Title FGC, California Fish & Game Code

“Chumming” means the placing in the water of fish, or other material upon which fish feed, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular area in order that they may be taken. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 3. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

“Closed season” means that period of time during which the taking of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles is prohibited. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 4. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

The provisions of this code, insofar as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof, and not as new enactments. This code shall not impair any privilege granted …

“Commission” means the Fish and Game Commission, and “commissioner” means a member of the Fish and Game Commission. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“County” includes city and county. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“Credible science” means the best available scientific information that is not overly prescriptive due to the dynamic nature of science, and includes the evaluation principles of relevance, inclusiveness, objectivity, transparency, timeliness, verification, validation, and peer r…

“Day” means calendar day, and “week” means calendar week. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

(a) Resident game birds are as follows: (1) Doves of the genus Streptopelia, including, but not limited to, spotted doves, ringed turtledoves, and Eurasian collared-doves. (2) California quail and varieties thereof. (3) Gambel’s or desert quail. (4) Mountain quail and varieties t…

It is unlawful to use any powerboat, motor vehicle, or airplane to drive any game bird toward another person with the intent that the other person shall take the bird. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

It is unlawful to use any mammal (except a dog) or an imitation of a mammal as a blind in approaching or taking game birds. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

It is unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any bird, except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation made pursuant thereto. (Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1470.)

It is unlawful to take, possess, or destroy any birds in the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes (birds-of-prey) or to take, possess, or destroy the nest or eggs of any such bird except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto. (Added by Stat…

Subject to the provisions of this code permitting the sale of domestically raised game birds, it is unlawful to sell or purchase a game bird or nongame bird. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 70. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

It is unlawful to take, sell, or purchase any aigrette or egret, osprey, bird of paradise, goura, numidi, or any part of such a bird. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

It is unlawful to break, train, hold field trials with, or practice dogs on any wild game bird or domesticated game bird during the closed season on that bird except as authorized by the commission. (Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 62, Sec. 98. Effective January 1, 2004.)

(a) (1) Except as provided in this section or Section 2081.7, 2081.13, 2081.15, or 2835, a fully protected bird may not be taken or possessed at any time. No provision of this code or any other law shall be construed to authorize the issuance of a permit or license to take a full…

It is unlawful to take or possess any migratory bird as designated in the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 703 et seq.) before January 1, 2025, any additional migratory bird that may be designated in that federal act after that date, or any part of a migratory bi…

Exotic nonresident game birds are those birds of the order Galliformes (pheasant, grouse, quail) which are not established as a wild resident population in this State. (Added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 398.)

Exotic nonresident game birds may be released in this State only on prior approval of the commission. (Added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 398.)

The commission may adopt such regulations as it deems necessary to govern the release, taking, and possession of exotic nonresident game birds. The commission may adopt such regulations as it deems necessary to govern the inspection of resident game birds imported into this State…

“Department” means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 559, Sec. 5. (AB 2402) Effective January 1, 2013.)

“Director” means the Director of Fish and Wildlife. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 559, Sec. 6. (AB 2402) Effective January 1, 2013.)

(a) Game mammals are: deer (genus Odocoileus), elk (genus Cervus), prong-horned antelope (genus Antilocapra), black and brown or cinnamon bears (genus Euarctos), mountain lions (genus Felis), jackrabbits and varying hares (genus Lepus), cottontails, brush rabbits, and pygmy rabbi…

(a) Notwithstanding Section 3950 or any other provision of this code, the mountain lion (genus Felis) shall not be listed as, or considered to be, a game mammal by the department or the commission. (b) Section 219 does not apply to this section. Neither the commission nor the dep…

The commission may authorize the taking of tule elk pursuant to Section 332. When relocating tule elk, the department shall relocate the elk in areas suitable to them in the state and shall cooperate to the maximum extent possible with federal and local agencies and private prope…

The department shall develop a statewide elk management plan, consistent with the state’s wildlife policy as set forth in Section 1801. The statewide elk management plan shall emphasize maintaining sufficient elk populations in perpetuity, while considering all of the following: …

(a) The Big Game Management Account is hereby established within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. (b) Except as provided in Section 709, all revenues from the sale of antelope, elk, deer, bear, and sheep tags, and wild pig validations, including any fundraising tags or valida…

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Pursue” means pursue, run, or chase. (2) “Bear” means any black bear (Ursus americanus) found in the wild in this state. (b) It is unlawful to permit or allow any dog to pursue any big game mammal during the closed season on that mammal, to pursu…

(a) As used in this section, the terms “bear” and “pursue” have the same meanings as defined in Section 3960. (b) Notwithstanding Section 3960, not more than three dogs may be used to pursue bears or bobcats pursuant to a depredation permit issued by the department, if all of the…

(a) As used in this section, the terms “bear” and “pursue” have the same meanings as defined in Section 3960. (b) Notwithstanding Section 3960, the department may authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to…

(a) As used in this section, the terms “bear” and “pursue” have the same meanings as defined in Section 3960. (b) Notwithstanding Section 3960, the pursuit of bears or bobcats by dogs that are guarding or protecting livestock or crops on property owned, leased, or rented by the o…

(a) Whenever an employee of the department is not present to carry out the provisions of Section 3960 with respect to any dog inflicting injury or immediately threatening to inflict injury to any deer, elk, or prong-horned antelope during the closed season for these mammals, any …

Division, part, chapter, article, and section headings do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“District” means fish and game district. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“Ecosystem-based management” means an environmental management approach relying on credible science, as defined in Section 33, that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem servic…

“Fish” means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 5. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

“Guide boat” means a boat or vessel under 25 feet in length, which is used by a guide, who is licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2535) of Division 3, in inland waters for any of the following purposes: (1) For the business of packing or guiding. (2) For compensatio…

“Hook” or “fishhook” means an implement to catch or hold fish or amphibia. “Single hook” means any hook with one point and with or without a barb; “double hook” means any hook with two points and with or without barbs; “treble or triple hook” means any hook with three points and …

Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, the reference applies to all amendments and additions heretofore or hereafter made. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“Kelp” means kelp or other marine aquatic plants and the seeds thereof. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“Mammal” means a wild or feral mammal or part of a wild or feral animal, but not a wild, feral, or undomesticated burro. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 6. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

“Marine finfish aquaculture” means the propagation, cultivation, or maintenance of finfish species in the waters of the Pacific Ocean that are regulated by this state. (Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 36, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007.)

“Mile” means either a statute mile (5,280 feet) or a nautical mile (6,077 feet) depending on the application. Statute miles shall be the unit of measurement for all land masses, rivers, streams, creeks, and inland bodies of water. Nautical miles shall be the unit of measurement f…

It is unlawful to use explosives in the waters of the state inhabited by fish, except in one of the following circumstances: (a) Pursuant to a permit first obtained by the user from the department, consistent with terms and conditions set by the commission. The department’s decis…

The department may take any fish which, in its opinion, is unduly preying upon any bird, mammal, or fish. The commission may prescribe the terms of a permit to take any fish which, in the opinion of the department, is harmful to other species of fish and which should be reduced i…

It is unlawful to take any fish for the sole purpose of removing its eggs except for the purpose of developing a brood stock for aquaculture purposes under Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000) pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Fish and Game Commission. The commiss…