Existing law, with specified exceptions, makes it unlawful to permit or allow any dog to pursue any big game mammal during the closed season on that mammal, to pursue any fully protected, rare, or endangered mammal at any time, to pursue any bear or bobcat at any time, or to pursue any mammal in a game refuge or ecological reserve if hunting within that refuge or ecological reserve is unlawful. Existing law authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture a dog not under the reasonable control of its owner or handler that is pursuing these animals in violation of this prohibition or to capture or dispatch a dog inflicting injury or immediately threatening to inflict injury on these animals under specified circumstances. Under existing law, any violation of the Fish and Game Code, or of any rule, regulation, or order made or adopted under the code, is generally a crime.

This bill would make it unlawful to use any dog for the purpose of hunting deer at any time. Because a violation of this provision would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the department to capture or dispatch a dog being used to hunt deer under specified circumstances.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.