Everything you need to plan your California hunting trips, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunting zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.
Overview
Known For
California is known for having the earliest deer seasons in the nation, along with opportunities to harvest Pronghorn antelope; Nelson Bighorn sheep; Tule, Roosevelt, and Rocky Mountain elk; black bear, wild pigs, and many other furbearers, upland birds, and waterfowl. Of the three elk species in California, the Tule elk are the smallest of all the elk species in North America and are endemic to the state.
Terrain
California has varied topography, from its 11 distinct mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada to its famous agricultural valleys like Napa Valley and Central Valley. The state also features many deserts, basins, plateaus, and has almost 200,000 acres of coastal wetlands. Its land area covers 163,696 square miles, making California the third largest state in the nation.
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Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone, Southern California Zone, Balance of State Zone
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Oct 23, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Duck
Colorado River Zone
Oct 23, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Jul 29, 2023 – Aug 6, 2023
Elk – Archery – Tule
Fort Hunter Liggett only either-sex
Jul 29, 2023
Aug 6, 2023
Aug 12, 2023 – Aug 20, 2023
Elk – Archery – Tule
Owens Valley Multiple Zone bull (Early)
Aug 12, 2023
Aug 20, 2023
Aug 15, 2023 – Aug 18, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 1 antlerless
Aug 15, 2023
Aug 18, 2023
Aug 15, 2023 – Aug 18, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 1 antlerless
Aug 15, 2023
Aug 18, 2023
Aug 17, 2023 – Aug 20, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 2 spike bull
Aug 17, 2023
Aug 20, 2023
Aug 17, 2023 – Aug 20, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 2 spike bull
Aug 17, 2023
Aug 20, 2023
Aug 30, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Elk – Archery – Rocky Mountain
Northeastern either-sex
Aug 30, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Sep 2, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Elk – General – Rocky Mountain
Tehachapi antlerless
Tehachapi Bull
Sep 2, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 28, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
East Park Reservoir antlerless
East Park Reservoir bull
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 28, 2023
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Roosevelt
Marble Mountains either-sex
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – General – Roosevelt
Marble Mountains antlerless
Marble Mountains bull
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 28, 2023
Elk – General – Roosevelt
Northwestern antlerless
Northwestern bull
Northwestern either-sex
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 28, 2023
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – General – Roosevelt
Siskiyou antlerless
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Lake Pillsbury Period 1 antlerless
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 15, 2023
Sep 7, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 8 spike bull
Sep 7, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – Archery – Tule
Lone Pine Period 1 antlerless
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – Muzzleloader – Tule
Independence Period 1 bull
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Goodale period 1 bull
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
West Tinemaha Period 1 bull
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 12, 2023 – Sep 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 9 antlerless
Sep 12, 2023
Sep 15, 2023
Sep 13, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Rocky Mountain
Northeastern either-sex
Sep 13, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 13, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – General – Rocky Mountain
Northeastern bull
Sep 13, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 14, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 10 bull
Sep 14, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 19, 2023 – Sep 22, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 11 antlerless
Sep 19, 2023
Sep 22, 2023
Sep 20, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Elk – General – Roosevelt/Tule
Mendocino bull
Sep 20, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Sep 21, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 12 bull
Sep 21, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 25, 2023 – Oct 4, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Lake Pillsbury Period 2 bull
Sep 25, 2023
Oct 4, 2023
Sep 26, 2023 – Sep 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Grizzly Island Period 13 antlerless
Sep 26, 2023
Sep 29, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – Archery – Tule
Owens Valley Multiple Zone bull (late)
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Dec 5, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Central Coast antlerless
Central Coast Bull
Oct 7, 2023
Dec 5, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Goodale Period 2 antlerless
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Independence Period 2 antlerless
Independence Period 2 bull
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Lone Pine Period 2 bull
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
San Luis Reservoir either-sex
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Whitney Period 2 bull
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 11, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Elk – General – Roosevelt
Siskiyou bull
Oct 11, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Tule
Cache Creek Period 1 bull
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Tule
La Panza antlerless
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Bear Valley Antlerless
Bear Valley Bull
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Cache Creek Period 1 bull
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
La Panza Period 1 antlerless
La Panza Period 1 bull
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Cache Creek Period 2 antlerless
Oct 21, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Goodale Period 3 antlerless
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Independence Period 3 antlerless
Independence Period 3 bull
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Whitney Period 3 antlerless
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Elk – Muzzleloader/Archery – Roosevelt
Marble Mountains either-sex
Oct 28, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 4, 2023 – Nov 12, 2023
Elk – Archery – Tule
Fort Hunter Liggett only antlerless
Nov 4, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
Nov 8, 2023 – Nov 19, 2023
Elk – General – Rocky Mountain
Northeastern antlerless
Nov 8, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Gabilan antlerless
Gabilan bull
Nov 11, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
La Panza Period 2 antlerless
La Panza Period 2 bull
Nov 11, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Nov 22, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Fort Hunter Liggett Period 2 antlerless
Nov 22, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Dec 19, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Elk – Apprentice – Tule
Fort Hunter Liggett antlerless
Fort Hunter Liggett bull
Dec 19, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Dec 19, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Elk – General – Tule
Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 bull
Dec 19, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 2, 2023
Goose – Early season (Large CAGO only)
Balance of State Zone
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Jan 14, 2024
Goose – Canada Geese
Northeastern Zone
Oct 7, 2023
Jan 14, 2024
Oct 7, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Goose – White and White-Fronted Geese (Season 1)
Northeastern Zone
Oct 7, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose
Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone, Southern California Zone, and Colorado River Zone
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Oct 21, 2023 – Jan 20, 2024
Goose
Balance of State Zone
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 20, 2024
Jan 4, 2024 – Jan 17, 2024
Goose – White and White-Fronted Geese (Season 2)
Northeastern Zone
Jan 4, 2024
Jan 17, 2024
Feb 7, 2024 – Mar 10, 2024
Goose – White and White-Fronted Geese (Late season)
Northeastern Zone
Feb 7, 2024
Mar 10, 2024
Feb 17, 2024 – Feb 21, 2024
Goose – White and White-Fronted Geese
Balance of State Zone
Feb 17, 2024
Feb 21, 2024
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 8, 2023
Sooty and Ruffed Grouse – Archery
Daily Bag Limit 2; All of one species or mixed.
