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 1 - General Provisions and Definitions
Section 265 - Use of Dogs for Pursuit/Take of Mammals or for Dog Training

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 265

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Prohibitions on the Use of dogs. The use of dogs for the pursuit/take of mammals or for dog training is prohibited as follows:

(1) The use of dogs is prohibited during the archery seasons for deer or bear.

(2) The use of dogs is prohibited for the take of bear, bobcat, elk, bighorn sheep and antelope.

(3) Mountain lions may not be pursued with dogs except under the provisions of a depredation permit issued pursuant to Section 4803 of the Fish and Game Code. Bear or bobcat may not be pursued with dogs except under the provisions of a permit issued pursuant to sections 3960.2 or 3960.4 of the Fish and Game Code. Dog training on mountain lions is prohibited.

(4) The use of dogs for the pursuit/take of mammals or for dog training is prohibited from the first Saturday in April through the day preceding the opening of the general deer season in the following dog control zones:

(A) Central California Dog Control Zone: Napa County north of Highway 128 and east of Highway 29; Lake County east of a line beginning at the Lake-Napa county line and Highway 29; northwest on Highway 29 to Highway 53. From Highway 53 turn northwest on Highway 20; northwest on Highway 20 to the Lake-Mendocino county line; north on the Lake-Mendocino county line to the Lake-Glenn county line; south on Lake-Glenn county line to the Lake-Colusa county line; south on the Lake-Colusa county line to the Lake-Yolo county line; southwest on the Lake-Yolo county line to the Lake-Napa county line; west on the Lake-Napa county line to the starting point. Mendocino County east of Highway 101, and north of Highway 20. Sierra and Alpine counties and those portions of Nevada, Placer, Amador and Calaveras counties east of Highway 49; and El Dorado County east of the following line: Beginning at the junction of Highway 49 and the Placer-El Dorado county line; south on Highway 49 to Highway 193 at Cool; east and south along Highway 193 to Highway 49 in Placerville; south on Highway 49 to the Amador-El Dorado county line; east on the El Dorado-Amador county line to the Alpine-El Dorado county line; east on the Alpine-El Dorado county line to the California -Nevada state line; north on the California-Nevada state line to the Placer-El Dorado county line; west on the Placer-El Dorado county line to the starting point.

(B) Northern California Dog Control Zone:

Plumas and Trinity counties. Butte County east of the following line: Beginning at the junction of Highway 99 and the Butte-Tehama county line; south and east along Highway 99 to Highway 149; south and east along Highway 149 to Highway 70; south along Highway 70 to the Butte-Yuba county line; east on the Butte-Yuba county line to the Butte-Plumas county line; north on the Butte-Plumas county line to the Butte-Tehama county line southwest on the Butte-Tehama county line to the starting point. Del Norte County east of Highway 101. Glenn County west of a line beginning at the intersection of County Road 200 and the Glenn-Tehama county line; southeast on County Road 200 to County Road 306; south along County Road 306 to the Colusa-Glenn county line; west on the Colusa-Glenn county line to the Glenn-Lake county line; northwest on the Glenn-Lake county line to the Glenn-Mendocino county line; north on the