California Camp Meat Act

March 9, 2017

Question: I wonder if you could settle the subject of a discussion. Recently, I mentioned in camp that it was legal in California to kill “camp meat” under certain prescribed rules. For instance, if there were 10 men in camp for 11 days or more (perhaps 11 men, 10 days), then they could kill any one deer for “camp meat.” Such meat must be prepared and consumed in camp and no meat could be removed from the camp’s vicinity. All of my friends flatly stated no such law existed, or ever had.

I am almost certain that such a law was in effect up until at least the 1970s, dating back to the late 1800s. Could you tell me the current standing of said act, correct wording, whether or not it is still in effect, or when rescinded, if it ever was? (Tom W., SoCal)

Answer: We checked Fish and Game Code books from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and they all require a tag when taking deer in California. We couldn’t find any reference to “camp meat” or the ability to kill deer strictly for camp meat purposes. In California, at least, we believe this law never existed.

If it is someone's job at DFG to only field, research, and answer these bs questions, that job should get RIF'd.  lame!!

If it is someone's job at DFG to only field, research, and answer these bs questions, that job should get RIF'd.  lame!!

Fielding such questions are a minor (albeit important) part of this person's job.

Camp meat?! This dude's uncle or dad was just poaching deer on family camping trips and passing it off as the California Camp Meat Act...

 

Camp meat?! This dude's uncle or dad was just poaching deer on family camping trips and passing it off as the California Camp Meat Act...

This is the real answer.....

Lame

Camp meat?! This dude's uncle or dad was just poaching deer on family camping trips and passing it off as the California Camp Meat Act...

This is the real answer.....

Yup 

Camp meat?! This dude's uncle or dad was just poaching deer on family camping trips and passing it off as the California Camp Meat Act...

This is the real answer.....

Yup 

These are the things that we take believing well into adulthood, and end up looking dumb in front of a crowd.  We all have believed something that wasn't true because that's how we were told about it when we were kids. In our current world of instant access to accurate information and "going viral" we can now look like idiots for a wide audience. 

Thanks, dad/uncle/grandpa.  Sigh.

These are the things that we take believing well into adulthood, and end up looking dumb in front of a crowd.  We all have believed something that wasn't true because that's how we were told about it when we were kids. In our current world of instant access to accurate information and "going viral" we can now look like idiots for a wide audience. 

Thanks, dad/uncle/grandpa.  Sigh.

Speaking of instant access to information... This link briefly discusses harvesting a deer for "camp meat" in Michigan:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10363_10856_10905-28543--,00.html
So, maybe there really is/was something like this, but just not in CA.

These are the things that we take believing well into adulthood, and end up looking dumb in front of a crowd.  We all have believed something that wasn't true because that's how we were told about it when we were kids. In our current world of instant access to accurate information and "going viral" we can now look like idiots for a wide audience. 

Thanks, dad/uncle/grandpa.  Sigh.

Speaking of instant access to information... This link briefly discusses harvesting a deer for "camp meat" in Michigan:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10363_10856_10905-28543--,00.html
So, maybe there really is/was something like this, but just not in CA.

Also in 1941, the camp deer license was liberalized. Before that time, four or more hunters could apply to take an extra buck for use as camp meat. The 1941 rule allowed that camp deer be either sex. The number of camp deer taken increased from several hundred to 17,100 in 1941. Sportsmen and non-hunters reacted so negatively that the either-sex camp deer law was repealed.

It certainly does appear that "camp meat" was in the vernacular, at least in 1940s upper midwest.

Isn't google great/shitty?

Isn't google great/shitty?

Yes.

Isn't google great/shitty?

Yes.

Further down the rabbit hole:

The dictionary basically defines "camp meat" as a northern expression for poached deer.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camp%20meat

"camp meat" is a standard practice in New Zealand according to this post:

http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?4738-Camp-meat&s=8cd0ad70e3f3949293fad0cd9e4888b7&p=84070&viewfull=1#post84070

Ok, I'm done.