The Game Act was passed in 1852 by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor John Bigler.

The Game Act closed seasons in 12 counties for quail, partridge, mallard and wood ducks, elk, deer, and antelope.

Lake Merritt in Oakland was made the first game refuge of California in 1869, believed to be the first in the United States.

In 1870, the Legislature, with the support of Governor Henry Huntly Haight, created the Board of Fish Commissioners.

This change reflects the trend toward expansion of the Agencies' missions from sport fishing and hunting alone, to protection of non-game wildlife and whole ecosystems.

Their primary mission is to enforce California state laws related to hunting, fishing, pollution, endangered species, and wildlife habitat destruction.

Vehicles used range from the patrol pickups to boats, catamarans, four-wheelers, snow-mobiles, horses, helicopters, and planes.

The wardens investigate, collect evidence, serve search warrants, arrest criminals, and ensure public safety.

[9][10] Given that the CDFW Law Enforcement Division has faced low numbers of Wildlife Officers for the last ten years.[when?

Marine officers enforce commercial and sport fishing laws through spot checks on the water and on land.

The SOU investigates crimes related to improper use of California's natural resources, including poaching of fish and game.

[15] The CDFW operates an Air Services unit for the purposes of aerial surveillance, fish stocking, and transportation.