Section 600 - Licensed Game Bird ClubsNo licensed game bird club utilizing domestically reared game birds may be operated in this state except under a license issued by the department and under the provisions of this section. Domestically reared game birds include only the following: Pheasants of the species Phasianus colchicus, including all ring-necked pheasant races, Indian chukar, domestically reared wild turkey, Hungarian partridge, bobwhite quail, Coturnix quail, and other such species as may be designated by the Fish and Game Commission.
(a) General Provisions for All Licensed Game Bird Clubs, Including Zone A and B Clubs. (1) Licensed Provisions. (A) Application Form. Application for a game bird club license shall be made on LICENSED GAME BIRD CLUB APPLICATION, Form LGBC 600 (5/95), which is incorporated by reference herein. Application forms are available from the Department of Fish and Game, License and Revenue Branch. The application form shall be completed in its entirety and submitted to the License and Revenue Branch. The approved application form (LGBC 600) shall be kept with the shooting permit records for the licensed area and shall be open to inspection.(B) Signing of Application. Applications shall be signed by the applicant. If the applicant is a corporation, the application shall be signed by any one or more duly authorized officers of the corporation. If the applicant is a partnership, the application shall be signed in behalf of the partnership by any one or more of the general partners. If the applicant is a person, doing business under a business name, the application shall be signed by such person accompanied by a statement of the name under which business is being done.(C) Inspection Requirement. The department may inspect each tract proposed for licensing to determine if it is suitable for a licensed game bird club.(D) Licensed Area. A licensed game bird club shall include the total area within the exterior boundary.(E) Map Requirement for New Areas or Boundary Changes. Applications for new areas and those involving a boundary change must include a current 7.5 minute U.S. Geological Survey topographic map denoting the boundaries of the proposed area or areas.(F) Transfer of License. The department may transfer a license to other land owned or controlled by a licensee if the land is located in the same county as the land specified in the original application, if the new land is suitable for the purposes of the license. A transfer of license may not require an additional fee but may require a department inspection to determine if the above provisions are satisfied.(G) Proof of Hunting Rights. Applications involving lands not owned by the applicant must include written verification that the applicant has acquired exclusive hunting rights on the land in question for the total period of the license.(H) Term of License. A game bird club license shall be issued for a period of one year from August 1 to July 31, or for the remainder of the period if issued after August 1.(I) License Fees. The base license fee shall be $280 for game bird clubs over 500 acres in size and $210 for game bird clubs of 500 acres or less. These fees shall be annually adjusted pursuant to Section 713 of the Fish and Game Code.(J) Request for Cancellation of License. A licensee shall request that his/her license be cancelled. This request must be made in writing to the department's License and Revenue Branch (see subsection (a)(1)(A)). The license fee shall not be refunded for a cancelled license.(K) License Revocation or Suspension. The department may revoke, suspend or decline to renew a license for failure to comply with the provisions of a license or failure to comply with these regulations. Any person whose license is revoked or suspended may request a hearing before the commission to show cause why his/her permit should not be revoked or suspended.(2) Posting of Area. Every game bird club shall be posted on the exterior boundary with signs of a size not less than 8 1/2 by 11 inches at intervals of at least three (3) to the mile and at all corners and entrances. The signs shall include the name of the club and the words: "private licensed game bird club or private licensed pheasant club--authorized under regulations of the Fish and Game Commission--no trespassing." These signs shall be visible at least twenty-five (25) feet from the boundaries of such club. The department shall not furnish such signs. Signs shall be removed prior to September 15 of the succeeding year if no license is granted for that year.(3) Compliance Requirement. It is unlawful to shoot, attempt to shoot, or otherwise take any game bird on the premises of any licensed game bird club unless the provisions of this Section 600 have been complied with. The department may inspect the premises of each licensed area to determine whether or not the licensee has complied with these regulations.(4) Shooting Permit Requirement. No person may hunt domestically reared game birds on a licensed game bird club without having in possession a valid hunting license, a valid upland game bird stamp and a valid game bird club shooting permit issued by the licensee or an agent authorized by the licensee (see subsection (a)(9)). The shooting permit shall include the following information: name, hunting license number, and date(s) permit is valid.(5) Daily Log Sheets. Every hunter on a licensed game bird club shall sign in on a daily log sheet at the location designated on the license application prior to going afield in pursuit of domestically reared game birds.(6) Shooting Records. Licensees shall maintain a record for each shooting day on forms supplied by the department, LICENSED GAME BIRD CLUB MONTHLY REPORT, Form LGBC 600B (5/97), which is incorporated by reference herein, and shall make entries on the record for each shooting day.(7) Shooting Records Maintenance. Shooting permit records and other records required by these regulations shall be open to inspection by the department on shooting days at a designated site identified in the license application. During the balance of the shooting season, these records shall be available for inspection by the department from the licensee or authorized agent. Records must be retained for inspection for a period of one year after the close of the shooting season. The licensee shall submit all of the LGBC 600B forms provided by the department showing the daily and monthly numbers of each species released and taken. The report shall be sent to the Department of Fish and Game, at an address to be determined by the Department, within thirty (30) days after shooting has ceased, and the licensee shall maintain a legible copy of such record.(8) Seal Requirement. (A) Seals shall be affixed by the licensee, or an authorized agent, to all pheasants, chukars, and turkeys taken on a licensed game bird club area. Seals shall be applied immediately upon the hunter's return to club headquarters. Seals shall remain attached to the birds until they are finally prepared for consumption. Seals shall be supplied by the department at a fee of five cents ($0.05) each. These seals shall be purchased and located on the club area prior to the taking of any released birds. Seals may be obtained from the department's License and Revenue Branch (see subsection (a)(1)(A)).(B) Seals shall be affixed to bagged pheasants, chukars, and turkeys only. Seals shall be affixed only by the licensee or an authorized agent.(C) The licensee must account for all used and unused seals upon request by the department. The licensee is required to destroy all unused seals at the end of each season.(D) There shall be no refund of money for unused seals.(E) Seals are not transferable and shall be used only on the licensed club to which they are issued.(F) Seals are not required for domestically reared game birds other than pheasant, chukar, and turkey.(9) Authorized Agents. The licensee may appoint authorized agents to serve in his/her capacity. An authorized agent must be 16 years of age or older. The applicant shall declare the intended authorized agents on LICENSED GAME BIRD CLUBS - AUTHORIZED AGENTS, (Form LGBC 600A), which is incorporated by reference herein, and post the form at the club headquarters for the duration of the season.(10) Liberation of Birds. (A) The department may require the licensee to deliver birds to the licensed area for inspection and/or banding. If banding is required the licensee or authorized agent shall remove all leg bands from birds killed on the licensed game bird club and return them to the department's Wildlife Management Division (see subsection (a)(7) for address).(B) At time of release, all birds shall be full-winged and otherwise in condition to go wild. Birds that are altered in any manner which would, in the opinion of the department, render them incapable of surviving in the wild, or which are diseased, or show evidence of malnutrition, shall be rejected for release.(C) Approval for the release and take of domestically reared wild turkeys will not be granted in areas where wild turkeys have been released by the department or where a population of wild turkeys exists.(11) Shooting Hours. (A) The shooting hours for taking domestically reared game birds on licensed game bird clubs shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.(12) Conduct of Hunters. The licensee or authorized agent, of a licensed game bird club, may refuse to issue a permit to any person who in his/her opinion is intoxicated or handles firearms in a careless and dangerous manner. The licensee, or authorized agent, may also revoke forthwith the permit of any hunter who endangers the safety of other hunters, destroys or endangers property on the club or fails to attempt to recover crippled or dead birds which he/she has shot or violates any fish and game regulations.(13) Laws and Regulations For Game Other Than Domestically Reared Game Birds. Game other than domestically reared game birds may be taken on a licensed game bird club under the laws and regulations applying to the state at large, including daily bag limits.(14) Prohibition on Removal of Domesticated Game Birds Taken By Means Other Than Hunting. No game birds killed in any manner other than by hunting by legal methods shall be removed from the premises of any licensed game bird club. It shall be unlawful to sell or buy or attempt to sell or buy any domestic game birds taken from such club.