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 8 - Wildlife and Public Shooting Areas
Section 552 - Public Use Regulations for National Wildlife Refuges that Are Also Designated as Wildlife Areas by the Commission

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 552

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

(a) The power to control entry on the National Wildlife Refuges that are also designated as wildlife areas in subsections 551(c) and (d) is at the discretion of the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The hunting programs for the "Type A" areas listed below are administered by the department.

(1) Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field. It shall be unlawful to possess a loaded firearm, defined as a firearm with an unexpended shell in the firing chamber until hunters are in designated free roam or assigned pond areas.

(B) Hunt Days: Waterfowl, coots, moorhens, and snipe: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during open seasons. Pheasant: First Monday of pheasant season and on waterfowl hunt days during the pheasant season. Turkey: Waterfowl hunt days during the fall turkey season.

(D) It shall be unlawful to retain an entry permit or remain on the wildlife refuge later than one and one half hours after sunset, unless participating in overnight stay in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(E).

(E) Camping is prohibited, except on the night before each waterfowl shoot day, when camping in a vehicle, motorhome or trailer within the check station parking area is allowed. Tents are prohibited. No person may build or maintain fires, except in portable gas stoves.

(F) Bicycles: Allowed from May 15 through August 15 on the designated auto tour road.

(G) Special Restrictions: When hunting from assigned hunting sites, it shall be unlawful to hunt outside the assigned pond boundary or to hunt from levee roads. Pheasant, turkey and snipe hunting are not permitted in the assigned pond area with the exception of pheasant hunting on the first Monday of pheasant season.

(H) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, except for those participating in authorized hunting and camping opportunities.

(I) Fishing: Prohibited.

(2) Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field. It shall be unlawful to possess a loaded firearm, defined as a firearm with an unexpended shell in the firing chamber, until hunters are in designated free roam or assigned pond/spaced blind areas.

(F) Special Restrictions: When assigned hunting sites, hunters shall hunt only within 100 feet of their assigned sites, except to retrieve downed birds. Pheasant and snipe hunting are not permitted in the assigned blind area except on the first Monday of pheasant season.

(G) Fishing: Prohibited.

(3) Kern National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field.

(B) Hunt Days: Waterfowl, coots, and moorhens: Saturdays and Wednesdays during open seasons. Pheasant: Waterfowl hunt days during the regular pheasant season.

(D) Special Restrictions: Hunters assigned to the spaced blind unit must remain within 100 feet of the numbered steel post (blind site) except when pursuing crippled birds, placing decoys, or traveling to and from the parking area. Pheasant hunting is only permitted in the free roam unit.

(E) Boats: Only nonmotorized boats are permitted.

(F) Fishing: Prohibited.

(4) Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field.

(B) Hunt Days: Saturdays and Wednesdays during waterfowl season.

(D) Authorized Species to be Hunted: Waterfowl, coots, and moorhens.

(E) Bicycles: Allowed.

(F) Special Restrictions: Hunters must hunt from assigned blinds, except to retrieve downed birds, place decoys, and travel to and from the parking area. Shooting from outside of the blind is prohibited.

(G) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except for those participating in authorized hunting opportunities.

(H) Fishing: Prohibited.

(5) Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field. It shall be unlawful to possess a loaded firearm, defined as a firearm with an unexpended shell in the firing chamber, until hunters are in designated free roam or assigned pond/spaced blind areas.

(B) Hunt Days: Waterfowl, coots, moorhens, and snipe: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during open seasons. Pheasants: The first Monday of pheasant season and on waterfowl hunt days during the pheasant season. Turkey: Waterfowl hunt days during the fall turkey season.

(F) Bicycles: Allowed May 15 through August 15 on the designated auto tour road.

(G) Special Restrictions: When assigned hunting sites, hunters shall hunt only within 100 feet of their assigned sites, except to retrieve downed birds. Pheasant, turkey and snipe hunting are not permitted in the assigned blind area except on the first Monday of pheasant season.

(H) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, except for those participating in authorized hunting and camping opportunities.

(I) Fishing: Prohibited.

(6) Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, Type C.

(A) Units: The refuge includes the La Barranca Unit, Blackberry Island Unit, Todd Island Unit, Mooney Unit, Ohm Unit, Flynn Unit, Heron Island Unit, Rio Vista Unit, Foster Island Unit (Tehama Co.); Pine Creek Unit, Dead Man's Reach Unit, Llano Seco Island 1 & 2 Units, and Llano Seco Riparian Sanctuary Unit, (Butte Co.); and McIntosh Landing North and South Units, Capay Unit, Phelan Island Unit, Jacinto Unit, North Ord Unit, Ord Bend Unit, South Ord Unit, Hartley Island Unit, Sul Norte Unit, Codora Unit, Packer Unit, Afton Unit, Drumheller North Unit, Drumheller Slough Unit (Glenn Co.), and Bogg's Bend Unit (Colusa Co.).

