Title FGC, California Fish & Game Code

A nonprofit organization designated by the department to assist in the sale of deer, elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep fundraising tags that are sold on behalf of the department for the purpose of raising funds for specified programs and projects, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Sec…

The Legislature finds and declares that the department has in the past not been adequately funded to meet its mandates. The principal causes have been the fixed nature of the department’s revenues in contrast with the rising costs resulting from inflation, the increased burden on…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the department continues to be inadequately funded to meet its mandates. While revenues have been declining, the department’s responsibilities have increased in order to protect public trust resources in the face of increasing populatio…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The department continues to face serious funding instability due to revenue declines from traditional user fees and taxes and the addition of new and expanded program responsibilities. (2) Historically, the recreati…

The provisions of this part apply to the taking and possession of fish for any purpose other than commercial. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure adequate funding from appropriate sources for the department. To this end, the Legislature finds and declares that: (1) The costs of nongame fish and wildlife programs shall be provided annually in the Budget Act by appropriating …

(a) The expenditure of all federal grant moneys made available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 669 et seq.) shall be consistent with that act. (b) In applying for federal grant moneys available pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wi…

(a) For purposes of this code, unless the context otherwise requires, “project” has the same meaning as defined in Section 21065 of the Public Resources Code. (b) For purposes of this article, “person” includes any individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, busines…

(a) The department shall impose and collect a filing fee in the amount prescribed in subdivision (d) to defray the costs of managing and protecting fish and wildlife trust resources, including, but not limited to, consulting with other public agencies, reviewing environmental doc…

(a) The fish and wildlife resources are held in trust for the people of the state by and through the department. (1) Insofar as state wildlife trust resources exist and depend upon federal proprietary lands or federal land and water adjacent to or affecting state trust resources,…

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Finance shall include in the Governor’s Budget sufficient moneys from the General Fund and sources other than the Fish and Game Preservation Fund to pay the costs of the department’s nongame programs, including those nece…

(a) (1) The department’s mission is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment of the public. (2) The department’s core programs are the following: (A) Ma…

(a) The changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, as published by the United States Department of Commerce, shall be used as the index to determine an annual rate of increase or decrease in the fees for licenses, stamps…

(a) The director, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall establish a formal program, which may be called the Science Institute, to assist the department and commission in obtaining independent scientific review, and recommendations to help inform the scientific …

The provisions of this part apply to the taking and possession of fish for any commercial purpose. This part does not apply to activities governed under Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000). (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 131, Sec. 2. Effective June 27, 1983.)

“Owner” or “vessel owner” means the person or persons designated as the registered owner of a vessel on a certificate of documentation issued by the United States Coast Guard or on a copy of the vessel registration issued by the vessel registration agency of the state where the o…

In Mt. Tamalpais Game Refuge, the lawful occupant of privately owned land, or the employees of such occupant, may take on such lands, predatory, or destructive birds and mammals which are not protected or fostered by any of the laws of this State, and are not required to obtain p…

In the Mt. Tamalpais Game Refuge firearms may be possessed and used by members of any high school militia while on the grounds of the high school at which time they may be enrolled. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In the Mt. Tamalpais Game Refuge, no threatened, endangered, or fully-protected birds or mammals may be taken under any permit issued by the department. Except for wild pigs, it is unlawful to take any bird or mammal under a permit issued by the department unless the person posse…

In the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles legally possessed may be carried openly by persons traveling through the refuge on public roads, between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. (Amended by Stats. 2023,…

Nothing in this division prevents the full use of the land included in the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge for water supply purposes, nor prohibits any authorized employee of the San Francisco water department from carrying out reasonable measures as may be necessary for the p…

(a) A person involved in oceanographic and scientific research in and around Santa Catalina Island may be authorized by the Director of the Catalina Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge to enter the Catalina Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge and to anchor or moor a ves…

(a) Except as expressly provided in this division, it is unlawful to enter the Catalina Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge for the purpose of taking or possessing any fish or marine plants or to take or possess any fish or marine plants in the Catalina Marine Science Center…

(a) Except as expressly provided in this division, it is unlawful to enter the Bodega Marine Life Refuge for the purpose of taking or possessing any fish, marine invertebrate, or marine plant, or to take or possess any fish, marine invertebrate, or marine plant in the Bodega Mari…

(a) A person may be permitted by the Director of the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge to enter the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge under a permit. (b) The Director of the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge, or any person to whom the Director of the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge has issued a permit und…

