Wildlife Management Areas

Division 2, Chapter 5, Article 2 deals with wildlife management areas and game farms under the management of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Section 1525 provides that, for the purposes of propagating, feeding and protecting birds, mammals, and fish, and establishing wildlife management areas or public shooting grounds the department, with the approval of the commission, may undertake two specified actions.

Section 1526 states that any property acquired for wildlife management areas or public shooting grounds must be acquired in the name of the State, and, at all times, be subject to rules and regulations as may be prescribed from time to time by the commission for the occupation, use, operation, protection, and administration of such property as wildlife management areas or public shooting grounds.

Section 1526.4 requires the department, upon request of the leaseholder, to extend any existing lease for a recreational homesite on Lower Sherman Island to the holder of any lease of lands under the control of the department, under four specified conditions. All leases entered into pursuant to this section are required to include the four specified provisions.

The department must develop a plan for the removal of nonnative plants from the island. The plan has to include, at a minimum, three specified provisions. Proceeds from the leases of lands under the control of the department on Lower Sherman Island are to be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and used for the purpose of enforcing and monitoring those lease terms and managing the Lower Sherman Island Wildlife area.

Section 1527 requires the department to do all things necessary to secure a valid title in the State to the property acquired for wildlife management areas or public shooting grounds but no payment is to be made until the title is satisfactory to the Attorney General, and is vested in the State.

Section 1528 provides that lands, or lands and water, acquired for public shooting grounds, state marine (estuarine) recreational management areas, or wildlife management areas are to be operated on a nonprofit basis by the department. Multiple recreational use of wildlife management areas is desirable and that use is encouraged by the commission.

Except for hunting and fishing purposes, only minimum facilities to permit other forms of multiple recreational use, such as camping, picnicking, boating, or swimming, is to be provided. The commission may determine and fix the amount of, and the department must collect, fees for any use privileges. However, tours by organized youth and school groups are exempt from the payment of those fees.

Section 1529 states that the output of any state game farm is to be distributed on public lands or where the department determines that the output will receive adequate protection and be most likely to thrive and multiply.

Section 1530 makes it unlawful to enter upon any wildlife management areas or public shooting grounds established under the provisions of this article, or to take any bird or the nest or eggs thereof, or any mammal. The taking of birds and mammals on public shooting grounds is regulated by the commission by regulation as provided in this section.