Game mammals: wild pig depredation.

(1) Existing law defines the term "wild pig" for purposes of managing, taking, or hunting that species. The bill would also define "pigs" and prohibit the release of pigs into uncontrolled areas. The bill would provide that an area shall be deemed controlled if the pigs are regularly cared for and enclosed by a lawful fence, as defined. The bill would provide that an owner of a pig that escapes from a controlled area who has complied with this provision is not deemed to be in violation of any law that prohibits the release of any animal. (2) Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to prepare a management plan for wild pigs and provides that funds deposited in the Big Game Management Account shall be available to the department to be used for, among other things, acquiring land, completing projects, and implementing programs to benefit specified game mammals. Existing law authorizes the department to make grants to, reimburse, or enter into contracts or other agreements with nonprofit organizations for these purposes. The bill would delete the requirement that the department prepare a management plan for wild pigs. The bill would also require the department's granting criteria for Big Game Management Account programs to include consideration for projects that restore wildland habitat affected by wild pigs. The bill would also authorize the use of funds from this account for grants and reimbursement to, and contracts with, state and federal land management agencies for projects on lands that are open for hunting. (3) Existing law classifies the wild pig as a game mammal and requires a person to procure, as specified, either a hunting license and a wild pig tag or a depredation permit in order to take a wild pig. However, existing law provides that any wild pig that is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to, or damaging or destroying, or threatening to immediately damage or destroy, land or other property may be taken immediately by the owner or the owner's employee or agent, as specified. Existing regulations prohibit a person with a hunting license and a wild pig tag from taking a wild pig between 12 hour after sunset and 12 hour before sunrise. Existing regulations authorize a person with a depredation permit to take a wild pig during the hours specified in the permit. This bill would revise and recast the provisions applicable to wild pigs by, among other things, reclassifying the wild pig as a nongame mammal for taking or possessing purposes. The bill would replace the wild pig tag requirement with a validation on the hunting license that would allow for the unlimited take and possession of wild pigs. The bill would set the price of a wild pig validation at $15 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. The bill would prohibit the taking of wild pigs at night, as specified, except by landowners or their employees or agents of depredating wild pigs if the department is notified by 3:00 p.m. prior to the planned take or, if the daylight hours before the planned take are not on a business day, by 3:00 p.m. of the last business day before the planned take and the person taking the wild pig possesses a valid hunting license. The bill would provide that the permission granted for the planned take under these provisions applies to the night designated in the notification and the six nights following. (4) Existing law establishes the base fees for wild pig tags beginning with the year 2004 and requires their adjustment annually according to the change in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, as published by the United States Department of Commerce. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine this change and to recalculate the current base fees charged for each license, stamp, permit, tag, or other entitlement issued by the department and requires the Fish and Game Commission to comply with these requirements. This bill would instead, beginning with the 2014 license year, authorize the commission to adjust annually the base fees for wild pig validations to an amount that raises revenues not to exceed its costs of regulation relating to wild pigs. (5) The bill would make other technical and conforming changes to these provisions. (6) Because the bill would create new crimes, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (7) 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.