Mammals: use of dogs to pursue bears and bobcats.

Existing law, with specified exceptions, makes it unlawful to permit or allow a dog to pursue any bear, as defined, or bobcat at any time. 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 any bear or bobcat in violation of this prohibition or to capture or dispatch a dog inflicting injury or immediately threatening to inflict injury on any bear or bobcat at any time. This bill would eliminate this prohibition, the exceptions, and this authority of the department. This bill would instead generally prohibit a person from using dogs to hunt, pursue, or molest bears, but would permit the use of one dog per hunter for the hunting of bears during open deer season, and the use of more than one dog per hunter during the open bear season except during the period when archery deer seasons or regular deer seasons are open. Existing law authorizes the Fish and Game Commission to establish a hound tag program, imposing certain requirements on the licensure and use of hounds, as defined, to pursue mammals. This bill would repeal this authorization. Under existing law, except as excluded, violations of the Fish and Game Code are misdemeanors. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.