New rule on returning tags.

Snoopdogg · Sep 11, 2024

Notice of Regulation Changes: California Deer Tag Preference Point Reinstatement Requirements

Effective July 1, 2024, some of the requirements for deer preference point reinstatements contained in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14 (T14), Section 708.14 changed. The changes were adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission during its public meeting on April 18, 2024.

Below are the new requirements for deer preference point reinstatements. All other deer preference point reinstatement provisions remain unchanged.

Hunt Parties – CCR, T14, Section 708.14(j)(1):
- Deer Tag Returns: A party member returning their first-choice premium tag before their tag season start date may return their tag only if their preference points are less than or equal to the party’s preference point average.
- Higher Point Members: If a party member has more preference points than the party's preference point average, all members of the party must return their tags for the higher preference point member to have their preference points reinstated. Following the return of all party tags before the tag season start date, the preference points of all party members will be reinstated.
Junior Hunters – CCR, T14, Section 708.14(l):
- Junior hunters who are returning their deer tags for preference point reinstatements before and/or after the deer tag season start dates must return all premium first-choice tags, and all returned tags must meet eligibility requirements for preference point reinstatement.

For information about preference point reinstatements, including instructions and deadline dates for returning tags for preference point reinstatements, visit the Exchanges, Returns, Preference Points page.

Please review these changes carefully to understand how they may affect your 2024 hunting plans and participation in future big game drawings.

Thank you for your attention to this important update.

Soj51hopeful · Sep 11, 2024

Good rule change.

RookieWYhntr · Sep 11, 2024

About time!

Snoopdogg · Sep 11, 2024

I think they may have heard a little bit about some abuses. Just guessin'.

D8hntr · Sep 11, 2024

Got this email yesterday.

Wiszard · Sep 11, 2024

I talked to a guy from this site who told me directly that he has a buddy who is a doctor that writes people in his hunting party doctor excuses in order to return tags and keep points. I like this rule change. Should have happened years ago.

huntindad4 · Sep 11, 2024

Had a guy in X1 last year tell me his uncle with 20 points that doesn't hunt gets his party tags every year.

The guy was all stoked he found out while hunting that his uncle's points had been reinstated and he would be hunting there again this year. Something like 12 years straight..

To top it off I'm about 75% sure the guy (who had shot a forked horn) was still hunting and at least shot at a buck we had been after. May have killed it.