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 2 - Resident Small Game
Section 300 - Upland Game Birds

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 300

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) Resident Upland Game Birds

(1) General Seasons: Shotgun; Crossbow; and Pistol/Revolver for Sooty/Ruffed Grouse Only; Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 311)

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(A) PheasantsThe second Saturday in November extending for 44 consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 males per day for the first two days of the season; 3 males per day after the first two days of the season
Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit
3. Area:Statewide
(B) Quail [including California (valley) quail, mountain quail, and Gambel's (desert) quail]See area zone descriptions for 10 detailsBag Limit: quail in any combination of species per day
Mountain Quail only:a. Early Mountain Quail Season (Zone Q1) - The second Saturday in September extending through the Friday prior to the third Saturday in Octobertriple the daily bag limit
All species:General Quail Season (Zone Q1) - The third Saturday in October extending through the last Sunday in January
All species:b. Early Coastal Season (Zone Q2) - The last Saturday in September extending through the last Sunday in January
All species:c. Balance of the State Season (Zone Q3) - The third Saturday in October extending through the last Sunday in January
All species:d. Early Season for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses in the Mojave National Preserve - The first Saturday in October extending for two days

QUAIL HUNTING ZONE AREA DESCRIPTIONS

3. Area Zone Descriptions:
a. Zone Q1:

The early mountain quail season hunting zone includes the counties of Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, and those portions of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne, Tulare, and Yuba counties lying east of the western boundary of the national forests.

b. Zone Q2:

The early coastal quail season (all species) hunting zone includes the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino.

c. Zone Q3:

The balance of the state season (all species) hunting zone includes the remaining land area not included in Zone Q2 (the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino).

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(C) Chukar (Red-Legged Partridges)The third Saturday in October through the last Sunday in JanuaryBag Limit: 6 chukar per day Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit

3. AreaStatewide
Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(D) Sage GrouseThe second Saturday September extending for two consecutive daysin See area open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3.
East and Central
Lassen zones:
Bag Limit: 2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 sage grouse per season
North Mono and South Mono zones:
Bag Limit: 1 sage grouse per day, 1 per season
Possession Limit: 1 sage grouse per season

SAGE GROUSE HUNTING ZONE DESCRIPTIONS AND PERMIT PROCESS

3. Area Open Zone Descriptions:
a. East Lassen Zone:

That portion of Lassen County beginning at the intersection of Highway 395 and County Road 502 in the town of Ravendale; north and east on County Road 502 to County Road 526 (Buckhorn Road); east on County Road 526 to the Nevada state line; south along the Nevada state line to its intersection with County Road 320 (Wendel-Flanigan Road); northwest on County Road 320 to its intersection with Highway 395 between Wendal and Litchfield north on Highway 395 to the point of beginning.

b. Central Lassen Zone:

That portion of Lassen County beginning at the intersection of Highway 139 and County Road 513 (Termo-Grasshopper Road); east on County Road 513 to its intersection with County Road 523 (Westside Road); north on County Road 523 to its intersection with County Road 525 (Brockman Road); east on County Road 525 to its intersection with Highway 395; south on Highway 395 to its intersection with Highway 36 in the town of Johnstonville; west on Highway 36 to its intersection with Highway 139 in Susanville; north on Highway 139 to the point of beginning.

c. North Mono Zone:

That portion of Mono County beginning at the intersection of Highway 182 and the California-Nevada state line; south and east along the California-Nevada state line to Highway 167; west along Highway 167 to Highway 395; north along Highway 395 to Highway 182 at Bridgeport; north along Highway 182 to the point of beginning.

d. South Mono Zone:

That portion of Mono County beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 395; north along U.S. Highway 6 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 120; west along U.S. Highway 120 to the intersection of the Benton Crossing Road; west along Benton Crossing Road to the intersection of Owens River Road; west along Owens River Road to the intersection of U.S. Highway 395; south along U.S. Highway 395 to the point of beginning.

No open season in the balance of the state not included in the above open zones.

