Seeking Dish and Game for Sacred Intention

May 31, 2010

Question: I am a Sacred Arts Practitioner and am seeking to find elk, trout and salmon wild-caught with prayer/sacred intention, for eating and ceremonial purposes. I am aware that it is illegal to purchase or sell game, so how would I legally go about obtaining such meat? Do I have to hunt it myself, or are there other valid ways of doing this, such as purchasing from licensed sellers? Do indigenous populations have special privileges regarding this for religious reasons? What if said animal is given to me as a gift? (raVen j. l., MA)

Answer: Wild-caught (taken) elk, trout and salmon can be utilized for these purposes, if acquired legally. According to DFG Ret. Capt. Phil Nelms, you are correct that neither elk nor trout (wild-caught) can be purchased, but you can purchase salmon under the regulations for commercial fishing.

You can take these species yourself under normal seasons and license requirements (see Fish and Game Code, section 7151 for Free Fishing Licenses), take the fish without a license on the two designated free fishing days (July 1 and Sept. 6 this year), or you can receive them as a gift from anyone who took them legally.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 650(l) is the only law that provides specific authority to possess/utilize wildlife for ceremonial or religious purposes.

He left off "Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing.