California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 2 - Game, Furbearers, Nongame, and Depredators › Chapter 8 - Wildlife and Public Shooting Areas › Section 550.5 - Reservations, Entry Permits, Fees, Passes, and Special Use Permits

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Reservations
				  for Hunting Activities.
(1) Reservations for
				  waterfowl and pheasant hunting are available for Type A wildlife areas for all
				  authorized shoot days of the season. On Type B wildlife areas, reservations are
				  required for the opening weekend of waterfowl season and may be required for
				  the opening of pheasant season.
(A)
				  Reservations shall be issued by random drawing. Applications are available
				  through the Automated License Data System at license agents, department license
				  offices and online. To find the locations of department license agents,
				  department license offices or to apply for a reservation on-line, go to the
				  department's website at
www.wildlife.ca.gov
. Applicants must possess
				  an annual or lifetime hunting license valid for the hunting season for which
				  they are applying. Two-day nonresident hunting licenses shall not be used to
				  apply for reservation drawings. To be included in a reservation drawing,
				  applications must be received by the department through the Automated License
				  Data System at least 17 days prior to the hunt date. Late, incomplete, or
				  incorrect applications will not be included in the drawing. The fee to apply
				  for a reservation is specified in Section
				  702 of these regulations. The
				  application fee is non-refundable.
(B) Unless otherwise provided in Section
				  551 of these regulations, the
				  reservation system only serves to assure entry onto a wildlife area and does
				  not necessarily constitute a method for prioritization over other
				  users.
(C) Multiple Applications.
1. An applicant is limited to one application
				  for each wildlife area for each authorized shoot day. Shoot days are specified
				  under subsections
				  551(e),
				  551(o),
				  551(p),
				  551(q),
				  551(s), and
				  552(a) of these
				  regulations.
2. The department may
				  eliminate applications that are not in compliance with these regulations from
				  any reservation drawing. Persons who submit more than one application for the
				  same shoot day for the same wildlife area may be barred from hunting on
				  department-operated areas for a period of one year following the date the
				  department discovers the violation. Any reservation issued as a result of such
				  improper submission, or to any person currently barred from the
				  department-operated areas, shall be void (not valid).
(D) Unless otherwise stated on the hunting
				  reservation or on information mailed with the reservation, each successful
				  reservation applicant shall be granted a one-day entry permit during the
				  waterfowl or pheasant season. The entry permit shall be issued to the
				  successful applicant for the date and wildlife area stated on the hunting
				  reservation upon the applicant presenting a one-day, two-day, or season pass.
				  Verification of the successful applicant/reservation holder shall require
				  identification per subsection
				  700.4(c) of these
				  regulations. Unless otherwise provided, the reservation will expire one and
				  one-half hours before shoot time for the date stated on the reservation. For
				  some wildlife areas, the department will number reservations in the order in
				  which they are drawn. These reservations will be accepted at checking stations
				  in numerical order. The reservation holder must be present at the time the
				  number is called in order to have priority over other, lower-priority
				  reservations.
(E) Except as
				  provided in subsection
				  550.5(a)(1)(F) or
				  subsection
				  551(x) of these
				  regulations, a reservation shall be valid for entry for up to six visitors who
				  must hunt as a party. No more than two visitors in a hunting party may be adult
				  hunters (18 years of age or older as of July 1 of the licensing year). Each
				  adult may be accompanied by up to two hunters holding junior hunting licenses
				  or two non-shooters irrespective of age, or one of each. All hunters must be in
				  possession of a valid hunting license. Non-shooters (as defined in subsection
				  550(b)(11)) shall
				  not discharge or possess ammunition or a firearm on the wildlife
				  area.
(F) When hunting a designated
				  hunting zone, assigned pond, or blind area, a reservation will assure entry
				  only for the number of visitors (adult hunters, junior hunters, and/or
				  non-shooters) that does not exceed the capacity of the designated zone,
				  assigned pond or blind area.