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 3 - Big Game
Section 362 - Nelson Bighorn Sheep

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 362

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

(a) Areas:

(1) Zone 1 -- Marble/Clipper Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the intersection of Kelbaker Road and the National Trails Highway; north on Kelbaker Road to the junction with Interstate Highway 40; east on Interstate Highway 40 to the intersection with National Trails Highway; southwest on National Trails Highway to junction with Kelbaker Road.

(2) Zone 2 -- Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the intersection of Kelbaker Road and the Union Pacific Railroad in Kelso; southwest along the Union Pacific Railroad to intersection with unnamed road at Crucero; north on unnamed road to the merging with Mojave Road; northeast on Mojave Road to the junction with Zzyzx Road; north on Zzyzx Road to intersection with Interstate Highway 15; northeast on Interstate Highway 15 to the intersection with Cima Road; south on Cima Road to the intersection with the Union Pacific Railroad in Cima; southwest on the Union Pacific Railroad to the intersection with Kelbaker Road in Kelso.

(3) Zone 3 -- Clark and Kingston Mountain Ranges: That portion of San Bernardino and Inyo counties beginning at the intersection of Interstate Highway 15 and California State Highway 127 in Baker; north on California State Highway 127 to the junction with Old Spanish Gentry Road at Tecopa; southeast on Old Spanish Gentry Road to the junction with Furnace Creek Road; southeast on Furnace Creek Road to the junction with Mesquite Valley Road; north on Mesquite Valley Road to Old Spanish Trail Highway; north and east on Old Spanish Trail Highway to California/Nevada state line; southeast on California/Nevada state line to the intersection with Interstate Highway 15; southwest on Interstate Highway 15 to the junction with California State Highway 127.

(4) Zone 4 -- Orocopia Mountains: That portion of Riverside County beginning at the intersection of Interstate Highway 10 and Cottonwood Springs Road; east on Interstate Highway 10 to the junction with Red Cloud Mine Road; south on Red Cloud Mine Road to the junction with the Eagle Mountain Mining Railroad; southwest on the Eagle Mountain Mining Railroad to the junction with the Bradshaw Trail; southwest on the Bradshaw Trail to the Intersection with the Coachella Canal; west along the Coachella Canal to the junction with Box Canyon Road; northeast on Box Canyon Road to the junction with Cottonwood Springs Road; north on Cottonwood Springs Road to the intersection with Interstate Highway 10.

(5) Zone 5 -- San Gorgonio Wilderness: That portion of Riverside and San Bernardino counties beginning at the intersection of Interstate Highway 10 and California State Highway 62, west on Interstate Highway 10 to the junction with California State Highway 30; north on California State Highway 30 to the junction with California State Highway 38; east and north on California State Highway 38 to the junction with Forest Service Route 1N01; east on Forest Service Route 1N01 to its joining with Pipes Road; east on Pipes Road to the junction with Pioneertown Road; southeast on Pioneertown Road to the junction with California State Highway 62; southwest on California State Highway 62 to the intersection with Interstate Highway 10.

(6) Zone 6 -- Sheep Hole Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the junction of California State Highway 62 and Ironage Road; northwest on Ironage Road to the intersection with Amboy Road; north on Amboy Road to the intersection with National Trails Highway; east on National Trails Highway to the junction with Saltus Road; southeast on Saltus Road to the junction with unnamed road in Saltus that runs through Cadiz Valley; southeast on unnamed road to the intersection with California State Highway 62; west on California State Highway 62 to the junction with Ironage Road.

(7) Zone 7 -- White Mountains: That portion of Mono County within a line beginning at U.S. Highway 6 and the Mono-Inyo county line; northward on Highway 6 to the California-Nevada State Line; southeasterly along the California-Nevada State Line to the Mono-Inyo County Line; westward along the Mono-Inyo County Line to the point of beginning.

(8) Zone 8 -- South Bristol Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the junction of Kelbaker Road and the National Trails Highway; west on the National Trails Highway to the intersection with Interstate Highway 40; east on Interstate Highway 40 to the junction with Kelbaker Road; south on Kelbaker Road to the point of beginning.

