This section lists the animals that are considered game mammals in California. These include deer, elk, prong-horned antelope, various species of bears, mountain lions, rabbits, and tree squirrels. Additionally, Nelson bighorn sheep are classified as game mammals but only for sport hunting purposes. This law will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

This law makes it clear that mountain lions cannot be classified as game animals in California. This means they cannot be hunted as game animals. Additionally, the law ensures that no other regulations can override this rule, ensuring mountain lions remain protected from being hunted as game.

This law allows for the controlled relocation and management of tule elk in California. When moving elk, the department must work closely with federal and local agencies, as well as private property owners. The goal is to place the elk in environments where they can thrive. If tule elk cause property or environmental damage, the department can manage the herd through relocation, hunting, or other methods, following the elk management plan. In Owens Valley, the tule elk population must not exceed 490, unless a different capacity is set based on game management principles.

This law requires the development of a comprehensive plan to manage elk populations throughout California, ensuring their long-term sustainability. The plan will consider various factors like the characteristics and habitats of different elk subspecies such as Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, and tule elk. It will also look at habitat conditions, significant factors affecting elk, necessary management activities, high priority areas for management, and methods to evaluate population health and sustainable levels. Additionally, specific contents for managing elk in priority areas will be described.

This law establishes the Big Game Management Account within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. Money from selling tags for animals like antelope, elk, deer, bear, and sheep, as well as wild pig validations, goes into this account. A portion of these sale funds comes from nonprofit auctions, with 95% of the sale price sent to the state. The money is used, as approved by the Legislature, to acquire land, run projects, and expand hunting opportunities for big game animals.

This may include buying land for conservation that allows public hunting access. Grants and agreements can also be made with various entities, including nonprofits and tribes, to support these activities while reflecting biodiversity goals. An advisory committee helps ensure funds are used appropriately, and the department must manage funds responsibly. The law becomes effective on July 1, 2024.

This law makes it illegal for dogs to chase or pursue certain wild animals during certain times, including bears and bobcats, at any time or in protected areas. The wildlife department can capture dogs not under control if they are breaking this rule by chasing big game, bears, bobcats, or protected animals. Additionally, if a dog is hurting or about to hurt these animals, the department can capture or eliminate the dog. Department employees enforcing these rules are not liable for any legal consequences. This law does not affect law enforcement officials using dogs for their duties, and if a captured dog has ID, the owner must be notified within 72 hours.

This law outlines specific conditions for using dogs to pursue bears or bobcats under a depredation permit. You can use up to three dogs, but only if you've tried nonlethal methods first and can explain why dogs are necessary. The permit allows for taking one animal within 20 days and names any dog handlers involved. Handlers must stay within a mile of the incident property and carry the permit at all times. If a bear is taken, its skull must be submitted to the authorities. Selling bear parts is prohibited, and you can't be paid for using the permit. Within 30 days, you must report the results of the permit's use to the department.

This section explains that, even though Section 3960 generally prohibits pursuing bears and bobcats with dogs, certain groups like researchers or educational institutions can be authorized by the department for scientific research purposes. This is only allowed if the research aims to help understand wildlife ecosystems, follows best practices, supports the survival of these animals, and avoids harming or improperly relocating them.

Any authorized research must follow a formal agreement detailing how animals are handled, qualifications for supervisors, procedures for handling animal injury or death, and reporting requirements. The public must be informed at least 30 days before a research project starts and can request specific documents related to the project.

This law says that despite other rules, dogs can chase bears or bobcats if they are protecting livestock or crops on property owned or rented by the dog's owner. The dogs need to stay close to the animals or crops they're guarding.

This law allows property owners or their employees to capture or kill a dog on their property if it threatens deer, elk, or prong-horned antelope during the closed hunting season, but only when there's no department employee present to handle the situation. If the dog has an identification tag, it can only be killed if it has previously threatened these animals and the owner was informed of this threat.

No legal consequences will arise for the lawful capture or killing of such a dog under this rule. Moreover, if the dispatched or seized dog had an ID tag, the owner must be informed within 72 hours.