The california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) is the responsible agency for conservation of california wildlife species and the habitats upon which they depend

The big game unit in the game conservation program of the wildlife branch is responsible for coordinating statewide conservation and management activities for mule deer (odocoileus hemionus), ELK (cervus canadensis), pronghorn (antilocapra americana), bighorn sheep (ovis canadensis), and black bear (ursus americanus). These activities include the development of species conservation and management plans recommendations and implementation of conservation and management actions oversight of contracted and internal resource assessment projects coordination of monitoring, research and habitat enhancement projects development of hunting regulation recommendations providing technical assistance and expertise regarding resource issues engaging the public through outreach and providing leadership and coordination for conservation efforts across 6 cdfw regional jurisdictions throughout california (i.e., northern region, north central region, BAY delta region, central region, south coast region, inland deserts region). Wildlife branch activities complement those in cdfw regions, and do not duplicate other cdfw activities supported by either state or federal assistance funds under the wildlife restoration pittman-robertson act (PR). Cdfw is responsible for ensuring that abundant, genetically-diverse, and disease-resilient populations of deer, sheep, ELK, pronghorn, and bear are conserved throughout california while providing for regulated harvest, other human values towards wildlife, and CO-management with california tribes and other groups. Effective pursuit of these objectives requires species-level coordination by a fully-staffed big game unit that possesses expertise and logistical capacity in species biology, conservation planning, land management, regulatory development, project management, resource assessment and monitoring, data management, population modeling, communication, and administration. The unit also supports population modeling, and other biostatistical analyses, for other wildlife species as needed by other programs in the wildlife branch.