4. Number of Permits:
a. East Lassen Zone: 0 (2-bird) permits

b. Central Lassen Zone: 0 (2-bird) permits

c. North Mono Zone: 0 (1-bird) permits

d. South Mono Zone: 0 (1-bird) permits

5. Permit Process: Sage grouse permits shall be issued pursuant to Section 716, Sage Grouse Permit Application and Drawing Process.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(E) Sooty and Ruffed GrouseThe second Saturday in September extending for 31 consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 grouse per day
Bag Limit Makeup:
* up to 2 sooty grouse
* up to 2 ruffed grouse
* or one of each
Possession Limit:
* triple the daily bag limit

SOOTY AND RUFFED GROUSE HUNTING ZONE DESCRIPTIONS

3. Area Open Zone: The open hunting zone for sooty and ruffed grouse includes the following counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba. All other counties are closed to the taking of sooty or ruffed grouse.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(F) White-Tailed PtarmiganThe second Saturday in September extending for nine consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 ptarmigan per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 per season
3. Area: Statewide

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(G) Wild Turkeysa. Fall Season - The second Saturday in November extending for 30 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 either-sex turkey per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 per season
b. Spring Season - The last Saturday in March extending for 37 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 bearded turkey per day, 3 per season. No person shall take more than a total of 3 turkeys during the general,
c. Additional Spring Season for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses -- The Saturday and archery, and additional season for junior hunters, combined.
Sunday preceding the opening day of the general spring turkey season; and the day following the close of the generalPossession Limit: 3 per season
spring turkey season extending for 14 consecutive days(A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)

3. Area:

Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(H) Spotted doves and ringed turtle-dovesSeptember 1-15 and from the second Saturday in November extending for 45 daysSpotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Spotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no possession limit

3. Area: Statewide. Note: There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves, and Inca doves.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(I) Eurasian collared-dovesAll yearBag Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no possession limit

3. Area: Statewide

(2) Archery Seasons, Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, sections 311 and 354)

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(A) Pheasantsa. Early Archery Season -- The second Saturday in October, extending for 23 consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 pheasants per day for the first two days of the early and general archery seasons;
b. General Archery Season -- The second Saturday in November extending for 72 consecutive days3 pheasants per day after the first two days of both archery seasons
Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit; the daily archery bag may contain not more than one female pheasant
3. Area:Statewide
Possession Limit:

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(B) Quail (all species)The third Saturday in August extending for 21 consecutive days and during the general seasons as follows:Bag Limit: 10 quail in any combination of species per day
Mountain Quail only:a. Early Mountain Quail Season (Zone Q1) - The second Saturday in September extending through the Friday prior to the third Saturday in OctoberPossession Limit: triple the daily bag limit
All species:General Quail Season (Zone Q1) - The third Saturday in October extending through the last Sunday in January
All species:b. Early Coastal Season (Zone Q2) - The last Saturday in September extending through the last Sunday in January
All species:c. Balance of the State Season (Zone Q3) - The third Saturday in October extending through the last Sunday in January
3. Area: Statewide

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(C) ChukarThe third Saturday in August extending for 21 consecutive days and during the general seasonBag Limit: 6 chukar
Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit
3. Area: Statewide

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(D) Sage GrouseThe second Saturday in September extending for 2 consecutive daysSee area open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3.
East and Central Lassen zones: Bag Limit: 2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 sage grouse per season
North Mono and South Mono zones: Bag Limit: 1 sage grouse per day, 1 per season
Possession Limit: 1 sage grouse per season
3. Area:Open Zone: see open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3., which include portions of Lassen, Mono, and Inyo counties. Hunting by permit only; see permit process in Section 716 for details.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(E) Sooty and Ruffed GrouseThe third Saturday in August extending forBag Limit: 2 grouse per day Bag Limit Makeup:
21 consecutive days* up to 2 sooty grouse
and during the general* up to 2 ruffed grouse
season from the second Saturday in September* or one of each
extending for 31Possession Limit:
consecutive days* triple the daily bag limit

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
3. Area:Open Zone: see open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(E)3., which include northern and eastern portions of the state

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(F) White-Tailed PtarmiganThe second Saturday in September extending for nine consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 ptarmigan per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 per season
3. Area:Open Zone: see open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(F)3., which include portions of Alpine and Mono counties

