The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is expanding its Lands Pass Program (Program) to include 43 wildlife areas and ecological reserves where visitors must possess a lands pass while on the property. To see all the DCFW lands, go to this map: https://map.dfg.ca.gov/lands/
CDFW manages over 1 million acres of land, most of which is located on 247 ecological reserves and wildlife areas across the state. The majority of funding to manage these lands comes from hunters and anglers through a variety of federal and state programs. The State Legislature directed CDFW to develop more income for land management from user fees by expanding the Program which is currently implemented at six properties.
In August 2016, after a lengthy public review process, the Fish and Game Commission voted to add an additional 37 properties. See below.
Visitors will be exempt from the lands pass requirement if they are under 16 years of age or are carrying a valid California hunting or fishing license. School or organized youth group field trips are also exempt. Lands passes will not be required until the properties have signs posted that explain the requirement.
This year, a daily Lands Pass costs $4.32 and an annual Lands Pass costs $24.33.
More information about the Lands Pass Program is at
www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/Lands-Pass
If you have questions about the Lands Pass Program, please contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Julie Horenstein
Ecological Reserve Coordinator Lands Program,
Wildlife Branch California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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From the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife website:
"Wildlife Areas and Ecological Reserves managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are enjoyed by a wide variety of visitors: hikers, birdwatchers, photographers, wildflower enthusiasts, hunters, anglers (people who fish), and more. However, most of the funding used to manage these properties come from two types of visitors: hunters and anglers. To engage all visitors in supporting the areas they appreciate, CDFW has implemented a Lands Pass Program on a limited number of properties since the early 1990s. With recent direction from the Legislature, this program is expanding to 43 properties by 2018."