The Overview

A new California law requires the Fish and Game Commission to create a program that lets big-game hunters transfer a tag to their child or grandchild. The program ends on January 1, 2033. California's Hunting tags: transfer: youth program, AB 2207 became law when Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed it Sept. 27. ​

Hunting participation has been declining nationally, with urbanization, limited access to land, and changing youth leisure habits among the contributing factors, according to NPR. The Sierra Daily News framed the law as supporting family hunting traditions in California.

What the Law Does

The law requires the Fish and Game Commission to set up a tag transfer program covering big-game species that require tags beyond a standard hunting license, including antelope, elk, deer, bears, and bighorn rams. Under existing law, a person could not transfer a tag issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, but the new law creates an exception for transfers to a child or grandchild, subject to specified conditions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife must charge a fee for each transfer to cover its costs, and deposit that revenue into the Big Game Management Account.

The commission will set the specific conditions for transfers, meaning the full rules for how a hunter applies and what qualifies a child or grandchild will come through a separate rulemaking process. Because the program sunsets on Jan. 1, 2033, the commission's rules will also need to account for that end date.

Legislative Status

Asm. Heather Hadwick (R-CA-1) sponsored the bill. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation described it as a measure that would establish a hunting-tag transfer program allowing a person to transfer a tag to their child or grandchild.

Every recorded vote was unanimous: an Assembly committee passed it 13-0 on April 14, another Assembly committee passed it 14-0 on May 6, the full Assembly passed it 77-0 on May 14, and a Senate committee passed it 7-0 on June 23. The full Senate passed it 40-0 on Aug. 27, and the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments 78-0 on Aug. 30.

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