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 8, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Soot and Ruffed Grouse – Falconry
Daily Bag Limit 2; All of one species or mixed.
Aug 19, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Sep 9, 2023 – Oct 9, 2023
Sooty and Ruffed Grouse – General
Daily Bag Limit 2; All of one species or mixed.
Sep 9, 2023
Oct 9, 2023
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Wild Pig
No bag limit. Requires hunting license and wild pig tag.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Pheasant – Falconry
Daily bag limit of 2 pheasants per day for first two days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season.The daily falconry bag may contain birds of either sex. Hawking hours are Sunrise to Sunset.
Aug 19, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Pheasant – Archery (1st season)
Daily Bag Limit: 2 pheasants per day for first two days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season. The daily archery bag may contain not more than 1 female pheasant.
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 24, 2023
Pheasant – General
Daily Bag Limit: 2 males per day for first two days of the season; 3 males per day after the first two days of the season.
Nov 11, 2023
Dec 24, 2023
Dec 25, 2023 – Jan 21, 2024
Pheasant – Archery (2nd Season)
Daily Bag Limit: 2 pheasants per day for first two days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season. The daily archery bag may contain not more than 1 female pheasant.
Dec 25, 2023
Jan 21, 2024
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 8, 2023
Quail – Archery
Daily Bag Limit 10.
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 8, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Quail – Falconry
Daily Bag Limit 10.
Aug 19, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Sep 9, 2023 – Oct 20, 2023
Mountain Quail
Zone Q1. Daily Bag Limit 10.
Sep 9, 2023
Oct 20, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Jan 28, 2024
Quail (Zone Q2)
Daily Bag Limit 10.
Sep 30, 2023
Jan 28, 2024
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Quail (Early Season)
For Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses in Mojave National Preserve. Daily Bag Limit 10.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Jan 28, 2024
Quail (Zone Q1)
Daily Bag Limit 10.
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 28, 2024
Oct 21, 2023 – Jan 28, 2024
Quail (Zone Q3)
Daily Bag Limit 10.
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 28, 2024
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Jackrabbits
No limit. Open all year.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Jan 1, 2024 – Jan 28, 2024
Rabbits & Varying Hare
Daily bag limit of 5 per day, 10 in possession.
Jan 1, 2024
Jan 28, 2024
Jan 29, 2024 – Mar 17, 2024
Rabbits & Varying Hare – Falconry
Daily bag limit of 5, possession limit of 10.
Jan 29, 2024
Mar 17, 2024
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Bighorn Sheep (Zone 7)
WHITE MOUNTAINS – GENERAL METHOD – RAM
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Dec 2, 2023 – Feb 4, 2024
Bighorn Sheep
Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9,10
Dec 2, 2023
Feb 4, 2024
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Turkey – Fall
1 either sex per day. 2 per season.
Nov 11, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Mar 23, 2024 – Mar 24, 2024
Turkey – Junior (Season 1)
Mar 23, 2024
Mar 24, 2024
Mar 30, 2024 – May 5, 2024
Turkey – Spring General
1 beared per day. 3 per season.
Mar 30, 2024
May 5, 2024
Mar 30, 2024 – May 19, 2024
Turkey – Spring Archery
1 bearded per day. 3 per season.
Mar 30, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 6, 2024 – May 19, 2024
Turkey – Junior (Season 2)
May 6, 2024
May 19, 2024
Aug 9, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Chukar – Falconry
Daily Bag Limit 6.
Aug 9, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 8, 2023
Chukar – Archery
Daily Bag Limit 6.
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 8, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
White-tailed Ptarmigan – Falconry
Daily Bag Limit 2
Aug 19, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
White-tailed Ptarmigan – General and Archery
Daily Bag Limit 2.
