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 7 - Migratory Game Birds
Section 502 - Waterfowl, Migratory; American Coot and Common Moorhen (Common Gallinule)
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Definitions.
(b) Waterfowl Hunting Zones.
(c) Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for American Coots, and Common Moorhens.
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
American Coot and Common Moorhen | Concurrent with duck season(s) | Daily bag limit: 25, either all of one species or a mixture of these species. |
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(d) Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for Ducks and Geese by Zone.
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers) | From the first Saturday in October extending for 103 days. | Daily bag limit: 7 |
Scaup: from the first Saturday in October extending for a period of 58 days and from the third Thursday in December extending for a period of 28 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
* 7 mallards, but not more than 2 females. | ||
* 1 pintail (either sex). | ||
* 2 canvasback (either sex). | ||
* 2 redheads (either sex). | ||
* 2 scaup (either sex). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | ||
Geese | Regular Season: | Daily bag limit: 30 |
Canada Geese: from the first Saturday in October extending for 100 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
White-fronted and white geese from the first Saturday in October extending for a period of 58 days and from January 3 extending for a period of 13 days. | * 20 white geese. | |
Late Season: White-fronted and white geese from February 5 extending for 34 days. | * 10 dark geese but not more than 2 Large Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | |
During the Late Season, hunting is only permitted on Type C wildlife areas listed in sections 550-552, navigable waters, and private lands with the permission of the landowner under provisions of Section 2016, Fish and Game Code. | Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |
Hunting is prohibited on Type A and Type B wildlife areas, the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, and any waters which are on, encompassed by, bounded over, flow over, flow through, or are adjacent to any Type A and Type B wildlife areas, the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, or the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. |
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers) | From the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days. | Daily bag limit: 7 |
Scaup: from November 7 extending for 86 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
* 7 mallards, but not more than 2 females. | ||
* 1 pintail (either sex). | ||
* 2 canvasback (either sex). | ||
* 2 redheads (either sex). | ||
* 2 scaup (either sex). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | ||
Geese | From the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days. | Daily bag limit: 30 |
Daily bag limit may include: | ||
* 20 white geese. | ||
* 10 dark geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers) | From the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days. | Daily bag limit: 7 |
Scaup: from November 7 extending for 86 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
* 7 mallards, but not more than 2 females. | ||
* 1 pintail (either sex). | ||
* 2 canvasback (either sex). | ||
* 2 redheads (either sex). | ||
* 2 scaup (either sex). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | ||
Geese | From the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days. | Daily bag limit: 23 |
Daily bag limit may include: | ||
* 20 white geese. | ||
* 3 dark geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers). | From October 23 extending for 101 days. | Daily bag limit: 7 |
Scaup: from November 7 extending for 86 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
* 7 mallards, but not more than 2 females or Mexican ducks. | ||
* 1 pintail (either sex). | ||
* 2 canvasback (either sex). | ||
* 2 redheads (either sex). | ||
* 2 scaup (either sex). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | ||
Geese | From October 23 extending for 101 days. | Daily bag limit: 25 |
Daily bag limit may include: | ||
* 20 white geese. | ||
* 5 dark geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers). | From the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days. | Daily bag limit: 7 |
Scaup: from November 7 extending for 86 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
* 7 mallards, but not more than 2 females. | ||
* 1 pintail (either sex). | ||
* 2 canvasback (either sex). | ||
* 2 redheads (either sex). | ||
* 2 scaup (either sex). | ||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | ||
Geese | Early Season: Large Canada geese only from the Saturday closest to October 1 for a period of 3 days EXCEPT in the North Coast Special Management Area where Large Canada geese are closed during the early season. | Daily bag limit: 30 |
Regular Season: Dark and white geese from the fourth Saturday in October extending for 98 days EXCEPT in the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area where the white-fronted goose season will close after December 21. | Daily bag limit may include: | |
Late Season: Canada geese from the second Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | * 20 white geese. | |
White-fronted and white geese from the second Saturday in February extending for a period of 5 days EXCEPT in the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area where the white-fronted goose season is closed. | * 10 dark geese EXCEPT in the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area where only 3 may be white-fronted geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | |
During the Late Season, hunting is not permitted on wildlife areas listed in sections 550-552 EXCEPT on Type C wildlife areas in the North Central and Central regions. | Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits | |
