Deer Poaching

January 26, 2023

Question: Can a deer hunter lose their hunting license if they are convicted of a poaching offense?
Answer: Yes. Decades of wildlife law enforcement have provided anecdotal evidence that the potential loss of future hunting privileges is often more effective than fines to deter future poaching behavior.

The relevant statute comes from California Fish and Game Code section 4340(a) which states: Any person who is convicted of a violation of any provision of this code, or of any rule, regulation or order made or adopted under this code, relating to deer, shall forfeit his or her deer tags, and no new deer tags shall be issued to that person during the then current license year for hunting licenses. Section 4340(b) also specifies that no person described in subsection (a) may apply for deer tags for the following license year.

In addition, the California Fish and Game Commission can suspend or revoke hunting and sport fishing privileges when an individual is convicted of violating the Fish and Game Code or its implementing regulations, per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 745.5.