ARTICLE 1. Domesticated Game Breeding [3200. - 3219.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 1.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3200. Section 3200.

Any person engaged in raising or importing, or who keeps in captivity, in this state domesticated game birds or domesticated game mammals which normally exist in the wild in this state shall procure a domesticated game breeder’s license if the birds or mammals are kept more than 30 days after acquisition. No license is, however, required of any of the following: (a) Licensed pheasant clubs. (b) Licensed domesticated migratory game bird shooting areas as defined in Article 4 (commencing with Section 3300) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 4. (c) Keepers of hotels, restaurants, boardinghouses, or clubs serving the meat of those birds or mammals for actual consumption on the premises. (d) Retail meat dealers selling that meat to customers for actual consumption. (e) Public zoological gardens possessing those birds or mammals for exhibition purposes or for the purpose of disposing of the birds or mammals by sale, exchange, or donation to other public zoological gardens.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3201. Section 3201.

No person shall sell the carcass of any domesticated game bird or mammal without first obtaining a domesticated game breeder’s license from the department. The department may issue such a license upon terms and conditions as the commission may prescribe, and the commission may at any time revoke such a license for sufficient cause.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3202. Section 3202.

There are classes of domesticated game breeder’s licenses, designated “class 1” and “class 2.” (a) A class 1 domesticated game breeder’s license authorizes the licensee to engage in all domesticated game breeding activities except that not more than 175 Chinese ringneck or Mongolian ringneck pheasants, or both, or hybrids thereof, may be sold under a class 1 license. (b) A class 2 domesticated game breeder’s license is required in order to sell more than 175 Chinese ringneck or Mongolian ringneck pheasants, or both, or hybrids thereof, and entitles the licensee to all the rights and privileges of a class 1 license.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3203. Section 3203.

The department shall issue a class 1 domesticated game breeder’s license upon the payment of a base fee of eight dollars ($8), as adjusted under Section 713, and a class 2 domesticated game breeder’s license upon the payment of a base fee of forty dollars ($40), as adjusted under Section 713.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3204. Section 3204.

Licenses issued under the provisions of this article are valid for a term of one year from January 1st, or, if issued after the beginning of such term, for the remainder thereof. A domesticated game breeder’s license shall be conspicuously displayed on the property where the birds or mammals are held in captivity.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3205. Section 3205.

Carriers for hire may carry within the State live domesticated game birds and mammals upon such terms and conditions as the commission may prescribe.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3206. Section 3206.

No domesticated game bird or mammal shall be transported or sold dead unless each quarter and each loin of the carcass of each large mammal, the carcass of each bird, except as provided in Section 2401 for a domesticated game bird raised outside this State, and the carcass of each small mammal is tagged with a domesticated game breeder’s tag or seal. The tag or seal shall not be removed until such quarter, loin, or carcass is prepared for consumption. No tag so affixed shall be used again. No tag or seal shall be sold by the department to anyone other than a person who is legally in possession of domesticated game.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3208. Section 3208.

On or before January 31st of each year, every person to whom a domesticated game breeder’s license has been issued shall report the following to the department on a form provided by the department: (a) The total number of each species of game birds and mammals killed, sold, or shipped during the preceding year. (b) The names of the persons to whom such game birds or mammals were sold or shipped. (c) The name of the person in whose presence such game birds or mammals were tagged. (d) A complete list of the game birds and mammals held in his possession at the time the report is made. Such report shall be verified by the affidavit of the licensee.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3209. Section 3209.

(a) In lieu of the tag required by Section 3206, poultry processing plants licensed pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18650) or Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 18940) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which process domesticated game birds received from persons licensed pursuant to this article, may package each individual carcass in a nonreusable container clearly labeled on the outside with the species of bird and the wording “Product of a Licensed California Domesticated Game Breeder.” (b) Each processor receiving domesticated game birds shall keep a complete record of all birds received showing all of the following: (1) The date received. (2) The number and species of birds in each lot or shipment. (3) The complete name, address, and domesticated game breeders’ license number of the person from whom the birds were received. (4) The disposition of processed birds, the date of sale or shipment, the quantity and species sold or shipped, and the person to whom the birds were sold or shipped. (c) The records shall be retained by the processor for one year following date of processing. These records shall be subject to inspection upon demand by any officer of the department during hours the processing plant is in operation or open for business. (d) This section does not affect the requirements of Section 3206 governing tagging domesticated game birds for transportation by those other than licensed poultry processors.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3212. Section 3212.

The keeper of a hotel, restaurant, boardinghouse, or club may sell portions of a quarter or loin of a large mammal, or the carcass of a game bird or mammal raised or imported under a domesticated game breeder’s license, to a patron for actual consumption on the premises only, and no license for that purpose shall be required of such keeper or club. All keepers of hotels, restaurants, boardinghouses, or clubs who sell any such game for consumption to a patron shall be required to submit to the inspection of their premises by the department and shall display for such inspection any carcass or parts thereof held in storage for sale. All such game shall be tagged under Section 3206.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3213. Section 3213.

A retail meat dealer may, without a license, sell portions of a quarter or loin of a large mammal or the carcass of a game bird or mammal raised or imported under a domesticated game breeder’s license to a customer for actual consumption. Retail dealers shall submit their premises to inspection by the department, and shall display at any authorized inspection any carcass or parts thereof held by them in storage. Such game meat or carcasses shall be tagged under Section 3206.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3214. Section 3214.

Domesticated game breeders or other persons holding domesticated game mammals in captivity shall confine the mammals in escape-proof cages or enclosures. In the event any of the mammals escape from the cages or enclosures, the owner shall immediately make every reasonable effort to recapture them. If the owner fails to recapture the escaped mammals, the department may capture the mammals or remove them from the wild by whatever means may be necessary if, in the opinion of the department, the mammals may conflict with native species of birds or mammals or cause damage to public or private property. The owner shall reimburse the department for all costs incurred in capturing or removing the mammals from the wild. The owner of the mammals shall be responsible for any damage they may cause to public or private property. Any domesticated big game mammal may be marked with ear tags or other suitable markings or tags, as may be specified by the commission, which shall identify the owner of the mammals.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3216. Section 3216.

All domesticated game birds and mammals, excepting deer, sold under the provisions of this article, shall be killed otherwise than by shooting. This section does not apply to licensed pheasant clubs, licensed domesticated migratory game bird shooting areas, or to the training or practice of hunting dogs.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3217. Section 3217.

The carcass of a game bird which shows that it has been killed by shooting shall constitute prima facie evidence that it was not a domesticated game bird. The fact that the bird has been tagged in accordance with Section 3206 of this code shall not alter this presumption.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3218. Section 3218.

Any license issued under this article may be revoked by the commission upon conviction of the licensee of a violation of any provision of this code, and no similar license may be issued to the licensee during the same license year.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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