Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 251.4

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 44, November 1, 2024
Section 251.4 - Mountain Lion Possession Permit
(a) Permit Requirements.

Pursuant to Section 4800 of the Fish and Game Code, no person may sell or possess any mountain lion, part or product thereof, unless he is in possession of a valid, nontransferable permit issued by the department. A permit shall be issued by the department only to:

1) any person who can demonstrate that the mountain lion, part or product thereof, was in his possession on or before June 6, 1990; or
2) a nonprofit museum or government-owned facility generally open to the public, or an educational institution, for display, exhibition, or storage, for a bona fide scientific or educational purpose as determined by the department. Permits shall be made available to department employees for inspection upon request and may be revoked by the department for failure to comply with the terms of the permit, this section, or Section 4800 of the Fish and Game Code. Any person issued a permit or a tag from the department for a mountain lion, or part or product thereof, prior to January 1, 2014, shall not be required to obtain a new permit, provided he maintains and makes available his existing permit or tag upon request of a department employee.
(b) Information Required to Obtain a Permit.

The application for a permit issued pursuant to subdivision (a) above shall be in the form of a letter to the department's Wildlife and Fisheries Division located at 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 and the applicant shall submit the following information:

(1) Full name of the person requesting a permit. If an entity is requesting a permit, the request shall be made on official letterhead with an original signature.
(2) Physical address where mountain lion carcass or part or product thereof shall be located.
(3) Description of mountain lion carcass or part or product thereof, subject to the permit.
(4) Description of how the mountain lion carcass, or part or product thereof shall be uniquely identified by the applicant pursuant to subdivision (c).
(5) Description of how the mountain lion carcass or part or product thereof shall be used and the anticipated length of time for use.
(c) Unique Identification.

Any person in possession of a permit to possess a mountain lion carcass, part or product thereof pursuant to this section shall uniquely identify such mountain lion carcass or part or product thereof. Unique identification methods include, but are not limited to, permanent marking, tattooing, microchipping, detailed photographs, descriptive measurements, or another suitable method approved in advance by the department.

(d) Change of Address or Name.

The permittee shall notify the department in writing of any change of address or name related to the permit within thirty days of the change.

(e) Disposition. Any permittee no longer desiring to possess a mountain lion carcass or part or product thereof shall transfer such carcass or part or product thereof to the department.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 251.4

1. New section filed 7-6-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 28).
2. Repealer filed 5-13-81; designated effective tenth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 20).
3. New section filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 11-21-2013; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 47).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 702, 1002 and 1050, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 702, 1002, 1050 and 4800, Fish and Game Code.


1. New section filed 7-6-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 28).
2. Repealer filed 5-13-81; designated effective tenth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 20).
3. New section filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 11-21-2013; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 47).