Tulare County, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 2-05-1220, Ordinance Code Ch. 5 Art. 5
- Conduct barred
- Hunt, kill, wound, capture or molest park wildlife
- Exception
- Self-defense from injury by animal
- Exception
- Designated hunting areas only
- Hunting-area control
- Insignia required, § 2-05-1225
- Violation class
- Infraction under § 125(a)
- Maximum fine
- $500 on 3rd conviction in a year
Summary
Tulare County bans hunting, killing, wounding, frightening, capturing, injuring or otherwise molesting any bird or animal inside a County Park or Recreation Area under Ordinance Code § 2-05-1220. The rule carries two exceptions: self-defense against an animal that threatens personal injury, and hunting within areas the county has specifically designated for that purpose.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, wound, frighten, capture, injure, tease or otherwise molest any bird or animal within a County Park or Recreation Area, except when necessary to prevent a bird or animal from inflicting personal injury on human beings; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not prohibit persons from hunting in designated hunting areas.
Full Breakdown
Section 2-05-1220 sits in Chapter 5, Article 5, 'Use of County Parks and Recreation Areas,' and it makes it unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, wound, frighten, capture, injure, tease or otherwise molest any bird or animal within a County Park or Recreation Area. The section carries two built-in exceptions: it does not apply when the act is necessary to prevent a bird or animal from inflicting personal injury on a human being, and it does not prohibit hunting within areas the county has designated for that purpose.
Designated hunting areas are separately controlled by section 2-05-1225, which lets the General Services Director cap the number of hunters admitted on any given day and require each hunter to display an identifying insignia issued by that office; entering a controlled hunting area without the insignia on a restricted day is itself unlawful. Firearms use in parks is governed by the neighboring section 2-05-1215, which bars discharging any firearm, air gun, slingshot, bow and arrow or explosive in a park except in a designated hunting area, where only shotguns loaded with shot may be fired.
Read together, the three sections mean a bird or animal in a Tulare County park is protected from being hunted, trapped or harassed everywhere in the park except inside a hunting area the county has formally marked out and staffed with an insignia system, and even there only shotguns are permitted weapons.
Violations & Fines
Section 2-05-1315(b) makes violating this article's protections, including the bar on molesting park wildlife in section 2-05-1220, an infraction rather than a misdemeanor, punishable under Ordinance Code section 125(a): up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second conviction of the same provision within a year, and $500 for a third or later conviction within that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed or capture birds in a Tulare County park?
Are there any places in Tulare County parks where hunting is allowed?
What is the penalty for molesting wildlife in a Tulare County park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulare County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tulare County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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