Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It is my understanding a resident may collect a predetermined amount of Common California king snakes in California “With a sport fishing license of course” breed and sell the offspring with no additional permits or licenses, Is this true?
My Research and Collection

Your license, fishing/reptile and I believe amphibian also, does allow you to collect up to 4 kings. It does not allow you to sell the kings or their offspring. California DFG is anal and rarely of any real help. They don't want you collecting and breeding. They don't want to deal with you and permits. So their answer is to make the permit for breeding and selling expensive. About $150 which if you consider the relatively small clutches of 6-8 eggs, the current price for cal kings in the KS classifieds, separate housing for the kings, food, etc. it's cost prohibitive. As a result of this many honest CA residents simply collect, breed, and sell without the permits. The cost, lack of help from DFG agents, and the regulations create a black market for cal kings. Just the opposite of what they should do.
Just my opinion.

You are correct limit is 4 wild caught with a fishing license and you need an additional breeders permit in order to sell captive born offspring. However the price is not $150, it is only about $45 per year. CA Fish & Game has made some claims that the permit system has made it easier to "launder" wild caughts but in the opinion of most hobbyists the permit system has greatly reduced the black market because it has caused the value of wild caughts to go down.
If you purchase captive borns from a licensed breeder you may possess an unlimited number of them but still only four wild caughts.

Thanks for the updated info on the price of the permit. It's been a few years since I considered working with cal kings. I'm pretty sure the cost back then was $150 but that's either wrong or outdated. The $45 cost does make it worth considering and yes, if the price is right it does kill the black market.
Thanks for the info.

No problem. I requested an application for a breeders permit last year but opted to wait as most of my Cal King were babies. It is pertty staightforward, just call CF&G and they will send it to you. It asks for you to list all your native CA animals and thier origins, either wc or cb with the original breeders name and permit number.
I may try to get it in a year or two when my snakes are older.

...the deal if you were to keep a wc and breed to a cb? What are the babies considered (legally)?
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

As long as you have the breeders permit you can breed anything, wc to wc, wc to cb and cb to cb. But in order to possess any wc in the first place you need a standard fishing license. So to breed wc you need both a fishing license and a breeders permit.
In all cases you limit on wc is 4.

...I'm obviously not in Ca but have a friend who can't figure out just what he needs when he gets there.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

I thought it was only 2 of a native species. I have to look that up again. It seems everytime you turn around out here there's some sort of new law or bill regarding herping.

reako45