(B) Area Firearm Restrictions:

1. Only shotguns and archery equipment are allowed. No rifles, crossbows, air guns, paintball guns or pistols may be used or possessed.

2. Target shooting is prohibited.

3. No firearms or archery equipment are allowed in areas closed to hunting.

4. Firearms must be unloaded before transporting them between parking areas and hunting areas. "Unloaded" means that no unexpended cartridge or shell is in the chamber of the firearm. This is in addition to the requirement in subsection 550(cc) of these regulations that requires firearms to be unloaded in parking lots, check-in stations and other facilities.

1. The following units are closed to public access: Ohm, McIntosh Landing North and South, North Ord, Llano Seco Riparian Sanctuary, and Hartley Island.

2. Access is allowed by boat only on the following units: La Barranca, Blackberry Island, Todd Island, Mooney, Flynn, Heron Island, Foster Island, Phelan Island, Jacinto, Dead Man's Reach, South Ord, Lano Seco Island 1 & 2, and Afton.

3. Access is allowed on foot or by boat only on the following units: Rio Vista, Pine Creek, Capay, Ord Bend, Sul Norte, Codora, Packer, Drumheller North, Drumheller Slough and Bogg's Bend.

a. On Packer and Drumheller North, only boats up to 14 feet in length are allowed.

4. All units that are open to public hunting may only be accessed by boat, except for Sul Norte, Codora, Drumheller North, Drumheller Slough, Capay and Bogg's Bend, which may be accessed only on foot or by boat.

(D) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from 2 hours before sunrise to one and one half hours after sunset.

(E) Bicycles: Bicycles are allowed May 15 through August 15 on designated routes. Other conveyances are prohibited. Mobility-impaired hunters should contact the refuge manager for allowed conveyances.

(F) Dogs: Dogs are prohibited for the take and pursuit of wild pigs and deer.

(G) Camping: Camping is allowed only on gravel bars up to 7 days during a 30 day period. Individuals camping on the refuge must remain on the gravel bars from one and one half hours after sunset to 2 hours before sunrise.

(H) Fires are prohibited except for portable gas stoves on gravel bars.

(I) Falconry is prohibited.

(J) Areas Open for Hunting In Accordance with State and Federal Regulations:

1. Units open to hunting of authorized species are: La Barranca, Todd Island, Mooney, Ohm, Heron Island, Flynn, Rio Vista, Foster Island, Pine Creek, Capay, Phelan Island, Jacinto, Dead Man's Reach, South Ord, Llano Seco Island 1 & 2, Sul Norte, Codora, Afton, Drumheller North, Drumheller Slough, and Bogg's Bend.

2. The Mooney Unit is open to hunting for authorized species except that waterfowl hunting is prohibited.

3. The Ohm Unit is closed to hunting except for the designated area in the northern portion of the unit where all authorized species except for waterfowl may be taken.

4. The Codora Unit is open for hunting only for hunters holding a junior hunting license who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult and only on Saturdays and Sundays.

a. Waterfowl hunting is prohibited on the Codora Unit

5. All other units are closed to hunting.

6. Hunting is prohibited within 50 feet of any landward boundary adjacent to private property.

7. Hunting is allowed from August 15 to May 31.

(K) Authorized Species to be Hunted: (unless otherwise stated in subsection (J) or restricted in this subsection): goose, duck, coot, moorhen, dove, snipe, turkey, pheasant, quail, deer, and wild pig.

1. Wild Pigs may be hunted only from September 1 through March 15.

(L) Commercial Guiding: Commercial guiding is prohibited.

(M) Personal Property: Permanent blinds, ladders and screw-in foot pegs are prohibited. All personal property, including tree stands, decoys and boats must be removed by one and one-half hours after sunset.

(7) San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field.

(B) Hunt Days: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during waterfowl season. Waterfowl hunting is prohibited on the West Bear Creek Unit prior to the third Saturday in November. Hunting is allowed on the Freitas Unit 7 days per week; however, a department-issued permit is required on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays.

(C) Authorized Species to be Hunted: Waterfowl, coots, and moorhens. Hunting for pheasants will be allowed with an entry permit and only in a special zone on the Kesterson Unit on the first Saturday and Sunday of pheasant season and in the San Luis Unit free roam area on waterfowl shoot days for the duration of pheasant season. Pheasant hunting may also be allowed on the first Monday of pheasant season, but only within the spaced blind area of the Kesterson Unit. Snipe hunting is allowed only within the San Luis Unit free roam area, and only on waterfowl shoot days when the area is open to hunting by adult license holders.

