Which Wildlife Legally Taken in Other States Can Be Brought Into California?

January 11, 2018

Question: I know it is illegal to bring a legally taken mountain lion into California, but is it legal to bring a swan legally taken in Nevada into California? Is there a list of other wildlife which can be legally hunted in other states that cannot be transported into the state? (Leonard, Merced)

Answer: A very limited swan hunting season is authorized in Nevada by the annual federal Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, published each year in the Federal Register under section 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20. However, the same Framework does not authorize swan hunting in California. If the swan, or another bird or mammal was legally taken, a declaration of entry form is required to provide you with a document to cover the bird or mammal that may not be legal to hunt in California, pursuant to Fish and Game Code (FGC), section 2353. One copy of the declaration should be delivered to the U.S. Department of Agriculture entry point, one copy is mailed to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), one copy is delivered with the animal to a taxidermist (if you have it mounted) and one copy is kept for your records. The exception to this law is the mountain lion, which can be legally taken in some states but cannot be brought into California, pursuant to Proposition 117, enacted by the voters of California in 1990 and the subsequent FGC, section 4800.

In addition, fully protected mammals, such as bighorn sheep (except Nelson bighorn sheep, as authorized by the Commission for hunting), ring-tailed cat and wolverine, may not be taken or possessed at any time, pursuant to FGC, section 4700. However, a legally imported fully protected mammal may be possessed under a permit issued by CDFW.