(15) Disease Prevention. Birds being reared for release by the licensee on a licensed game bird club or at an off-site location shall be maintained under conditions which are not conducive to the spread of diseases. Rearing facilities shall be subject to inspection by the department.(16) Game Bird Purchase Records. The licensee shall retain copies of all game bird purchase invoices. A copy of these records shall be available for inspection during the license year. Information concerning the date and number of birds delivered shall be recorded on all invoices. All pens and birds may be inspected by the department at any time. A department employee may witness all releases.(17) Use of Dogs. Hunters are encouraged to utilize retrieving dogs while in the field to assist in the recovery of downed birds. Hunters shall make a reasonable effort to locate all downed birds consistent with sections 203.1 and 4304 of the Fish and Game Code. For hunters without retrieving dogs, the licensee may provide dogs and accompanying handlers. No dog handler may serve as a guide and the use of dogs on licensed game bird clubs does not constitute guiding, as defined in Section 2535 of the Code.(b) Zones for Licensed Game Bird Clubs. For the purpose of hunting domestically reared game birds, the state is divided into Zone A and Zone B. Clubs licensed in these areas shall be known as Zone A and Zone B licensees, respectively. (1) Zone A Licensed Game Bird Clubs. (A) Zone A Defined. Zone A consists of the following area: San Joaquin-Sacramento Valleys; within a line beginning at the junction of State Highway 41 and Interstate Highway 5 northerly on Interstate Highway 5 to the junction of Washoe Avenue; northerly along Washoe Avenue to California Avenue (Panoche Road); westerly along California Avenue (Panoche Road) to Interstate Highway 5; northerly along Interstate Highway 5 to the Delta-Mendota Canal crossing; northerly and westerly along said canal to the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks (about five (5) miles south of Byron); northwesterly along said railroad to its intersection with State Highway 4 at Brentwood; north and west along said State Highway 4 to its intersection with State Highway 84; along said State Highway 84 to the Sacramento-Contra Costa county line on the Antioch Bridge; westerly along the Sacramento-Contra Costa county line to its intersection with the Solano County boundary; northeasterly along the Sacramento County-Solano County line to Cache Slough; northwesterly along the South bank of Cache Slough to Haas Slough; northerly along the south bank of Haas Slough to its intersection with the Sacramento Northern Railroad tracks; northeasterly along the Sacramento Northern Railroad tracks to Bunker Station; westerly along the Bunker Station-Binghampton Road to State Highway 113; northerly along State Highway 113 to Hawkins Road; westerly along Hawkins Road to Leisure Town Road; southerly along Leisure Town Road to Cooper School Road; westerly along Cooper School Road to Nut Tree Road; northwesterly along Nut Tree Road to Interstate Highway 80; southwesterly along Interstate Highway 80 to the range line between R1W and R2W; northerly along said range line to the Pacific Gas and Electric Pit Vaca Dixon electrical transmission lines approximately six (6) miles north and east of the town of Capay; northwesterly along west right-of-way boundary of the said Pacific Gas and Electric transmission lines to the township line between T15N and T16N; northerly along the west right-of-way boundary of said transmission line to the Tehama County line; easterly along the Tehama-Glenn county line to the Sacramento River; northerly along the Sacramento River to the Tehama-Butte county Line; easterly along the Tehama-Butte county line to U.S. Highway 99; southeasterly along 99E through Chico to the junction of State Sign Route 162; southeasterly along State Sign Route 162 to the junction of State Highway 70; southeasterly on State Highway 70 to the township line between T18N and T19N; easterly on said township line to the Oroville-Bangor Highway; southeasterly on the Oroville-Bangor Highway to Bangor on the section line between Section 27 and Section 28, T18N, R5E; south on said section line to the township line between T18N and T17N; east on said township line to the range line between R5E and R6E; south on said range line to State Highway 20; easterly along said Highway 20 through Smartville to the common boundary between Nevada an Yuba counties; south along this boundary to Placer County; east along the common boundary of Nevada and Placer counties to the range line between R6E and R7E; south along said range line to the township line between T11N and T10N; east along this township line to the common boundary between Placer and El Dorado counties; south along said boundary to the common boundary between Sacramento and El Dorado counties; southeasterly along said boundary between Sacramento and El Dorado counties, Sacramento and Amador counties, San Joaquin and Amador