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(G) Wild Turkeysa. Fall Season - The second Saturday in November extending for 30 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 either-sex turkey per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 per season
b. Spring Season - The last Saturday in March extending for 51 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 bearded turkey per day, 3 per season. No person shall take more than a total of 3 turkeys during the general, archery, and additional season for junior hunters, combined.
Possession Limit: 3 per season (A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)
3. Area: Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(H) Spotted doves and ringed turtle-dovesSeptember 1-15 and from the second Saturday in November extending for 45 daysSpotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Spotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no possession limit

3. Area: Statewide. Note: There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves, and Inca doves.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(I) Eurasian collared-dovesAll yearBag Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no possession limit

3. Area: Statewide

(3) Falconry Seasons, Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 311)

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours
(A) PheasantsThe third Saturday inBag and Possession Limits:
(B) QuailAugust extendingsame as general season

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours
(C) Chukarthrough the last dayregulations by species. The
(D) Sooty and Ruffed Grousein Februarydaily falconry bag may contain birds of either sex.
(E) White-Tailed Ptarmigan
Hawking hours are sunrise to sunset.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
3. Area:See open zone descriptions for details on each species in subsection 300(a)(1).

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours
(F) Sage GrouseThe first Saturday in November extending for 60 consecutive days, and during the general seasonSee area open zone description in subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3.
East and Central Lassen zones: Bag Limit: 2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 sage grouse per season
North Mono and South Mono zones: Bag Limit: 1 sage grouse per day, 1 per season
Possession Limit: 1 sage grouse per season
Hawking hours are sunrise to sunset.
3. Area:See open zone descriptions in subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3. Hunting by permit only; see permit process in Section 716 for details.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(G) Wild Turkeysa. Fall Season - The second Saturday in November extending for 30 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 either-sex turkey per day 2 per season
Possession Limit: 2 per season
b. Spring Season - The last Saturday in March extending for 37 consecutive daysBag Limit: 1 bearded turkey per day
Possession Limit: 3 per season (A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)
3. Area:

Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(H) Spotted doves and ringed turtle-dovesSeptember 1-15 and from the second Saturday in November extending for 45 daysSpotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Spotted doves, and ringed turtle-doves: no possession limit
3. Area: Statewide. Note: There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves, and Inca doves.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(I) Eurasian collared-dovesAll yearBag Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no bag limit
Possession Limit: Eurasian collared-doves: no possession limit

3. Area: Statewide

(b) Migratory Upland Game Birds

(1) Shotgun, Archery, and Falconry Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 507)

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours
(A) Band-Tailed Pigeonsa. Northern Zone - The third Saturday in September extending for 9 consecutive daysBag Limit: 2 band-tailed pigeons per day
Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit
b. Southern Zone - The third Saturday in December extending for 9 consecutive days

BAND-TAILED PIGEON HUNTING ZONE DESCRIPTIONS

3. Area Open Zone Descriptions:
a. Northern Zone:

Includes the counties of Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.

b. Southern Zone:

Includes the balance of the state not included in the northern zone described above.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(B) Mourning doves, and white-winged dovesSeptember 1-15 and from the second Saturday in November extending for 45 daysBag Limit: Mourning doves and white-winged doves: 15 doves per day in aggregate, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged doves
Possession Limit: Mourning doves and white-winged doves: triple the daily bag limit in aggregate
3. Area: Statewide.

Species1. Seasons2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits
(C) Common SnipeThe third Saturday in October extending for 107 daysBag Limit: 8 per day
Possession Limit: triple the daily bag limit
3. Area:Statewide

1. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b)(2)(B) filed 10-9-86 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 86, No. 42). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 2-6-87. For prior history, see Register 85, No. 39.
2. Reinstatement of subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b)(2)(B) as they existed prior to emergency amendment filed 10-9-86 by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 87, No. 27).
3. Amendment filed 10-3-88; operative 10-3-88 (Register 88, No. 41).
4. Amendment of subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) filed 9-16-91; operative 9-16-91 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 91, No. 52).
5. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A), (b) and (b)(2) filed 9-16-93; operative 9-16-93 pursuant to sections 202 and 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 93, No. 38).
6. Amendment of section heading, repealer and new section, and amendment of NOTE filed 10-2-98; operative 10-2-98 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 40).
7. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)2., (a)(1)(D)4.-5., (a)(2)(D)2. and (a)(3)(F)2. filed 10-14-99; operative 10-14-99 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 99, No. 42).
8. Amendment filed 9-1-2000; operative 9-1-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 2000, No. 35).
9. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)4.a.-b. filed 10-31-2001; operative 11-30-2001 (Register 2001, No. 44).
10. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(A)1. and (a)(1)(D)4. filed 9-18-2002; operative 9-18-2002 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2002, No. 38).
11. Amendment of subsection (a)(1)(D)4.c. filed 9-4-2003; operative 9-4-2003 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2003, No. 36).
12. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D), (a)(1)(D)3.d., (a)(1)(D)4.a.-d. and (a)(2)(G)b. filed 10-21-2004; operative 10-21-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 43).
13. Editorial correction of subsection (a)(3)(G)b. (Register 2006, No. 9).
14. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 8-29-2007; operative 9-1-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 35).
15. Amendment of subsection (a)(1)(D)5. filed 12-14-2007; operative 1-13-2008 (Register 2007, No. 50).
16. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)3.c., (a)(1)(G)3., (a)(2)(D), (a)(2)(G)3., (a)(3)(A), (a)(3)(G)3. and (b)(1)(B), repealer of subsections (a)(1)(G)3.a.-b., (a)(2)(G)3.a.-b. and (a)(3)(G)3.a.-b and repealer and new subsection (b)(1)(B)3. filed 8-27-2008; operative 9-1-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 35).
17. Amendment of subsection (a)(1)(G)1.c. filed 1-13-2009; operative 1-13-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 3).
18. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(1)(E), (a)(1)(E)2.-3., (a)(2)(E), (a)(2)(E)2. and (a)(3)(D) filed 8-25-2009 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2009, No. 35).
19. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(1)(E)3. filed 10-20-2009 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2009, No. 43).
20. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)2., (a)(1)(D)4.b., (a)(2)(D)2. and (a)(3)(F)2. filed 9-8-2010; operative 9-10-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2010, No. 37).
21. Editorial correction restoring inadvertently omitted chapter 2 heading (Register 2011, No. 5).
22. Amendment filed 9-8-2011; operative 9-10-2011 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 (Register 2011, No. 36).
23. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)4.a.-b. and amendment of NOTE filed 9-7-2012 as an emergency; operative 9-7-2012 (Register 2012, No. 36). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 3-6-2013 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
24. New subsection (a)(1)(B)1.d. and amendment of subsections (a)(1)(B)3.a, (a)(1)(G)1.a.-2., (a)(2)(G)1.a.-2. and (a)(3)(G)1.a.-2. filed 10-3-2012; operative 10-6-2012 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 355 (Register 2012, No. 40).
25. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to 9-7-2012 emergency amendment by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 2013, No. 11).
26. Amendment filed 9-10-2013; operative 9-16-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2013, No. 37).
27. Amendment filed 8-29-2014; operative 9-1-2014 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2014, No. 35).
28. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D)4.a.-d. and repealer and new subsection (a)(1)(F)3. filed 11-10-2016; operative 11-11-2016 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4, subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4)(A) (Register 2016, No. 46).
29. Editorial correction reversing amendments to subsections (a)(1)(D)4.a.-d. mistakenly filed 11-10-2016 (Register 2016, No. 47).
30. Editorial correction of subsection (a)(1)(D)4.d. (Register 2017, No. 39).
31. Amendment of subsection (a)(1)(D)4.c. and amendment of NOTE filed 9-26-2017; operative 9-26-2017 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2017, No. 39).
32. Amendment of subsection (a)(1)(D)5., repealer of subsection (a)(1)(D)6. and amendment of subsections (a)(2)(D)3. and (a)(3)(F)3. filed 11-28-2018; operative 1-1-2019 (Register 2018, No. 48).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203, 265 and 355, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 203, 203.1, 265, 270, 355 and 356, Fish and Game Code.

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