Glenn-Mendocino county line to the Glenn-Tehama county line; east on the Glenn-Tehama county line to the starting point. Humboldt County north of Highway 36 and east of Highway 101. Siskiyou County south and west of the line defined as follows: Beginning at the Oregon-California state line at Interstate 5, proceed south on Interstate 5 to Highway 97 at the town of Weed; north on Highway 97 to Meiss Lake Road near the town of Macdoel; east on Meiss Lake Road to Old State Highway; south on Old State Highway to Redrock Road; east on the Redrock Road (forest service road 15[8Q03] to Willow Creek Red Rock Road; north on Willow Creek Red Rock Road to the Gold Digger Pass Road (N8U01); east on the Gold Digger Pass Road to the western boundary of the Lava Beds National Monument; north and east on said boundary to the Siskiyou-Modoc county line; south on the Siskiyou-Modoc county line to the Siskiyou-Shasta county line; west on the Siskiyou-Shasta county line to the Siskiyou-Trinity county line; west on the Siskiyou-Trinity county line to the Siskiyou-Humboldt county line; northwest on the Siskiyou-Humboldt county line to the Siskiyou-Del Norte county line; north on the Siskiyou-Del Norte county line to the California-Oregon state line; east on the California-Oregon state line to the starting point. Shasta County south and west of Highway 89 and north of the line defined as follows: Beginning at the Shasta-Tehama county line and Highway 36 near the town of Beegum, go west on Highway 36 to County Road A16; north on County Road A16 to Pine Street in the city of Redding; north on Pine Street to Eureka Way (Highway 299); west on Eureka Way (Highway 299) to Highway 273; north on Highway 273 to Interstate 5; north on Interstate 5 to the south shore of Shasta Lake; east and north along the southern shore of Shasta Lake to Fender's Ferry Road; southeast on Fender's Ferry Road to Highway 299; southwest on Highway 299 to Oakrun Road; southwest on the Oakrun Road to Fern Road in the town of Oakrun; northeast on the Oakrun Road to Fern Road to the town of Fern; south and west on Fern Road to Whitmore Road; east on Whitmore Road to the town of Whitmore. From Whitmore Road turn south on Ponderosa Way to Innwood Road; Innwood Road to Highway 44 near Innwood; east on Highway 44 to Wilson Hill Road; south on Wilson Hill Road to Rock Creek Road; south on Rock Creek Road to the Shasta-Tehama county line; east along the Shasta-Tehama county line to Highway 89; North on Highway 89 to the Shasta-Siskiyou county line; west along the Shasta-Siskiyou county line to the Shasta-Trinity county line; southeast along the Shasta-Trinity county line to the Shasta-Tehama county line; east along the Shasta-Tehama county line to the starting point. The following portions of Tehama County: Those portions of Tehama County within the Mendocino National Forest and east of Ponderosa Way. Those portions of Tehama County within the Lassen National Forest.Those portions of Tehama County east of Ponderosa Way. Those portions of Lassen County north and west of the following line: North from the Lassen-Sierra county line on Highway 395 to Highway 36 east of Susanville; northwest on Highway 36 to Highway 139; north on Highway 139 to the Lassen-Modoc county line; west along the Lassen-Modoc county line to the Lassen-Shasta county line; south along the Lassen-Shasta county line to the Plumas-Lassen county line; southeast along the Plumas-Lassen county line to the Lassen-Sierra county line; east along the Lassen-Sierra county line to the starting point.

