will need a pistol permit to use that gun. If you don't have one, you going to have to worry about some big brown bears in orange suits for a few years.
what are you going to be doing with this setup? Smells like long term survival kind of tin foil stuff.
For a few days in the woods of camping and general backwoods fun. I like something of the smoothbore nature.
Overall, it's fun to be scared a bit in the woods. I wouldn't worry about anything over in CA far as things in the woods. Much more likely to drown swimming, bit by a snake, or die in a car accident than to meet a bad guy or bad animal.
Bring whats appropriate to the season. A capable long rifle or modern rifle during big game season. An appropriate small game firearm for small game season.
45 or 50 cal blackpowder rifle will be just fine.
If I lived in Ca, I'd play around with making zinc roundballs. I'm sure someone out there makes them. affordable plinking, although not the best. I'd use the appropriate bismuth or whatever the non-lead roundballs are for hunting.
If you area allows it, primitive people of the land fared much better from the waters than the woods for food. Keep some fishing supplies with you.
If legal to do so, the best firearm to bring with you on a long camping weekend is something you can target shoot in the woods.
Pistols and hunting don't mix well. Literally, you'd do just as good with a bow and arrow. Soda cans aren't all that easy to hit at 25 yards with a handgun. To hit a squirrel past 25 yards, you got to be a real good shot.
Rifle is the way to hit what you aim for. A handgun is only a good choice when you don't have a rifle next to you, and that's it.