ARTICLE 3. Migratory Birds [3700.1. - 3705.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 3.

in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3700.1. Section 3700.1.

(a) It is unlawful for any person, except a person licensed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 3031, to take a duck or goose without first procuring a state duck hunting validation as provided in subdivision (b), and having that validation in their possession while taking those birds. (b) (1) State duck hunting validations shall be sold for a fee of ten dollars ($10), as adjusted pursuant to Section 713, by the department and by license agents, who are authorized by the department pursuant to Section 1055.1, in the same manner as hunting licenses. (2) In addition to the fee imposed pursuant to paragraph (1), a fee of ten dollars ($10) is hereby imposed to obtain a state duck hunting validation, as adjusted pursuant to Section 713.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3700.2. Section 3700.2.

(a) Upon full implementation of the Automated License Data System, the department shall continue to prepare, or have prepared, state duck stamps depicting migratory waterfowl. (b) Any person who obtains a duck hunting validation pursuant to Section 3700.1 is entitled, upon request, to receive a state duck stamp, open edition, at no additional charge. (c) Any person may purchase a state duck stamp, open edition, for a fee of ten dollars ($10). (d) State duck stamps, Governor’s edition, may be printed and sold on a bid basis, beginning at a minimum bid, as determined by the department or its representative. (e) The commission shall determine the form of the state duck stamp. (f) Possession of a state duck stamp obtained pursuant to this section does not entitle the holder to take any migratory bird, as defined in Section 3700.1. (g) The department may prepare and sell artwork, posters, and other promotional materials related to the sale of duck stamps or waterfowl hunting and conservation.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3701. Section 3701.

(a) All funds derived from the sale of state duck hunting validations and state duck stamps, and related items authorized by subdivision (g) of Section 3700.2, shall be deposited in the State Duck Stamp Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, except as provided in subdivision (b), to permit separate accountability for the receipt and expenditure of these funds. An amount not to exceed 6 percent of the amount annually deposited in the account may be used for administrative overhead related to the use of those funds and for implementation of the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Program. (b) Ten dollars ($10), as adjusted pursuant to Section 713, of the amount collected by the department for each state duck hunting validation sold shall be deposited in the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program Account, created pursuant to Section 3467.5.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3702. Section 3702.

Funds deposited in the State Duck Stamp Account shall be used for projects or endowments approved by the commission for the purpose of protecting, preserving, restoring, enhancing, and developing migratory waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat, evaluating habitat projects, and conducting waterfowl resource assessments and other waterfowl related research. These funds may be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations for completed habitat projects. Subject to Section 3704, the department may make grants or enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations for the use of these funds when it finds that the contracts are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3702.1. Section 3702.1.

An advisory committee, as determined by the department, that includes interested nonprofit organizations that have goals and objectives directly related to the management and conservation of waterfowl species and primarily represent the interests of persons licensed pursuant to Section 3031 shall review and provide comments to the department on all proposed projects funded from the State Duck Stamp Account to help ensure that the requirements of Sections 3702, 3703, and 3704 have been met.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3702.5. Section 3702.5.

The department may permit individual artists to sell a limited number of prints of duck stamp related artwork or posters.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3703. Section 3703.

Before the commission may consider any project which proposes the use of funds from the State Duck Stamp Account, the department shall analyze such project and provide the commission with recommendations as to the project’s feasibility and need.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3704. Section 3704.

Two dollars and twenty-five cents ($2.25) of the amount collected by the department for each state duck stamp sold shall be allocated by the commission for the purposes of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in those areas of Canada from which come substantial numbers of waterfowl migrating to, or through, California. These funds shall be matched with federal or private funds available for that purpose. The available balance of the funds shall be used for any project authorized pursuant to Section 3702 in California. However, any lands acquired in California with those funds shall be open to waterfowl hunting as a public shooting ground or wildlife management area.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3704.5. Section 3704.5.

Waterfowl projects authorized pursuant to Sections 3460 and 3702 shall be governed by Section 1501.5 but, notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 1501.5, are not subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code or Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code. With the approval of the entity in control of property affected by a project, the department may make grants to, or enter into contracts with, nonprofit organizations for the accomplishment of those projects, or the department may reimburse the controlling entity for its costs of accomplishing the project.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3705. Section 3705.

Before allocating funds to any project to be undertaken outside the state, or outside the United States, the commission shall secure evidence that the project is acceptable to the government agency having jurisdiction over the lands and waters affected by such project.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026