(9) Zone 9 -- Cady Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the junction of Interstate Highway 40 and Newberry Road; north on Newberry Road to intersection with Riverside Road; East on Riverside Road to junction with Harvard Road; north on Harvard Road to junction with Interstate Highway 15; northeast on Interstate Highway 15 to junction with Basin Road; south on Basin Road to intersection with Union Pacific Railroad; east on Union Pacific Railroad to intersection with Crucero Road; south on Crucero Road to intersection with Interstate Highway 40; west on Interstate Highway 40 to the point of beginning.

(10) Zone 10 -- Newberry, Rodman and Ord Mountains: That portion of San Bernardino County beginning at the junction Interstate 40 and Barstow Road; South on Barstow Road to the junction with Northside Road; East on Northside Road to the intersection with Camp Rock Road; Northeast on Camp Rock Road to the intersection with Powerline Road; East on Powerline Road and continue on Transmission Line Road to the intersection with Interstate 40, West along Interstate 40, to the point of the beginning.

(b) Seasons:

(1) Open Zone Fund-raising Tag: The holder of the fund-raising license tag issued pursuant to subsection 4902(d) of the Fish and Game Code may hunt:
(A) Zones 1 through 4, 6, 8 and 9: Beginning the first Saturday in November and extending through the first Sunday in February.

(B) Zone 5: Beginning the third Saturday in November and extending through the third Sunday in February.

(C) Zone 7: Beginning the first Saturday in August and extending through the last Sunday in September.

(2) Marble/Clipper/South Bristol Mountains Fund-raising Tag: The holder of the fund-raising license tag issued pursuant to subsection 4902(d) of the Fish and Game Code may hunt:
(A) Zones 1 and 8: Beginning the first Saturday in November and extending through the first Sunday in February.

(3) Cady Mountains Fund-raising Tag: The holder of the fund-raising license tag issued pursuant to subsection 4902(d) of the Fish and Game Code may hunt:
(A) Zone 9: Beginning the first Saturday in November and extending through the first Sunday in February.

(4) Except as provided in subsection 362(b)(1), the Nelson bighorn sheep season in the areas described in subsection 362(a) shall be defined as follows:
(A) Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10: The first Saturday in December and extend through the first Sunday in February.

(B) Zone 5: The third Saturday in December and extend through the third Sunday in February.

(C) Zone 7: Beginning the third Saturday in August and extending through the last Sunday in September.

(5) Except as specifically provided in section 362, the take of bighorn sheep is prohibited.

(c) Bag and possession Limit: One mature ram defined as follows: a male Nelson bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) having at least one horn, the tip of which extends beyond a point in a straight line beginning at the front (anterior) edge of the horn base, and extending downward through the rear (posterior) edge of the visible portion of the eye and continuing downward through the horn. All reference points are based on viewing the ram directly from a 90 degree angle from which the head is facing. A diagram showing the correct viewing procedure shall be distributed by the department to each successful applicant.

(d) Number of License Tags:

Nelson Bighorn Sheep Hunt ZonesTag Allocation
Zone 1 -- Marble/Clipper Mountains1
Zone 2 -- Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains1
Zone 3 -- Clark/Kingston Mountain Ranges4
Zone 4 -- Orocopia Mountains1
Zone 5 -- San Gorgonio Wilderness0
Zone 6 -- Sheep Hole Mountains0
Zone 7 -- White Mountains6
Zone 8 -- South Bristol Mountains2
Zone 9 -- Cady Mountains2
Zone 10 -- Newberry, Rodman, Ord Mountains6
Open Zone Fund-Raising Tag1
Marble/Clipper/South Bristol Mountains Fund-Raising Tag1
Cady Mountains Fund-Raising Tag1
Total:26

(e) Conditions:

(1) Nelson bighorn rams shall only be taken between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset.

(2) Only methods specified in sections 353 and 354, Title 14, CCR, for taking bighorn sheep may be used.

(3) Each tagholder shall possess a spotting telescope capable of magnification of 15 power (15X), which is not affixed to a rifle, while hunting.

(4) Successful general tagholders shall present the head and edible portion of the carcass of a bighorn ram to the department's checking station within 48 hours after killing the animal. All successful tagholders shall notify the department's Bishop office by telephone at (760) 872-1171 or (760) 872-1346 within 24 hours of killing the animal and arrange for the head and carcass to be examined.

(5) All successful bighorn sheep tagholders shall make the horns of each ram available to the department to be permanently marked in the manner prescribed by the department for identification purposes within 48 hours of killing the animal. The purpose of the permanent marking shall be to identify Nelson bighorn rams which were legally taken and which may be transported and possessed outside the areas described in subsection 362(a).

