Question: My friends that hunt big game and waterfowl often give me deer hide or duck wings and body feathers which I use to tie flies for fishing. In the past I have given them flies in return for the hair, fur and feathers. In addition, I have sold flies to a few local sport stores, which can contain materials provided by my hunter friends. Would I be violating Fish and Game laws by trading (bartering) or selling these flies?
Granted, these hunters provided materials that make a very small portion of the flies. However, I grew up among sportsmen in a culture that encouraged the sharing of the harvest (taken by hunting or fishing) and an ethic of using the harvest to the fullest extent (meat, fur, hair and feathers). Please let me know.
— Terry T., Davis
Answer: Yes and no. If the flies you tie are made only with the deer hair your friends have given you, then you can sell them. Any flies you tie with bird feathers from birds hunted in California cannot be sold. This would violate several sections of the Fish and Game code.
There are some exceptions for mammals taken under a trapping license or that are raised under a domesticated game-breeding license.
Buying and selling parts of bird and mammal species that do not exist in the wild in California are not restricted under this law. For a list of non-California species, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/ genplantsanimals.html
Q: If I go out alone and I have 10 hoop nets on my boat, but I only have five baited nets, am I OK or do I need to remove the unbaited nets to comply?
— Anonymous
A: No more than five hoop nets can be possessed by a person when taking spiny lobster or crab. However, if there are two or more persons on your boat, you can have up to, but not more than 10 hoop nets onboard. These restrictions apply whether or not the nets are baited.
Q: In the big-game regulations it states that shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing single slugs can be used for taking deer, bear and wild pigs. In areas where the discharge of rifles or shotguns with slugs is prohibited by county ordinance, shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing size 0 or 00 buckshot can be used for taking deer only. Does that mean buckshot can be used for deer anywhere hunting is legal? Slugs are not prohibited in my county, but I want to confirm buckshot is legal also.
— Mike D.
A: No, 0 and 00 buckshot are legal to use for deer only and only in areas where the discharge of rifles or shotguns with slugs is prohibited by county ordinance. Buckshot is not legal to use for taking big game otherwise.
Q: Is it legal to sell or buy Eurasian starling, English house sparrow or feral pigeon taxidermy mounts in California? I'm assuming it's legal since they are not protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and they are not native to the state. However, they do fall under the "found in the wild" terminology I found online in the codes. Are invaders like starling, pigeon and sparrow OK as well?
— Terry T.
A: No, these birds cannot be bought or sold in California. Each of these species is found in the wild in California and the prohibition against selling applies, even though there is no closed season and they may be taken without the person being required to have a hunting license.
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