(D) Camping and Trailers: Prohibited on the San Luis, Blue Goose, and the West Bear Creek Units.

(E) Bicycles: Allowed.

(F) Special Restrictions: Hunters in the Kesterson and Blue Goose units must hunt from assigned blinds, except to retrieve downed birds. Hunters in free roam areas are not restricted to blinds. Access to the Freitas units is by boat only after 2 a.m., the unit and its parking lot is closed between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Maximum boat speed may not exceed 5 mph. Inboard water thrust and air-thrust boats are prohibited. Construction of permanent blinds is prohibited. Cutting or breaking of woody vegetation is prohibited. All blinds and equipment must be removed following each day's hunt.

(G) Fishing:

1. Fishing is permitted in designated areas.

2. Fish may only be taken by rod and reel.

(H) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except for those participating in authorized hunting and camping opportunities.

(8) Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field. Firearms must be unloaded when being transported between parking areas and blind sites.

(B) Hunt days: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during open seasons.

(D) Special Restrictions: Hunters in the Hazard Unit shall hunt only from within 100 feet of their assigned blind sites or stakes, except to retrieve downed birds. Hunters in the Union Tract shall hunt only from within their blinds, except to retrieve downed birds.

(E) Blind Limitation: Not more than four individuals may occupy a blind site.

(F) Fishing:

1. Fishing from boats is permitted from April 1 to September 30.

2. Fishing from the bank is prohibited year round.

(9) Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, Type A.

(A) Area Firearms Restrictions: Only shotguns are permitted. A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field. It shall be unlawful to possess a loaded firearm, defined as a firearm with an unexpended shell in the firing chamber, until hunters are in designated free roam or assigned pond areas.

(B) Hunt Days: Waterfowl, coots, moorhens, and snipe: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during open seasons. Pheasant: Waterfowl hunt days during the pheasant season. Turkey: Waterfowl hunt days during the fall turkey season.

(F) Special Restrictions: When hunting from assigned hunting sites, it shall be unlawful to hunt outside the assigned pond boundary or to hunt from levee roads. Pheasant, turkey, and snipe hunting are not permitted in the assigned pond area.

(G) Day Use Hours: Day use hours are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, except for those participating in authorized hunting and camping opportunities.

(H) Fishing: Prohibited.

1. Repealer and new section filed 10-8-93; operative 10-8-93 pursuant to section 202 and 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 93, No. 41). For prior history, see Register 92, No. 43.
2. Amendment of section heading and text filed 10-5-94; operative 11-4-94 (Register 94, No. 40).
3. Amendment filed 9-12-95; operative 9-12-95 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 95, No. 37).
4. Repealer of subsections (a)(4)-(a)(4)(F), subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsections (a)(4)(G), (a)(6)(E) and (a)(7)(C)-(D), new subsection (a)(7)(F) and amendment of NOTE filed 10-1-96; operative 10-1-96 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 40).
5. Amendment of subsection (a)(7)(C) filed 10-3-97; operative 10-3-97 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 97, No. 40).
6. Amendment filed 10-6-99; operative 10-6-99 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 99, No. 41).
7. New subsections (a)(1)(F)-(G), amendment of subsection (a)(2)(D), new subsection (a)(2)(I), amendment of subsection (a)(5)(D) and new subsections (a)(5)(I), (a)(7)(H) and (a)(8)(F) filed 9-28-2000; operative 9-28-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 2000, No. 39).
8. Repealer of subsections (a)(6)-(a)(6)(F), subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsections (a)(6)(B)-(D) and new subsections (a)(7)-(a)(7)(F) filed 10-23-2001; operative 10-23-2001 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2001, No. 43).
9. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)(D), (a)(2)(E), (a)(4)(B), (a)(4)(G), (a)(5)(E), (a)(6)(C), (a)(6)(F) and (a)(8)(D) filed 9-9-2002; operative 9-9-2002 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2002, No. 37).
10. Amendment of subsection (a)(6)(G) and amendment of NOTE filed 11-4-2004; operative 11-4-2004 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 2004, No. 45).
11. Amendment of subsections (a)(4)(A) and (a)(6)(G) and new subsections (a)(9)(A)-(J) filed 11-7-2007; operative 12-7-2007 (Register 2007, No. 45).
12. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 8-11-2014; operative 8-11-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2014, No. 33).
13. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 3-17-2017; operative 3-17-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 11).
14. Amendment of section filed 7-10-2020; operative 7-10-2020 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2020, No. 28). (Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-66-20.)

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203, 265, 710, 710.5, 710.7, 1050, 1530, 1764, 1765 and 10504, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 355, 711, 713, 1050, 1055.3, 1526, 1528, 1530, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1761, 1764, 1765, 1907, 2006 and 10504, Fish and Game Code.

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