DeerTaking Deer

Section § 4301

Explanation

This law focuses on regulating the sale, purchase, and transportation of deer meat in California. Generally, selling or buying deer meat is illegal, whether it's fresh, smoked, canned, or otherwise preserved. However, certain exceptions allow this if specific conditions are met. These include provisions for domestically raised game, fallow deer processed according to certain agricultural standards, and deer meat imported from abroad for making and selling products like venison jerky or salami. Any imported deer meat must meet health inspection standards and be accompanied by proper documentation detailing the shipment's specifics. Additionally, once imported, deer meat cannot be moved from its initial delivery location without the department's permission unless it is processed into jerky or salami.

(a)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(a) As used in this section, “deer” includes any animal of the family Cervidae.
(b)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful to sell, purchase, or transport for the purpose of sale any deer meat in this state whether fresh, smoked, canned, or preserved by any means.
(c)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(c) The prohibition in subdivision (b) does not apply to the following:
(1)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(c)(1) Conduct authorized by provisions of this code permitting the sale of domestically raised game mammals.
(2)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(c)(2) Fallow deer meat processed by a slaughterer in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18650) of, and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 18940) of, Part 3 of Division 9 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(3)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(c)(3) Deer meat imported into this state from a foreign country for the purpose of preparing and selling for human consumption a product commonly known and properly labeled as venison jerky, deer jerky, venison salami, or deer salami.
(d)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(d) All deer meat imported into this state shall meet all of the sanitary and inspection requirements for wholesomeness, except an antemortem inspection, but including a postmortem inspection, as required for other meat imported for human consumption.
(e)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(e) The deer meat shall be in an identifiable condition and accompanied by a bill of lading, showing the name of the consignor, the consignee, and the weight of the deer meat shipped. A copy of the bill of lading shall be delivered to the nearest office of the department either prior to, or not later than, two days from the date of receipt of the deer meat.
(f)CA Fish And Game Code § 4301(f) No deer meat imported into this state may leave the premises of the original consignee unless written permission is received from the department, or unless it is processed into the form of the product commonly known as jerky or salami.
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Section § 4302

Explanation

If you hunt a deer, you need to keep the part of the deer's head that usually has antlers, if it's an adult male. You must hold onto it during hunting season and for 15 days after. If an officer asks to see this part of the head, you have to show it to them.

Any person taking a deer shall retain possession of that portion of the deer’s head that in adult males normally bears the antlers, during the open season for that deer and for 15 days thereafter, and shall produce that portion of the head upon the demand of any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this code.
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Section § 4303

Explanation

This law allows people to sell, buy, tan, or make products from the skin of deer that were hunted legally. These deer skins can also be donated to veterans' groups to help with rehabilitation efforts at any time.

The skin or hide of any deer lawfully taken may be sold, purchased, tanned, or manufactured into articles for sale.
Skins or hides of deer lawfully taken may be donated at any time to veterans’ organizations or veterans’ service committees for use by veterans for rehabilitation purposes.
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Section § 4304

Explanation

This law states that nobody can capture or kill a deer and then just take the head, hide, antlers, or horns, leaving the rest behind. It's also illegal to carelessly or neglectfully let any meat from an animal like a game mammal or bird that people typically eat, spoil or go to waste if it's in your possession. However, these rules do not apply to certain animals caught under another law, Section 4152. This regulation will be in effect starting July 1, 2024.

(a)CA Fish And Game Code § 4304(a) No person shall capture or destroy any deer and detach or remove from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, or horns.
(b)CA Fish And Game Code § 4304(b) No person shall through carelessness or neglect leave any game mammal, exotic game mammal, or game bird that is in that person’s possession, or any of the flesh of that animal usually eaten by humans, to go needlessly to waste.
(c)CA Fish And Game Code § 4304(c) The provisions of this section do not apply to game mammals taken pursuant to Section 4152.
(d)CA Fish And Game Code § 4304(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2024.
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