Wildlife: hunting licenses.

Existing law requires every person who takes any bird or mammal to first obtain a license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law requires the department to issue a license, upon payment of a base fee of $8.25, as adjusted, to a resident or nonresident who is under 16 years of age on July 1 of the licensing year for which he or she seeks a license. Existing law requires the department to issue a license to a resident of this state who is 16 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of $31.25, as adjusted, and to a nonresident who is 16 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of $108.50, as adjusted. Existing law requires the department to issue a 2-day license to a nonresident who is 16 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of $31.25, as adjusted. This bill would instead require the department, beginning July 1, 2015, and until July 1, 2020, to issue a license, upon payment of a base fee of $8.25, as adjusted, to a resident or nonresident who is under 18 years of age on July 1 of the licensing year for which he or she seeks a license. The bill would require the department, beginning July 1, 2015, and until July 1, 2020, to issue a 2-day license to a nonresident who is 18 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of $31.25, as adjusted. Existing regulations provide that entry permits to specified lands operated by the department will be issued to persons 16 or 17 years of age in possession of a valid resident or nonresident hunting license and authorize those persons to hunt by themselves, but prohibit them from being accompanied by a person under 16 years of age. This bill would codify those regulations.