Those portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno and Tulare counties east of the following line beginning at the intersection of Highway 49 and the Calaveras-Tuolumne county line; south on Highway 49 to Highway 108; southwest on Highway 108 to Highway 120; east on Highway 120 to the Smith Station Road (J20); south on the Smith Station Road (J20) to the Greeley Hill Road; east on the Greeley Hill Road to the Briceburg Road; east on Briceburg Road to the North Fork of the Merced River at Bower Cave; south on the North Fork of the Merced River to Road 3S15 (Black Mountain Road/Ponderosa Way); south on Road 3S15 (Ponderosa Way) to Forest Service Road 3S02 (Ponderosa Way) crossing the U.S. Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management property boundary in Section 28 located in Township 3S, Range 18E to Forest Service Road 2S05 (Bull Creek Road); south on Forest Service Road 2S05 (Bull Creek Road) to the Main Fork of the Merced River; west on the Main Fork of the Merced River to the southern boundary of Lake McClure; west on the southern boundary of Lake McClure to Highway 49; south on Highway 49 to Highway 140 at Mariposa; north on Highway 140 to the South Fork of the Merced River;east along the South Fork of the Merced River to Hite Cove Trail at Hite Cove. From Hite Cove south on the U.S. Forest Service Road (Hite Cove Trail) to Hite Cove Road; south on Hite Cove Road to Scott Road; south on Scott Road to Jerseydale Road; south on Jerseydale Road through Jerseydale Station and Darrah to the Darrah Road; south along Darrah Road to Highway 49; south along Highway 49 to Highway 41 at Oakhurst; north along Highway 41 to its intersection with the Bass Lake Road at Yosemite Forks; south along Bass Lake Road to Road 274; south on Road 274 past Bass Lake on the east side of the lake to the junction with the Mammoth Pool Road at North Fork; west on Mammoth Pool Road to Road 222 (Auberry Road); south on Road 222 (Auberry Road) to the San Joaquin River; east along the San Joaquin River to Italian Bar Road (Road 225) at the Italian Bar Bridge; south on Italian Bar Road (Road 225) to Jose Basin Road (County Road M2441); east on Jose Basin Road (County Road M2441) to its intersection with Forestry Service Roads 8S08 (Railroad Grade Road) and 9S07 (Jose Basin Road); south on 9S07 (Jose Basin Road) to Jose Basin/Musick Farm Road; southeast on 9S07 to Auberry Road near Pine Ridge; east on Auberry Road to North Toll House Road; south on North Toll House Road to Peterson Road; east on Peterson Road to Big Creek Road; east on Big Creek Road (10S02) near Peterson Mill to Dinkey-Trimmer Road (10S69 Trimmer Springs Road) at Haslett Basin; east on Dinkey-Trimmer Road (10S69) to Sycamore Springs Road (11S02); east on Sycamore Springs Road (11S02) to Black Rock Road (11S12) at Balch Camp; east on the Black Rock Road (11S12) to the decommissioned 11S07 (the old Rodgers Ridge Road) at Black Rock Reservoir Dam; east along decommissioned 11S07 (old Rodgers Ridge Road) to Garlic Spur; south on Garlic Spur to the Kings River; west along the Kings River to Verplank Ridge; south on Verplank Ridge-Hoise Ridge to Forest Route 13S65; southeast on Forest Route 13S65 to Forest Route 13S03; southeast on Forest Route 13S03 to Highway 180 near Cherry Gap; south along Highway 180 to the north boundary of Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park; south along the western boundary of Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park to the northern boundary of Sequoia National Forest between Grouse Peak and Dennison Mountain; south along the common line between R29E and R30E, M.D.B.M. to the boundary of the Sequoia National Forest; east and south along that boundary to Balch Park Road; southeast along that road to the west boundary of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest; south and east along that boundary to Forest Trail 30E14; southeast along 30E14 to the Doyle Springs Road (Wishon Drive); southwest along Doyle Springs Road (Wishon Drive) to Camp Wishon; southeast along the Alder Creek Grove-Hossack Meadow Road to Camp Nelson; east along Highway 190 to Coy Flat Road; south along Coy Flat Road to the boundary of the Tule River Indian Reservation; south along the east boundary of that reservation (County Highway J42) to Parker Peak; southeast through Upper Parker Meadow to Parker Pass. Parker Pass to Forest Route 22S81; south through Starvation Creek Grove on Forest Route 22S81 to M504 (Parker Pass); south on M504 to Forest Route 23S64; southeast on 23S64 to the southwest corner of Section 15, T23S, R31E, M.D.B.M, continuing to the northeast corner of Section 22, T23S, R31E, M.D.B.M.; south approximately 6 miles to Sugarloaf Winter Recreation Area.; southeast on Sugarloaf drive to Forest Road 24S23; northeast on Forest Route 24S23 to Forest Route 23S16; Southeast on Forest Route 23S16 to Portuguese Pass; southeast along Forest Route 23S16 (24S06) though Portuguese Pass to the Tulare-Kern county line; east along the Tulare-Kern county line to the Tulare-Inyo county line.; north along the Tulare-Inyo county line to Fresno-Inyo county line; north along the Fresno-Inyo county line to the Fresno-Mono county line; north along the Fresno-Mono County line to the Mono-Madera county line; north along the Mono-Madera county line to the Mono-Tuolumne county line; north along the Mono-Tuolumne county line to the Alpine-Tuolumne county line; northwest along the Alpine-Tuolumne county line to the Calaveras-Tuolumne county line; southwest along the Calaveras-Tuolumne county line to the starting point. That portion of Kern County within a line beginning where the Tulare-Kern county line intersects the west boundary of the Sequoia National Forest; south along the said boundary to the Poso Flat Road; on Poso Flat Road to National Forest Route 25S03 (Rancheria Road); northeast along National Forest 25S03 (Rancheria Road) to National Forest 25S15 (Rancheria Road); north on National Forest 25S15 (Rancheria Road) to Rancheria Road; northeast along Rancheria Road through Shirley Meadow to Forest Highway 90 (Forest Route 23S16) at Greenhorn Summit; northeast on Forest Highway 90 (Forest Route 23S16) to Cow Creek; northeast on Cow Creek to Bull Run Creek; north on Bull Run Creek to the Tulare-Kern county line; west along said county line to the point of beginning, Those portions of Inyo and Mono counties west of Highway 395.

