Wildlife Violator Compact

February 9, 2023

Question: What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?

Answer: The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement between 49 states which allows for the reciprocal recognition of hunting and fishing license suspensions. If your license privileges have been suspended by another state, the suspension may be recognized here in California. For example, if your sport fishing or hunting privileges have been suspended in Colorado for five years, your privileges may also be suspended for five years in California or any of the states participating in the IWVC. The purchase of licenses or tags during the term of the suspension is a violation of the law and may result in prosecution. Licenses or tags purchased prior to or during a suspension are not refundable. Information on member states can be found on the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs (opens in new tab) website.

Over the years, CDFW has received occasional calls from hunters or anglers wondering why they were not allowed to purchase a hunting or fishing license at a California vendor. A common reason is that they have an unpaid citation in another state for something as simple as fishing without a license. That failure to take care of the fishing without a license citation would put them in the IWVC, which would prohibit them from purchasing a fishing license in California or any of the other participating 46 states until it is handled per the direction of the out-of-state court.

So, is the agreement between 49 States or 47?  It says 49 at the beginning and California + 46 other states later in the comment.   

Answer: It turns out that it’s 48.  Apparently, only Hawaii and Mass are not participating. 

So, is the agreement between 49 States or 47?  It says 49 at the beginning and California + 46 other states later in the comment.   

Answer: It turns out that it’s 48.  Apparently, only Hawaii and Mass are not participating.

Math is hard.