Except as expressly provided in this division, it is unlawful to enter the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge for the purpose of taking or possessing any fish or marine plants or to take or possess any fish or marine plants in the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge. Section 10657 and this sectio…

In the San Diego Marine Life Refuge, licensees of the Regents of the University of California and all officers, employees, and students of such university may take, for scientific purposes, any invertebrate or specimen of marine plant life without a permit from the department. (E…

In the California Sea Otter Game Refuge, the lawful occupant of privately owned land, or the employees of such occupant, may possess firearms and traps and may take on such lands any nonprotected bird or mammal, and no permit is required for such taking. (Added by Stats. 1959, Ch…

(a) In the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge, fish, other than mollusks and crustaceans, may be taken under the authority of a sport fishing license as authorized by this code. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, holders of scientific collectors’ permi…

In the Bodega Marine Life Refuge, licensees of the Regents of the University of California and all officers, employees, and students of such university may take, for scientific purposes, any invertebrate or specimen of marine plant life without a permit from the department. (Adde…

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it shall be unlawful for any person to fire a firearm, but it shall not be unlawful to possess a firearm, in the following areas: All of T. 5 S., R. 5 E., except Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, and 13, of Game Refuge 4D. (Amended by Stats.…

In Fish and Game Refuge 4-D the lawful occupant of privately owned lands or the employees of such occupants may possess firearms without a permit. (Added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 973.)

In the Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Point Fermin, South Laguna Beach, Niguel, Irvine Coast, and Doheny Beach Marine Life Refuges, the following fish, mollusks, and crustaceans may be taken under the authority of a sportfishing license as authorized by this code: abalone, lobster,…

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in the Johnsville Game Refuge it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm or other device capable of killing or injuring any animal. However, it shall not be unlawful for the lawful occupants of privately owned …

In the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, the following fish and mollusks may be taken under the authority of a sport fishing license as authorized by this code: abalone, rockfish (Sebastes), lingcod, surfperch (Embiotocidae), monkeyface eel, rock eel, white croaker, halibut, ca…

(a) In the Dana Point Marine Life Refuge below the intertidal zone, the following fish, mollusks, and crustaceans may be taken under the authority of a sportfishing license as authorized by this code: abalone (subject to the moratorium imposed under Section 5521), lobster, rockfi…

(a) A hunting license, granting the privilege to take birds and mammals, shall be issued to any of the following: (1) A resident of this state, 16 years of age or older, upon the payment of a base fee of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents ($31.25). (2) A resident or nonresi…

(a) In addition to Section 3031, and notwithstanding Section 3037, the department shall issue lifetime hunting licenses under this section. A lifetime hunting license authorizes the taking of birds and mammals anywhere in this state in accordance with the law for purposes other t…

For the purpose of obtaining a hunting license, enrollees in the Job Corps, created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-452), shall be deemed to be residents of California. (Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1086.)

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Bear” and “pursue” have the same meanings as defined in Section 3960. (2) “Hound” means a dog used to pursue mammals. (b) The commission may establish a hound tag program. (c) If a hound tag program is established, the commission may require all …

(a) Pursuant to this section, the department shall issue to a disabled veteran or recovering service member who has not been convicted of a violation of this code a reduced fee hunting license that authorizes the licensee to take a bird or mammal as authorized by this code and re…

(a) The department shall prepare a report to the Legislature no later than July 1, 2024, on the effects of the reduced-price tags issued pursuant to Sections 331, 332, 4751, and 4902 of the Fish and Game Code on rates of participation by junior hunters, the Big Game Management Ac…

A hunting license authorizes the person to whom it is issued to take birds and mammals, in accordance with law, for a term of one year from July 1st to June 30th, or, if issued after the beginning of such term, for the remainder of the term. (Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1470.)

Any member of the armed forces of the United States who is in a military medical facility and who is at least 70 percent disabled shall be issued a hunting permit, on application therefor, by the department, in lieu of a hunting license and appropriate tags, authorizing the takin…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, Section 2023, Section 3087, Section 4303, another provision of this code, or a regulation adopted pursuant to this code, it is unlawful to sell or purchase a bird or mammal found in the wild in California. (b) Shed antlers, or ant…

(a) Notwithstanding Section 3031, the director shall, no later than July 1, 2023, designate two days per year as “Free Hunting Days.” The department shall publish the exact dates of the free hunting days in annual publications of the department regarding current hunting regulatio…