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Due to staffing shortages the recreational hunting program is currently limited. Please refer to Camp Pendleton’s iSportsman home page at pendleton.isportsman.net for the most up to date information on availability.
During this period of limited recreational hunting, Conservation Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) continue to offer fishing program, enforcement of environmental regulations, and wildlife conflict management. Current fishing information is available on the iSportsman Home Page (scroll below the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor for more details). Fishing availability is updated COB every Thursday. Any questions related to the hunting and fishing programs can be directed to the Conservation Law Enforcement Section (CLS) at 760-725-3360.
The Mission of the CLS is to provide Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with resource, cultural, environmental mission program support, and CLEO investigations of specific violations. The CLS also manages wildlife conflict and recreational hunting and fishing programs while providing quality of life to customers; and ensuring compliance to applicable laws.
Compliance is accomplished by providing base-wide CLEO responses, patrols and investigations into resource and environmental related violations along with providing technician support to minimize human/wildlife conflict on base while ensuring today’s and future generations of Marines, Sailors, their families and others are able to safely enjoy recreational fishing and hunting activities.
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In 1973, plains bison were introduced onto Camp Pendleton as a gift from the San Diego Zoo. From 1973-1979, 14 total bison were presented to the base. The bison herd was last surveyed in 2015, and now consist of approximately 90 individuals. It along with another herd on Santa Catalina Island are the only two wild conservation herds of bison in California.
The base has a robust bison herd management plan that was written in 2015, it is included in 2018's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan and is around 15 pages in length.
Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, run up to 35 miles per hour and are extremely agile. Use caution should if you encounter a bison aboard Camp Pendleton and stay at least 150 feet away.
On occasion, bison are injured on base. If you come across an injured bison, give it space and stay at least 150 feet away. If a bison turns sideways and shakes it's head, that is bison body language for "Stay Away!"
Although the base conducts some animal management activities to ensure the health of the ecosystem and specific populations, as long as animals are not a threat to the public, the ecosystem, or the Marine Corps' ability to train they are mostly left alone to live and die naturally.
We understand that some people in the community may find this policy insensitive or cruel, but our priority here at Camp Pendleton is to provide safe training areas to the Marine Corps in a way that complies with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Excessive management or interference with the animals on the base does not support this objective.
Environmental Security: Conservation Law Enforcement Section P.O. Box 555008 Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5008