counties, San Joaquin and Calaveras counties; southerly along the San Joaquin-Stanislaus county line to State Highway 4; easterly on State Highway 4 to Milton Road; southerly on Milton Road to its junction with Sonora Road; southeasterly along Sonora Road to Knights Ferry; southerly along the Knights Ferry-LaGrange Road to Warnerville; southerly along Crabtree Road to Turlock Lake State Park; southerly on Roberts Ferry Road to its intersection with Lake Road; westerly on Lake Road to Hawkins Road; southerly on Hawkins Road to Keyes Road; easterly on Keyes Road to its intersection with Cox Ferry Road; southerly along Cox Ferry Road and State Highway 59 to the Santa Fe Railroad tracks; southerly along the Santa Fe Railroad tracks through Planada and LeGrand to its intersection with State Highway 145; southwesterly along State Highway 145 to U.S. Highway 99; southerly along U.S. Highway 99 to State Highway 41; then southwesterly along State Highway 41 to the point of beginning.(B) Shooting Season. The Zone A shooting season for pheasants shall commence on the Saturday nearest the 15th day of October and extend for 114 consecutive days. For all other domestically reared game birds, the Zone A shooting season shall be from September 1 to March 31 of the following year.(C) Limitation on Pheasants Taken. At no time shall the number of pheasants taken on a Zone A licensed game bird club exceed 80% of the total number of pheasants previously released on the licensed area during the license year and up to 12 days prior to the season. Such birds must be released under the provisions of a current game bird club license.(D) Daily Bag Limit. There is no daily bag limit for domestically reared game birds on a Zone A licensed game bird club.(E) Unused Seals. Unused seals shall not be given to hunters.(F) Headquarters and Travel Route. A headquarters building, housetrailer, or site for record inspection shall be maintained for each licensed game bird club during the shooting season. The location of the building, housetrailer, or site must be designated on the license application. No shooting permits shall be issued or birds taken until such headquarters has been established. When hunters, in order to travel between headquarters and the licensed hunting area, must travel off the licensed hunting area, the applicant must include in his application a request for an authorized travel route. Such route shall not exceed 10 miles. Firearms must be unloaded in conformance with state law while hunters are using such authorized travel route. The travel route must be included in the application and indicated on the map to scale required in the application. The headquarters and authorized travel routes shall be considered part of the licensed premises for the requirements of sealing birds, but shall not affect the gross area of the club.(2) Zone B Licensed Game Bird Clubs. (A) Zone B Defined. Zone B consists of the remainder of the state not included in the area described in subsection (b)(1)(A) above (Zone A).(B) Shooting Season. The Zone B shooting season shall commence on September 1 and close on May 31.(C) Release of Pheasants Required. Pheasants may not be taken on a Zone B licensed pheasant club unless domestically reared pheasants have previously been released on the licensed area during the current license year. The take of pheasants shall at no time exceed the number previously released during the current license year.(D) Limitation on Birds Taken. The total number of pheasants which may be taken on a Zone B licensed game bird club shall not exceed the number of pheasants released on the licensed area during the license year.(E) Daily Bag Limit. There is no daily bag limit for domestically reared game birds on a Zone B licensed game bird club.(F) Unused Seals. Unused Zone B seals may be possessed only by the licensee or a duly authorized agent.(G) Headquarters and Travel Route. A headquarters building, housetrailer, or site for record inspection shall be maintained for each licensed game bird club during the shooting season. The location of the building, housetrailer, or site must be designated on the license application. No shooting permits shall be issued or birds taken until such headquarters has been established. When hunters, in order to travel between headquarters and the licensed hunting area, must travel off the licensed hunting area, the applicant must include in his application a request for an authorized travel route. Such route shall not exceed 10 miles. Firearms must be unloaded in conformance with state law while hunters are using such authorized travel route. The travel route must be included in the application and indicated on the map to scale required in the application. The headquarters and authorized travel routes shall be considered part of the licensed premises for the requirements of sealing birds, but shall not affect the gross area of the club.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 600
1. Amendment of subsection (c)(1) and addition of subsection (c)(4) filed 6-11-68; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 68, No. 22). For prior history, see Register 68, No. 6.