(D) Southern California Dog Control Zone: Those portions of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties within the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests; and those portions of San Bernardino County within the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests.

(b) Authorized Use of Dogs. The use of dogs for the pursuit/take of mammals or for dog training is authorized as follows:

(1) Dog Control Zones. The use of dogs for the pursuit/take of mammals or for dog training is permitted in the dog control zones described in subsections 265(a)(4)(A), (B), (C) and (D) from the opening day of the general deer season through the first Friday in April.

(2) Areas of the State Outside the Dog Control Zones. The use of dogs for the pursuit/take of mammals or for dog training in areas outside of the dog control zones is permitted year-round, except for closures and restrictions described in this Section 265 and Section 364, and the provisions of sections 3960 and 4800 of the Fish and Game Code which prohibit allowing any dog to pursue any big game mammal during the closed season on such mammal or mountain lions, elk or any fully-protected, threatened or endangered mammal at any time.

(3) Take of Depredating Mammals. The use of dogs is permitted for pursuing/taking depredating mammals by federal and county animal damage control officers or by permittees authorized under a depredation permit issued by the department.

(4) Take of Furbearers and Nongame Mammals. Furbearers and nongame mammals as specified in subsection 472(a) may be taken with the aid of dogs during the appropriate open season, except for closures and restrictions described in subsections 265(a) and (b).

(5) Prohibition on Starting Pursuit Within 400 Yards of Baited Area. Pursuits may not be started within 400 yards of a baited area as described in Section 257.5 of these regulations.

(6) Dog Training. Except for the prohibitions of subsection 265(a), dog training is permitted pursuant to the following provisions:

(A) Dog Training Defined. For purposes of these regulations, dog training is defined as the education of dogs through "breaking" or "practicing" under strict provisions that preclude the injuring or take of animals. Training is distinguished from "pursuit", as used in Section 86 of the Fish and Game Code, in that the animal being chased shall not be killed, captured, or injured.

(B) Prohibition on Killing, Capturing or Injuring Mammals. No person shall kill, capture or injure any mammal, nor shall any person's dog be allowed to kill, capture or injure any mammal during dog training.

(C) Prohibition on Possession of Equipment. No firearm, archery gear, crossbow or other instrument capable of killing, injuring or capturing any animal may be possessed by any person training dogs during the seasons described in subsection 265(b)(6)(F) below. Possession of a firearm, archery gear, crossbow or other instrument capable of killing or capturing any animal is prohibited while training dogs, but such equipment may be transported to or from a campsite, transported to or from a residence or lawfully possessed by a person at a campsite provided all dogs are secured and under the control of the owner, agent or person training or transporting said dogs.

(D) Prohibition on Starting Dog Training Within 400 Yards of Baited Area. Dog Training may not be started within 400 yards of a baited area as described in Section 257.5 of these regulations.

(E) Prohibition on Training Dogs on Big Game Mammals, Bobcat or on Protected, Threatened or Endangered Mammals. It shall be unlawful to train any dog on any big game mammal, bobcat, or to train any dog on any fully-protected, threatened or endangered mammal at any time. A person in possession of a valid deer tag may utilize the general deer season for purposes of educating a dog for deer. Only one dog may be used for training in areas where the general deer season (as described in subsection 360(a) and (b)) is open.

(F) Seasons.

1. Gray Fox. Dogs may be trained on gray fox from March 1 through the day preceding the opening of the general gray fox season, except for closures and restrictions described in subsections 265(a) and (b).

2. Raccoon. Dogs may be trained on raccoon from April 1 through the day preceding the opening of the general raccoon season, except for closures and restrictions described in subsections 265(a) and (b).

3. Other Mammals. Except for closures and prohibitions described in this Section 265 and sections 3960 and 4800 of the Fish and Game Code, dogs may be trained on mammals other than gray fox and raccoon at any time.

(1) One Dog per Hunter Limitation During Deer Season. No more than one dog per hunter may be used in the area where the general deer season is open.

(2) Three Dogs per Hunter Limitation for the Take of Wild Pigs. Up to three dogs per hunter may be used for the purpose of taking wild pigs, pursuant to the following provisions:

(A) No more than one dog per hunter may be used in an area where the general deer season is open.

(B) No dogs may be used within the closures described in subsection 265(a).

1. Repealer and new section filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28). For prior history, see Register 91, No. 48.
2. New subsection (d) filed 7-13-95; operative 7-13-94 pursuant to sections 202 and 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 94, No. 28).
3. Amendment of subsections (b)(2), (b)(6)(C), (b)(6)(E), and (c)(1), repealer of subsections (c)(A)-(B), and amendment of subsection (c)(2)(C) filed 6-26-96; operative 7-1-96 pursuant to section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 26).
4. Amendment of subsections (a)(4)(A) and (B) filed 7-1-98; operative 7-1-98 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 27).
5. Amendment of subsection (a)(4)(C) filed 6-28-2002; operative 6-28-2002 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2002, No. 26).
6. Amendment of subsection (a)(4)(A), repealer and new subsections (a)(4)(B)-(C) and amendment of subsection (d)(1) filed 6-12-2009; operative 7-1-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 24).
7. Change without regulatory effect amending section and NOTE filed 3-5-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 10).
8. Repealer of subsections (d)-(d)(2) and amendment of NOTE filed 7-27-2016; operative 7-27-2016 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2016, No. 31).
9. New subsections (d)-(d)(2) and amendment of NOTE filed 12-5-2017; operative 4-26-2018 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(2) (Register 2017, No. 49).
10. Repealer of subsections (d)-(d)(2) filed 4-2-2018; operative 4-26-2018 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2018, No. 14).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203, 265, 3960, 3960.2 and 3960.4, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 3960, 3960.2 and 3960.4, Fish and Game Code.

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