Elk Hunting

The California Fish and Game Commission is implementing regulatory actions to amend sections 353, 364, 364.1, 555, and 555.1 of Title 14, CCR, to manage elk hunting seasons, tag quotas, hunt area definitions, methods of take, and tag eligibility. These amendments aim to maintain sustainable harvests, improve management flexibility, address localized elk conflicts, and expand equitable public hunting opportunities in alignment with statewide population objectives. The initiative is supported by environmental analyses, including a 2019 Supplemental Environmental Document and a 2026 CEQA Addendum, which evaluate the environmental impacts of adjusting tag quotas and season dates to ensure compliance with wildlife conservation policies. The regulatory framework includes the establishment of cooperative elk hunting areas on private lands to encourage habitat protection and the development of a statewide elk management plan per FGC Section 3952. Hunting performance is structured across five distinct periods starting in September and concluding in December. Administrative oversight is provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the Fish and Game Commission serving as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act. The scope of these actions involves analyzing harvest scenarios, elk distribution, and land ownership to balance public recreational opportunities with ecological sustainability.