§ 4301 . Sale and importation of deer meat
§ 4302 . Retention of head of deer
§ 4303 . Use of deer skin; donation to veterans' organization or service committee
§ 4304 . Detaching or removing only head, hide, antlers, or horns prohibited; waste of flesh of game mammal or game bird prohibited
§ 4301. Sale and importation of deer meat
(a) As used in this section, “deer” includes any animal of the family Cervidae.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful to sell, purchase, or transport for the purpose of sale any deer meat in this state whether fresh, smoked, canned, or preserved by any means.
(c) The prohibition in subdivision (b) does not apply to the following:
(1) Conduct authorized by provisions of this code permitting the sale of domestically raised game mammals.
(2) Fallow deer meat processed by a slaughterer in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18650) of, and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 18940) of, Part 3 of Division 9 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(3) Deer meat imported into this state from a foreign country for the purpose of preparing and selling for human consumption a product commonly known and properly labeled as venison jerky, deer jerky, venison salami, or deer salami.
(d) All deer meat imported into this state shall meet all of the sanitary and inspection requirements for wholesomeness, except an antemortem inspection, but including a postmortem inspection, as required for other meat imported for human consumption.
(e) The deer meat shall be in an identifiable condition and accompanied by a bill of lading, showing the name of the consignor, the consignee, and the weight of the deer meat shipped. A copy of the bill of lading shall be delivered to the nearest office of the department either prior to, or not later than, two days from the date of receipt of the deer meat.
(f) No deer meat imported into this state may leave the premises of the original consignee unless written permission is received from the department, or unless it is processed into the form of the product commonly known as jerky or salami.
Credits
(Stats.1957, c. 456, p. 1386, § 4301. Amended by Stats.1967, c. 1570, p. 3764, § 1; Stats.2000, c. 373 (A.B.1173), § 1; Stats.2023, c. 132 (A.B.1760), § 89, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.)
Any person taking a deer shall retain possession of that portion of the deer's head that in adult males normally bears the antlers, during the open season for that deer and for 15 days thereafter, and shall produce that portion of the head upon the demand of any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this code.
Credits
(Stats.1957, c. 456, p. 1386, § 4302. Amended by Stats.1970, c. 111, p. 338, § 1; Stats.2023, c. 132 (A.B.1760), § 90, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.)
§ 4303. Use of deer skin; donation to veterans' organization or service committee
The skin or hide of any deer lawfully taken may be sold, purchased, tanned, or manufactured into articles for sale.
Skins or hides of deer lawfully taken may be donated at any time to veterans' organizations or veterans' service committees for use by veterans for rehabilitation purposes.
CREDIT(S)
(Stats.1957, c. 456, p. 1386, § 4303. Amended by Stats.1970, c. 111, p. 338, § 2.)
§ 4304. Detaching or removing only head, hide, antlers, or horns prohibited; waste of flesh of game mammal or game bird prohibited
(a) No person shall capture or destroy any deer and detach or remove from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, or horns.
(b) No person shall through carelessness or neglect leave any game mammal or game bird that is in that person's possession, or any of the flesh of that animal usually eaten by humans, to go needlessly to waste.
(c) The provisions of this section do not apply to game mammals taken pursuant to Section 4152.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.
Credits
(Stats.1957, c. 456, p. 1386, § 4304. Amended by Stats.1965, c. 866, p. 2466, § 1; Stats.2022, c. 469 (S.B.856), § 20, eff. Jan. 1, 2023; Stats.2023, c. 132 (A.B.1760), § 91, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.)