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 4 - Depredation › Section 402 - Issuance of Permits to Kill Mountain Lion Causing Damage

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Revocable permits may be issued by the
				  department after receiving a report, from any owner or tenant or agent for
				  them, of property being damaged or destroyed by mountain lion. The department
				  shall conduct and complete an investigation within 48 hours of receiving such a
				  report. Any mountain lion that is encountered in the act of inflicting injury
				  to, molesting or killing livestock or domestic animals may be taken immediately
				  if the taking is reported within 72 hours to the department and the carcass is
				  made available to the department. Whenever immediate action will assist in the
				  pursuit of the particular mountain lion believed to be responsible for damage
				  to livestock or domestic animals, the department may orally authorize the
				  pursuit and take of a mountain lion. The department shall investigate such
				  incidents and, upon a finding that the requirements of this regulation have
				  been met, issue a free permit for depredation purposes, and carcass tag to the
				  person taking such mountain lion.
(b) Permittee may take mountain lion in the
				  manner specified in the permit, except that no mountain lion shall be taken by
				  means of poison, leg-hold or metal-jawed traps and snares.
(c) Both males and females may be taken
				  during the period of the permit irrespective of hours or seasons.
(d) The privilege granted in the permit may
				  not be transferred, and only entitles the permittee or the employee or agent of
				  the permittee to take mountain lion. Such person must be 21 years of age or
				  over and eligible to purchase a California hunting license.
(e) Any person issued a permit pursuant to
				  this section shall report by telephone within 24 hours the capturing, injuring
				  or killing of any mountain lion to an office of the department or, if
				  telephoning is not practical, in writing within five days after capturing,
				  injuring or killing of the mountain lion. Any mountain lion killed under the
				  permit must be tagged with the special tag furnished with the permit; both tags
				  must be completely filled out and the duplicate mailed to the Department of
				  Fish and Game, Sacramento, within 5 days after taking any mountain
				  lion.
(f) The entire carcass shall
				  be transported within 5 days to a location agreed upon between the issuing
				  officer and the permittee, but in no case will a permittee be required to
				  deliver a carcass beyond the limits of his property unless he is willing to do
				  so. The carcasses of mountain lions taken pursuant to this regulation shall
				  become the property of the state.
(g) Animals shall be taken in a humane manner
				  so as to prevent any undue suffering to the animals.
(h) The permittee shall take every reasonable
				  precaution to prevent the carcass from spoiling until disposed of in the manner
				  agreed upon under subsection (f) of these regulations.
(i) The permit does not invalidate any city,
				  county, or state firearm regulation.
(j) Permits shall be issued for a period of
				  10 days. Permits may be renewed only after a finding by the department that
				  further damage has occurred or will occur unless such permits are renewed. The
				  permittee may not begin pursuit of a lion more than one mile nor continue
				  pursuit beyond a 10-mile radius from the location of the reported
				  damage.
1. Amendment
					 filed 5-7-86; effective upon filing (Register 86, No. 19).
2.
					 Amendment filed 7-1-86; effective upon filing (Register 86, No.
					 27).
3. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 4-18-91; operative 5-18-91
					 (Register 91, No. 21).
4. Amendment of subsections (a), (b), (d),
					 (e), (f) and (j) filed 7-31-91; operative 8-30-91 (Register 91, No.
					 48).
5. Amendment of subsection (a) and NOTE filed 3-5-2001;
					 operative 4-4-2001 (Register 2001, No. 10).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						4803
						and
						4804,
						Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections
						4800-
						4809,
						Fish and Game Code.