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Topic: California’s Newly Enhanced Trophy Hunting Laws  (Read 876 times)

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Hojoman

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October 12, 2017

Question: The new California Mammal Hunting Regulations book that just came out describes a new law to deter poaching of trophy class wildlife. How is this supposed to work? (Ron, Alpine)

Answer: Wildlife officers have two new tools to deter poaching and punish violators for serious poaching crimes. Under Fish and Game Code (FGC), section 12013.3, penalties have been significantly enhanced for any person convicted of poaching deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and wild turkey with certain characteristics that classify them as a trophy game animal. In addition to this legislative change, the California Fish and Game Commission worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and several outdoors, conservation and hunting organizations to develop California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 748.6, which defines these “trophy” characteristics. The legislation and complementary regulation package went into full effect on July 1, 2017, and is widely supported by hunters and the hunting community.

In summary, poachers now face fines of not less than $5,000 (and up to $40,000) for poaching trophy deer, elk, antelope or bighorn sheep. Fines for poaching a trophy turkey could range from $2,000 to $5,000. Conviction could also lead to a yearlong jail sentence.

Wildlife officers hope these increased penalties will deter the worst offenders who commit crimes such as killing trophy class deer out of season in their winter range, spotlighting at night, leaving the majority of a game carcass behind, and other poaching offenses.

The regulations define trophy characteristics for each of the following game species:
1.  For deer hunting zones A, B1-B6, D10, D11, D13, D15 and D16, any deer with four or more points on either antler (excluding eye guards) or with an outside antler spread of at least 16 inches.

2.  For all other deer hunting zones (all X zones, all C zones and zones D3-D9, D12, D14, D17 and D19), any deer with four or more points on either antler (excluding eye guards) or with an outside antler spread of at least 22 inches.

3.  Any elk with five or more points on either antler (including eye guards).

4.  Any pronghorn antelope with a horn that is at least fourteen inches in length.

5.  Any male bighorn sheep (ram) having at least one horn tip that extends beyond a straight line beginning at the front (anterior) edge of the horn base, and extends downward through the rear (posterior) edge of the visible portion of the eye and continues downward through the horn.

6.  Any wild turkey with either a spur that is at least one inch in length, or a beard (measured by the longest strand of one or more beards) that is eight or more inches.


WassawBound

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So is this just increase fines for doing what you're already not supposed too, if the poached animal falls into a trophy category?


PortageeYaker

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Good thing I won't be scoring any of those off of my Yak! Oh, and yes some of the fines seem ridiculous and more about money making than environmental protection.

Thanks,
PY
Where there is a Portagee there is fish!!!


crash

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http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=80971

recent topic in HG forum. 

Someone took a bighorn sheep in siskiyou county last year and took only the head, leaving the carcass near copco dam.  That really pisses me off.
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PortageeYaker

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Crash,

After reading the post on your link I understand much better what the issues are with the Trophys! Turkeys does seem a bit outlandish. Thanks for the link and the education.

Thanks,
PY
Where there is a Portagee there is fish!!!