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Band-tailed Pigeon (North)
Daily bag limit of 2 per day, possession limit of triple the daily bag limit.
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Jan 28, 2024
Chukar General
Daily Bag Limit 6.
Oct 21, 2023
Jan 28, 2024
Oct 21, 2023 – Feb 4, 2024
Snipe – General (Statewide)
Daily bag limit of 8, Possession limit of triple the daily bag limit.
Oct 21, 2023
Feb 4, 2024
Dec 16, 2023 – Dec 24, 2023
Band-tailed Pigeon (South)
Daily bag limit of 2 per day, possession limit of triple the daily bag limit.
Dec 16, 2023
Dec 24, 2023
Research. Draw. Hunt.
Hunt Research Tools is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year.
Build a successful strategy with easy-to-understand, accurate data
Covers all 12 Western states and all major big game species
Simple and powerful filtering sorts answers quickly
Compare across states, species, weapons, dates, and hunt types
Preference Points are like a place in line – 1st in 1st out. The applicants with the most Preference Points draw before those with less
If you apply for and are unsuccessful drawing your 1st choice, you will receive an additional Preference Point for future drawings
Applicants may apply for Preference Points only during the primary application window
Preference Points are considered for your 1st choice only – if you draw your 1st choice for a species your Preference Points are purged back to 0
Preference Points expire if you do not apply for 5 consecutive years
Tag Allocation
For premium deer, 90% of tags will be awarded to the applicants with the most Preference Points
The remaining 10% of tags for any given premium deer hunt code will be issued in the Random Draw (Draw by Choice)
For apprentice (youth) deer hunts, there is a 50/50 split of tags awarded between the point drawing and the random drawing
For deer, there are no seperate resident and nonresident quotas; all applicants are considered equally regardless of residency
For elk, antelope and sheep 75% of the tags are awarded in the preference point round and 25% in the random draw if there are 4 or more tags for a hunt
If there are 3 tags for a hunt: 2 preference point tags vs 1 random tag will be awarded; for 2 tags: one tag each preference/random; for 1 tag: random
For elk and antelope, a maximum of 1 tag will be awarded annually to nonresidents.
For sheep, a maximum of up to 10% of total tags will be issued to nonresidents. This 10% is not guaranteed however
Understanding the Draw Odds
In California, we include 2 draw odds columns in our List View: Preference Point Draw Odds and Random Odds
Preference Point Draw Odds: This is the value that indicates how many Preference Points were required to successfully draw a tag in the Preference Point draw for everyone’s 1st Choice. So 33% @ 5 pts means that 33% of the applicants with 5 Preference Points were successful. In this example there are more applicants at 17 points than tags left to issue, so they randomly select from the pool of 5 point applicants until the quota is reached. It also means that 100% of applications with more than 5 Preference Points were successful, and that 0% of applications with less than 5 Preference Points drew a tag in the Preference Point draw. Use these columns to evaluate if you have any shot to draw a particular hunt using Preference Points given your total. It’s also a key indicator of demand for the hunt, and it’s implied quality.
Random Draw Odds (Draw By Choice): In California, the Random drawing (Draw By Choice) is conducted without regard Preference Points. Every applicant has the same odds in the Random Drawing for each particular hunt code (with consideration of an applicants residency status). Unless you are hoping to draw a tag in the Preference Point draw for a given hunt, this is the important number to consider.
For elk and antelope, remember that nonresidents are limited to a maximum of 1 tag annually. Draw odds are very low regardless of your hunt choice
For sheep, nonresidents are capped at up to 10% of total tags. In short, you have to be the first or second nonresident application pulled in the drawing to have a chance at one of these tags. Because of this cap, nonresident draw odds are worse than what is listed for residents.
California Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
California hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife official website. Click below to view the website.
Every hunter in California should have hunting GPS maps on hand. California hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view hunt zone maps, along with BLM, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for California.
California is divided into five primary deer hunt zones, organized by region and denoted alphabetically (ie. Deer A Zone, B Zone, etc.). Within each of the hunting zone boundaries there are specific regulations for each game animal and hunting season. A California hunter must be aware of the governing quotas and regulations in place for each zone, as well as where the boundaries are.
Over 10,000,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in California. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
CA Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 55,000,000 acres in California. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
SUBLAYERS (15)
CA Hunt Zones
California Bear, Bighorn Sheep, Deer, Elk, Pigeon, Pronghorn, Quail, Grouse, Squirrel and Ptarmigan Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 15 Sublayers
Additional Deer Hunt Zone
Bear Hunt Zone
Bighorn Sheep Hunt Zone
Deer Hunt Zone
Elk Hunt Zone
Pigeon Hunt Zone
Pronghorn Hunt Zone
Quail Hunt Zone
Ruffed Grouse Hunt Zone
Tree Squirrel Hunt Zone
Whitetailed Ptarmigan Hunt Zone
Pendleton Hunt Area
Pendleton Duck Hunt Areas
Pendleton Fishing Areas
Waterfowl Hunt Zones
CA Possible Access
onX has mapped 3,100,000 acres of possible access lands in California including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
