§ 2003 Prize Hunting Contests Prohibited

This law says you can't give prizes for catching birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians in contests unless you have a special permit or fall under one of the listed exceptions.

Key Takeaways

•You need a permit to offer prizes for catching wildlife in contests, unless an exception applies.
•The department can waive the permit fee for contests aimed at kids under 16 or people with disabilities.
•Frog‑jumping contests and Pacific Ocean fish contests are automatically allowed.
•If the total prizes for a bird or mammal contest are under $500, a permit isn’t needed.
•Prizes must be the same amount for men and women at each competition level.

Example

A community center organizes a fishing tournament for kids under 16 and wants to give each winner a small gift.

Because the tournament is for kids under 16 and is meant to teach them about fishing, the department can waive the permit fee and the contest is allowed even though it offers prizes.

How to Calculate

No fixed numeric formula in the statute; the permit fee is set by the department based on reasonable administrative costs.

The applicant fills out a permit application.
The department looks at how much it costs to process the permit.
The department sets a fee that covers those costs, unless the contest is for kids under 16 or for people with a disability, in which case the fee can be waived.

A fishing derby for adults applies for a permit.

Result: The permit fee would be $150 because the department sets the fee to cover the $150 administrative cost.

(a) Except as specified in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e), it is unlawful to offer a prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of a game bird, or the taking of any mammal, fish, reptile, or amphibian in an individual contest, tournament, or derby. (b) The department may issue a permit to a person authorizing that person to offer a prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of a game fish, as defined by the commission by regulation, if it finds that there would be no detriment to the resource. The permit is subject to regulations adopted by the commission. The application for the permit shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount determined by the department as necessary to cover the reasonable administrative costs incurred by the department in issuing the permit. However, the department may waive the permit fee if the contest, tournament, or derby is for persons who are under 16 years of age or have a physical or mental disability, and the primary purpose of the contest, tournament, or derby is to introduce those anglers to or educate them about fishing. All permits for which the fee is waived pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with all other requirements set forth in this section. (c) This section does not apply to a person conducting what is generally known as a frog-jumping contest, or, in waters of the Pacific Ocean, what is generally known as a fish contest. (d) This section does not apply to a person conducting an individual contest, tournament, or derby for the taking of a game bird or game mammal, if the total value of all prizes or other inducements is less than five hundred dollars ($500) for the individual contest, tournament, or derby. (e) (1) As used in this subdivision: (A) “Event” means a competition event on lands managed by the department. (B) “Prize compensation” includes prize or purse money, other prizes, goods, or other compensation. (2) The department, for any event that awards prize compensation to competitors in gendered categories, shall require as a condition of a permit pursuant to this section that, for any participant level that receives prize compensation, the prize compensation for each gendered category be identical at each participant level. The department shall not approve a permit for an event that does not comply with this condition. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 32. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

This law says you can't give prizes for catching birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians in contests unless you have a special permit or fall under one of the listed exceptions.

Key Takeaways

•You need a permit to offer prizes for catching wildlife in contests, unless an exception applies.
•The department can waive the permit fee for contests aimed at kids under 16 or people with disabilities.
•Frog‑jumping contests and Pacific Ocean fish contests are automatically allowed.
•If the total prizes for a bird or mammal contest are under $500, a permit isn’t needed.
•Prizes must be the same amount for men and women at each competition level.

Example

A community center organizes a fishing tournament for kids under 16 and wants to give each winner a small gift.

Because the tournament is for kids under 16 and is meant to teach them about fishing, the department can waive the permit fee and the contest is allowed even though it offers prizes.

How to Calculate

No fixed numeric formula in the statute; the permit fee is set by the department based on reasonable administrative costs.

The applicant fills out a permit application.
The department looks at how much it costs to process the permit.
The department sets a fee that covers those costs, unless the contest is for kids under 16 or for people with a disability, in which case the fee can be waived.

A fishing derby for adults applies for a permit.

Result: The permit fee would be $150 because the department sets the fee to cover the $150 administrative cost.

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

§ 2003 Prize Hunting Contests Prohibited

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References