(6) The department reserves the right to take and use any part of the tagholder's bighorn ram, except the horns, for biological analysis as long as no more than one pound of edible meat is removed.

1. New section filed 6-22-87; operative 6-22-87 (Register 87, No. 27). For history of former section 362, see Register 81, No. 20.
2. Amendment of subsections (d)-(f) filed 5-31-88; operative 5-31-88 (Register 88, No. 23).
3. Amendment of subsections (d) and (e) filed 6-22-90; operative 6-22-90 pursuant to section 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 90, No. 34).
4. Amendment filed 6-28-91; operative 6-28-91 (Register 91, No. 42).
5. Amendment of subsections (a)-(b), (d)-(e) filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28).
6. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (d), (e)(1), (e)(2) and (f)(2) filed 6-23-93; operative 6-23-93 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 93, No. 26).
7. Amendment filed 7-13-94; operative 7-13-94 pursuant to sections 202 and 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 94, No. 28).
8. Amendment of subsections (d), (e)(1)(B), (e)(2) and NOTE filed 6-9-95; operative 6-9-95 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 95, No. 23).
9. Amendment filed 6-26-96; operative 7-1-96 pursuant to section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 26).
10. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (d) and (e)(1), repealer of subsection (e)(1)(B) and amendment of subsection (e)(2) filed 6-26-97; operative 6-26-97 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 97, No. 26).
11. Amendment filed 7-1-98; operative 7-1-98 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 27).
12. Amendment of subsections (d), (e)(2) and (f)(8) filed 6-2-99; operative 6-2-99 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 99, No. 23).
13. Amendment filed 6-27-2000; operative 6-27-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 205 (Register 2000, No. 26).
14. Editorial correction of subsection (e)(2) (Register 2001, No. 10).
15. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)(2) filed 3-7-2001 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2001, No. 10).
16. Amendment of subsections (d)-(e)(1)(A) filed 5-21-2001; operative 6-1-2001 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2001, No. 21).
17. Amendment filed 6-28-2002; operative 6-28-2002 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2002, No. 26).
18. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-24-2003; operative 7-1-2003 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2003, No. 26).
19. Amendment filed 7-7-2004; operative 7-7-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 28).
20. New subsections (a)(7) and (b)(1)(B), subsection relettering, new subsections (b)(1)(D) and (b)(2)(C) and amendment of subsection (d) filed 7-19-2005; operative 7-19-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2005, No. 29).
21. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)(A)-(B) and (d) filed 6-30-2006; operative 6-30-2006 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2006, No. 26).
22. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 5-29-2007; operative 5-29-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 22).
23. Amendment of subsection (b)(1)(A), repealer of subsection (b)(1)(B), subsection relettering and amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-20-2008; operative 6-20-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 25).
24. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-12-2009; operative 7-1-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 24).
25. Amendment of subsection (b)(1), new subsections (b)(2)-(b)(3)(A), subsection renumbering and amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-24-2010; operative 6-24-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2010, No. 26).
26. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)-(3), new subsections (a)(8)-(9) and amendment of subsections (b)(1)(A), (b)(2)-(b)(2)(A), (b)(4)(A), (d) and (e)(4) filed 7-8-2011; operative 7-8-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 27).
27. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 5-29-2012; operative 7-1-2012 (Register 2012, No. 22).
28. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-25-2013; operative 7-1-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 (Register 2013, No. 26).
29. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-23-2014; operative 7-1-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2014, No. 26).
30. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-22-2015; operative 7-1-2015 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2015, No. 26).
31. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 7-27-2016; operative 7-27-2016 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2016, No. 31).
32. Amendment of subsection (d) and NOTE filed 7-17-2017; operative 7-17-2017 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2017, No. 29).
33. New subsection (a)(10), amendment of subsections (b)(3)-(b)(3)(A), (b)(4)(A), (d) and (e)(4) filed 7-1-2019; operative 7-1-2019 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2019, No. 27).
34. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 6-29-2020; operative 7-1-2020 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2020, No. 27).
35. Amendment of subsection (d) and NOTE filed 6-22-2023; operative 7-1-2023 (Register 2023, No. 25).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203, 265, 1050 and 4902, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 1050, 3950 and 4902, Fish and Game Code.

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