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 4 - Depredation
Section 402 - Issuance of Permits to Kill Mountain Lion Causing Damage

(a) Revocable permits may be issued by the department after receiving a report, from any owner or tenant or agent for them, of property being damaged or destroyed by mountain lion. The department shall conduct and complete an investigation within 48 hours of receiving such a report. Any mountain lion that is encountered in the act of inflicting injury to, molesting or killing livestock or domestic animals may be taken immediately if the taking is reported within 72 hours to the department and the carcass is made available to the department. Whenever immediate action will assist in the pursuit of the particular mountain lion believed to be responsible for damage to livestock or domestic animals, the department may orally authorize the pursuit and take of a mountain lion. The department shall investigate such incidents and, upon a finding that the requirements of this regulation have been met, issue a free permit for depredation purposes, and carcass tag to the person taking such mountain lion.

(b) Permittee may take mountain lion in the manner specified in the permit, except that no mountain lion shall be taken by means of poison, leg-hold or metal-jawed traps and snares.

(c) Both males and females may be taken during the period of the permit irrespective of hours or seasons.

(d) The privilege granted in the permit may not be transferred, and only entitles the permittee or the employee or agent of the permittee to take mountain lion. Such person must be 21 years of age or over and eligible to purchase a California hunting license.

(e) Any person issued a permit pursuant to this section shall report by telephone within 24 hours the capturing, injuring or killing of any mountain lion to an office of the department or, if telephoning is not practical, in writing within five days after capturing, injuring or killing of the mountain lion. Any mountain lion killed under the permit must be tagged with the special tag furnished with the permit; both tags must be completely filled out and the duplicate mailed to the Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, within 5 days after taking any mountain lion.

(f) The entire carcass shall be transported within 5 days to a location agreed upon between the issuing officer and the permittee, but in no case will a permittee be required to deliver a carcass beyond the limits of his property unless he is willing to do so. The carcasses of mountain lions taken pursuant to this regulation shall become the property of the state.

(g) Animals shall be taken in a humane manner so as to prevent any undue suffering to the animals.

(h) The permittee shall take every reasonable precaution to prevent the carcass from spoiling until disposed of in the manner agreed upon under subsection (f) of these regulations.

(i) The permit does not invalidate any city, county, or state firearm regulation.

(j) Permits shall be issued for a period of 10 days. Permits may be renewed only after a finding by the department that further damage has occurred or will occur unless such permits are renewed. The permittee may not begin pursuit of a lion more than one mile nor continue pursuit beyond a 10-mile radius from the location of the reported damage.