Section 715 - Special Hunt Permit Issuance and Drawings in ALDS(a) Special Hunts. A special hunt is a hunting opportunity, not otherwise specified in Fish and Game Code or these regulations, available to anyone with a valid annual California hunting license and any required validations or applicant statuses, for which the department may issue permits where participation is limited to a set number of available permits. Special hunt permits do not alter any season, size limit, bag limit or hunting quota specified in Fish and Game Code or these regulations. (1) The department shall establish the parameters of each hunt with consideration for public interest, hunter and public safety, department capacity and staffing, hunt quality, wildlife habitat and species abundance.(2) The hunt parameters will include, but are not limited to, species, location, season, maximum hunting party size, whether one or more additional hunter(s) or nonhunter(s) are allowed, the number of permits available, applicant statuses (apprentice, mobility impaired, new hunter, military veteran) method of take, and permit issuance method. For the purpose of this section, a "nonhunter" is a person in attendance at a special hunt who is not listed on any permit for that hunt, but who is invited as a guest or guardian of a permit holder. A nonhunter may only aid a permit holder in finding, pursuit, and attempting to take game, but a nonhunter may not themselves use a firearm, air rifle or archery equipment to take a game bird or game mammal during the special hunt. (A) Apprentice Status: The department may offer "apprentice" hunting opportunities that are limited to junior hunters as defined in subdivision 3031(a)(2) of the Fish and Game Code or parties that include at least one junior hunter.(B) Mobility Impaired Status: The department may offer hunting opportunities that are limited to mobility impaired hunters and disabled license holders or parties that include at least one such hunter. 1. A "mobility impaired hunter" is defined as any person who possesses a valid California hunting license and one of the following:a. A valid California special license plate for a disabled person or a disabled veteran issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 5007. A copy of the vehicle registration showing the special license plate for a disabled person or a disabled veteran was issued to the person must be in their possession while hunting.b. A valid California disabled person parking placard issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22511.55 or California Vehicle Code Section 22511.59. The parking placard must be issued in the disabled person's name and the person must possess the placard identification card while hunting.2. A "disabled license holder" is defined as any person who has been issued a hunting license for the hunting license year pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 3033.(C) New Hunter Status: The department may offer hunting opportunities that are limited to new hunters, or parties that include at least one new hunter. For purposes of this section, an individual is considered a new hunter beginning on the date of issuance of their first 1-day, 2-day or annual California hunting license, and for a period extending through the remainder of the license year from the date of issuance and for the following four consecutive subsequent license years.(D) Veteran Status: The department may offer opportunities that are limited to applicants based on veteran status. Veterans must provide their DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, upon request.(3) For the purpose of this section only, a "hunting party" is one or more hunters who apply together for a special hunt permit on a single application.(4) A "hunt group" is a designated grouping of one or more special hunt opportunities from which applicants may select and apply for a special hunt. The department shall establish hunt groups based on common hunt parameters. Each hunt shall be assigned into a hunt group. The department will establish the permit issuance method specified in subsections (c) through (e) for each hunt group.(5) The department shall announce the availability of special hunt opportunities and the parameters of the hunts at least 30 calendar days prior to the earliest hunt date by posting information on the department website (https://wildlife.ca.gov/) concurrent with the availability of special hunt permit applications in the department's Automated License Data System (ALDS).(b) General Application Eligibility and Procedures:(1) Applicants must apply through the department's ALDS terminals at department license agents, department license sales offices or on the department's website.(2) An applicant may be a resident or nonresident and must possess an annual hunting license valid for the hunting season for which the applicant is applying.(c) Issued Upon Request Issuance Method (1) The issued upon request issuance method is used when the demand for the opportunity is not expected to exceed the number of available permits. Permits will be issued upon department receipt of a complete application in ALDS.(2) Procedures(A) Permits for the hunt group will be made available at least 10 days prior to the hunt season start date.(B) Eligible applicants are limited to one permit per hunt group and may claim a permit until all available permits are issued.(C) The applicant shall submit a non-refundable fee as specified in Section 702 of these regulations for each issued upon request permit.(d) Draw-By-Choice Issuance Method (1) The draw-by-choice issuance method is used when demand for the opportunity exceeds the number of available permits. These hunts may have assigned hunting areas that can support multiple hunters and may allow party applications. A party application is an application with multiple hunters on the application with the party leader. Applicants may submit one application for one or more hunt opportunities within a hunt group. Applicants prioritize their selections in their order of preference, up to the maximum number of hunt choices allowable from among the hunts in the hunt group pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(E). Applicants will be awarded a maximum of one permit from among all the hunts in the hunt group. The hunt group parameters will specify the maximum number of hunters that may apply as a hunting party on an application. When applying as a hunting party, either all party members are successful, or all are unsuccessful.(2) Procedures (A) Drawing applications must be submitted in ALDS at least 21 days prior to the first hunt date for each hunt group.(B) The applicant shall submit a non-refundable fee as specified in Section 702 of these regulations for each application submitted.(C) For drawings that allow party applications, each applicant shall specify if the applicant is applying as a party leader or joining an existing hunting party.(D) Each applicant applying as a party leader shall be assigned a unique party identification number from ALDS.1. To apply as a hunting party, the party leader shall apply first and provide the assigned party identification number to the other party members.2. An applicant joining an existing hunting party shall provide the party identification number of the party leader. An applicant joining a hunting party shall be assigned the same application choice(s) as the party leader.(E) The department will set the maximum hunt choices based on the parameters of the hunt group and the number of permits available within that hunt group.(F) Each application shall be assigned a computer-generated random number. Party applications will be assigned one number for the entire hunting party.(G) The department will conduct drawings at least 10 business days prior to the earliest hunt date.(H) Permits are awarded to applications based on hunt choice and random number (lowest to highest) until the permit quota has been met. When a party application is processed in the drawing and the available permit quota is greater than or equal to number of party members, all party members will be awarded a permit. If the remaining quota is less than the total number of party members, all party members will be unsuccessful.(e) Draw-By-Hunt Issuance Method (1) The draw-by-hunt issuance method is used when the demand for the opportunity exceeds the number of available permits. Applicants in these drawings are applying for a single hunt opportunity. These hunts allow for applications of only one hunter. The hunt parameters will state whether the permit holder is allowed to bring one or more hunter(s) or nonhunter(s) to the hunt. Additional hunters or nonhunters cannot participate in the hunt if unaccompanied by the named permit holder. The draw-by-hunt permit is non-transferable. This issuance method is used to award permits for a hunt group where multiple similar special hunt opportunities occur over the course of a hunting season. Drawings occur separately for each hunt.(2) Procedures (A) Drawing applications must be submitted in ALDS at least 21 days prior to the hunt date.(B) The applicant shall submit a non-refundable fee as specified in Section 702 of these regulations for each hunt for which they apply.(C) Each applicant may apply only once for each hunt.(D) Each application shall be assigned a computer-generated random number.(E) Permits are awarded to applications based on hunt selection and random number (lowest to highest) until the permit quota has been met.(F) The department will conduct drawings at least 10 business days prior to the hunt date.(f) Drawing Results. Successful applicants will be notified via email, telephone, or U.S. postal mail. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified. Drawing results will be available by logging in to the applicant's profile in the department's Online License Sales and Services website.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 715
Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203 and 1050, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 1050 and 3682.1, Fish and Game Code.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203 and 1050, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 1050, 3500, 3682.1 and 3683, Fish and Game Code.
1. New section filed 2-27-2017; operative 3/15/2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2017, No. 9).
2. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 7-1-2024; operative 7/1/2024 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2024, No. 27).