1. North Coast | All Canada Geese | From October 5 extending for a period of 78 days (Regular Season) and from February 12 extending for a period of 27 days (Late Season). During the Late Season, hunting is only permitted on private lands with the permission of the landowner under provisions Section 2016, Fish and Game Code. | Daily bag limit: 10 |
Canada Geese of which only 1 may be a Large Canada goose (see definitions: 502(a)), EXCEPT during the Late Season, the bag limit on Large Canada geese is zero. | |||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |||
2. Humboldt Bay South Spit (West Side) | All Species | Closed during brant season | |
3. Klamath Basin | Geese | Canada Geese from the first Saturday in October extending for 100 days. | Daily bag limit: 30 |
White-fronted and white geese from the first Saturday in October extending for 105 days. | Daily bag limit may include: | ||
* 20 white geese. | |||
* 10 dark geese but not more than 2 Large Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)). | |||
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |||
4. Sacramento Valley | White-Fronted Geese | Open concurrently with the goose season through December 21, and during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. | Daily bag limit: 3 white-fronted geese. |
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |||
5. Morro Bay | All species | Open in designated area only from the opening day of brant season through the remainder of waterfowl season. | |
6. Martis Creek Lake | All species | Closed until November 16. | |
7. Northern Brant | Black Brant | From November 18 extending for 27 days. | Daily bag limit: 2 |
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |||
8. Balance of State Brant | Black Brant | From November 19 extending for 27 days. | Daily bag limit: 2 |
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. | |||
9. Imperial County | White Geese | From November 4 extending for a period of 89 days (Regular Season) and February 3-9, 2025 and February 12-20, 2025 (Late Season). During the Late Season, hunting is only permitted on private lands with the permission of the landowner under provisions of Section 2016, Fish and Game Code. | Daily bag limit: 20 |
Possession limit: triple the daily bag limit. |
(e) Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days Regulations (NOTE: To participate in these Youth Waterfowl Hunts, youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. Federal regulations require that hunters must be 17 years of age or younger.)
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag Limit |
Ducks (including Mergansers), American Coot, Common Moorhen, Black Brant, Geese | 1. Northeastern California Zone: The Saturday fourteen days before the opening of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. | Same as regular season. |
2. Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone: The first Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | ||
3. Southern California Zone: The first Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | ||
4. Colorado River Zone: The second Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | ||
5. Balance of State Zone: The first Saturday in February extending for 2 days. |
(f) Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days Regulations.
NOTE: Veterans (as defined in Section 101 of Title 38, United States Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than training), may participate. Persons participating in this special hunt must possess and present upon demand verification of eligibility to participate in this hunt. Verification includes: Veteran's ID Card, or Military ID Card for active duty, or a State-issued driver's license or Identification Card with Veteran Designation.
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag Limit |
Ducks (including Mergansers), Geese, American Coot, Common Moorhen | 1. Northeastern California Zone: The Saturday following the closing of the regular duck season extending for 2 days. Goose hunting in this zone is not permitted during these days. | Same as regular season. |
2. Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone: The second Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | ||
3. Southern California Zone: The second Saturday in February extending for 2 days. | ||
4. Balance of State Zone: The second Saturday in February extending for 2 days. |
(g) Falconry Take of Ducks (including Mergansers), Geese, American Coots, and Common Moorhens.
(A) Species | (B) Season | (C) Daily Bag and Possession Limits |
Ducks (including Mergansers), Geese, American Coot and Common Moorhen | 1. Northeastern California Zone. Open concurrently with duck season through January 15, 2025. | Daily bag limit: 3 |
2. Balance of State Zone. Open concurrently with duck season, February 1-2, 2025 and February 15-19, 2025 EXCEPT in the North Coast Special Management Area where the falconry season for geese runs concurrently with the season for Canada geese (see 502(d)(6)). | Daily bag limit makeup: | |
3. Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone. Open concurrently with duck season, February 1-2, 2025 and February 15-19, 2025. Goose hunting in this zone by means of falconry is not permitted. | * Either all of 1 species or a mixture of species allowed for take. | |
4. Southern California Zone. Open concurrently with duck season, February 1-2, 2025 and February 15-19, 2025 EXCEPT in the Imperial County Special Management Area where the falconry season for geese runs concurrently with the season for white geese. | Possession limit: 9 | |
5. Colorado River Zone. Open concurrently with duck season and February 1-4, 2025. Goose hunting in this zone by means of falconry is not permitted. Federal regulations require that California's hunting regulations conform to those of Arizona, where goose hunting by means of falconry is not permitted. |
Note: Authority cited: Sections 265 and 355, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 265, 355 and 356, Fish and Game Code.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 265 and 355, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 265, 355 and 356, Fish and Game Code.