2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 6-30-69; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 69, No. 27).
3. Renumbering from Chapter 8 filed 3-17-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 12).
4. Amendment of subsection (j)(2) filed 8-2-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 32).
5. Amendment of NOTE filed 7-16-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 29).
6. Order of Repeal of subsections (c)(3) and (k)(2) filed 6-3-85 by OAL pursuant to Government Code Section 11349.7; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 26).
7. Editorial correction of NOTE filed 9-20-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 38).
8. Repealer and new section and amendment of NOTE filed 6-30-95; operative 7-1-95 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 3270 (Register 95, No. 26).
9. Amendment of opening paragraph and subsections (a)(2), (a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8)(C) and (a)(9), repealer of subsection (a)(11) and subsection renumbering, and amendment of newly designated subsections (a)(11)(A) and (a)(16) filed 7-10-96; operative 8-9-96 (Register 96, No. 28).
10. Amendment of subsection (b)(1)(B) and NOTE filed 2-6-97 as an emergency; operative 2-6-97 (Register 97, No. 6). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-6-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
11. Amendment of subsection (a)(6), repealer of subsections (a)(10)(A)-(B) and subsection relettering filed 10-7-97; operative 10-7-97 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 97, No. 41).
12. Reinstatement of subsection (b)(1)(B) and NOTE as they existed prior to 2-6-97 emergency amendment filed 4-22-98 by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 98, No. 17).
13. New subsection (a)(17) and amendment of NOTE filed 2-3-2000; operative 2-3-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2000, No. 5).
14. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(7) filed 10-21-2004; operative 10-21-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 43).
15. Amendment of subsection (a)(11)(A) filed 8-29-2007; operative 9-1-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 35). Note: Authority cited: Sections 203, 203.1, 3000 and 3270, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 203, 203.1, 3000, 3270, 3500 and 4304, Fish and Game Code.
1. Amendment of subsection (c)(1) and addition of subsection (c)(4) filed 6-11-68; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 68, No. 22). For prior history, see Register 68, No. 6.
2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 6-30-69; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 69, No. 27).
3. Renumbering from Chapter 8 filed 3-17-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 12).
4. Amendment of subsection (j)(2) filed 8-2-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 32).
5. Amendment of NOTE filed 7-16-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 29).
6. Order of Repeal of subsections (c)(3) and (k)(2) filed 6-3-85 by OAL pursuant to Government Code Section 11349.7; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 26).
7. Editorial correction of NOTE filed 9-20-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 38).
8. Repealer and new section and amendment of Note filed 6-30-95; operative 7-1-95 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 3270 (Register 95, No. 26).
9. Amendment of opening paragraph and subsections (a)(2), (a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8)(C) and (a)(9), repealer of subsection (a)(11) and subsection renumbering, and amendment of newly designated subsections (a)(11)(A) and (a)(16) filed 7-10-96; operative 8-9-96 (Register 96, No. 28).
10. Amendment of subsection (b)(1)(B) and Note filed 2-6-97 as an emergency; operative 2-6-97 (Register 97, No. 6). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-6-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
11. Amendment of subsection (a)(6), repealer of subsections (a)(10)(A)-(B) and subsection relettering filed 10-7-97; operative 10-7-97 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 97, No. 41).
12. Reinstatement of subsection (b)(1)(B) and Noteas they existed prior to 2-6-97 emergency amendment filed 4-22-98 by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 98, No. 17).
13. New subsection (a)(17) and amendment of Note filed 2-3-2000; operative 2-3-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2000, No. 5).
14. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(7) filed 10-21-2004; operative 10-21-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 43).
15. Amendment of subsection (a)(11)(A) filed 8-29-2007; operative 9-1-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 35).