Refuges in California

Fish and Game Code Division 7, Chapter 1, Article 1 deals with refuges and other protected areas on California.

Section 10500 makes it unlawful, except under a permit or specific authorization, to engage in seven specified activities.

Section 10501 states that, before the commission opens any game refuge for the taking of deer, a public hearing must be held at which at least one member of the commission to be in attendance and the officers and employees of the department as are deemed necessary or are requested by interested parties.

Section 10501.5 makes it unlawful to fly any aircraft, including any airplane or helicopter, less than 3,000 feet above water or land over the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, and less than 1,000 feet above water or land over the A:o Nuevo State Reserve, the Farallon Islands Game Refuge, the Point Lobos State Reserve, the California Sea Otter Game Refuge, and Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and San Nicolas Islands, with specified exceptions.

Section 10502 authorizes the commission to do any of our specified activities.

Section 10502.5 allows the director to appoint the Director of the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge.

Section 10502.6 allows the director to appoint a Director of the Dana Point Marine Life Refuge.

Section 10502.7 allows the director to appoint the Director of the Bodega Marine Life Refuge.

Section 10502.8 allows the director to appoint the Director of the Catalina Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge.

Section 10503 authorizes the commission to do any of four specified actions for the purposes of propagating, feeding, and protecting birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

Section 10504 requires any property acquired for game refuges to be acquired in the name of the State, and must be subject to regulations as may be prescribed from time to time by the commission for the occupation, use, operation, protection, and administration of such property as game refuges.

Section 10505 requires the department to do all things necessary to secure a valid title in the State to the property acquired for game refuges, but no payment is to be made therefor until the title is satisfactory to the Attorney General and is vested in the State.

Section 10506 explains that nothing in this code prohibits the possession of firearms, BB devices, crossbows and bolts, or bows and arrows by persons when traveling through any game refuges when the firearms are taken apart or encased and unloaded and the bows are unstrung or stored separately from any arrow or bolt.

Section 10507 makes it lawful for a person who has given the notice to transport a bird or mammal through a game refuge, if lawfully taken outside the refuge, and if the bird or mammal is carried openly and during the time between one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.

Section 10508 requires the department and the district attorney, sheriff, and all peace officers of the county in which any refuge or part thereof is situated, is required to enforce all of the provisions of this code relating to such refuge, and institute and assist in prosecutions for violations thereof.

Section 10509 states that any refuge designated as a “fish and game refuge” must be considered as both a game refuge and a fish refuge.

Section 10510 explains that no specification of an open season in any area authorizes the taking of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, or reptile from a refuge within that area from which the taking is prohibited by this code.

Section 10511 states that the provisions of this code relating to a particular fish and game district are to apply to each refuge lying wholly, or in major part, within the boundaries of the district.

Section 10512 requires the department to cause to be prepared suitable notices to be posted under its direction on each state game refuge, containing a warning to all persons to refrain for the period named therein from violations of the provisions of this chapter relating to state game refuges.

Section 10513 explains that nothing in this chapter is to be construed as prohibiting or preventing a person from taking a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, or reptile from or on navigable water in a state game refuge.

Section 10514 requires all state game refuges, for all purposes of protecting birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles thereon, be under the control and management of the department, and the officers and employees of the department, all game wardens, and law enforcement officers may at all times enter in and upon state game refuges in the performance of their duties.