Hunt
Offroad
California Hunting
Seasons, Licenses, Regulations
Everything you need to plan your hunting trips, from maps to regulations and beyond.
Known ForEarliest deer seasons in the nation
TerrainForested rugged terrain in the northwest, fertile valleys, deserts, mountains, and dry barren terrain
Government Lands55,273,924 acres
Government Lands %53%
Private Lands49,490,512 acres
Private Lands %47%
California
Hunting Seasons
Choose a Species
Deer
Total mule deer Boone and Crockett records for California: 40
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
First-Deer Tag or First-Deer Drawing Application
Applicants for deer tags must be age 12 as of July 1st of the current license year. A First-Deer Tag or Drawing Application must be purchased before or at the same time as a Second-Deer Tag or Drawing Application.
Second-Deer Tag or Second-Deer Drawing Application
Applicants for deer tags must be age 12 as of July 1st of the current license year. A First-Deer Tag Drawing Application or First-Deer Tag must be purchased before or at the same time as a Second-Deer Tag or Drawing Application.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.53
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$8.13
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member, defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status.
Nonresident:
$8.13
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Bear
Total black bear Boone and Crockett records for California: 164
General bear season closes on December 30, 2019, or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken.
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Bear Tag
Available for resident and non resident licensed hunters, age 12 or older as of July 1st of the current license year. One bear tag per license year.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Elk
Total elk Boone and Crockett records for California: 227
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Elk Tag
Resident and non resident licensed hunters age 12 or older as of July 1st of the current license year may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Elk Tag Drawing Application per license year.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Antelope
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Pronghorn Tag
Resident and non resident licensed hunters age 12 or older as of July 1st of the current license year may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Pronghorn Antelope Tag Drawing Application per license year.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Sheep
Total desert bighorn sheep Boone and Crockett records for California: 46
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Bighorn Sheep Tag
Resident and non resident licensed hunters age 16 or older as of July 1st of the current license year may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Application per license year. Hunters can not apply as a party. Applicants can not apply if they have previously been issued a California Bighorn Sheep Tag.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Hog
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Wild Pig Tag
Resident and non resident licensed hunters age 12 or older at the time of application may purchase an unlimited number of Wild Pig Tags. Tags are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Turkey
Total NWTF turkey records for California: 140
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Coyote
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
This license is only available for non residents taking resident and migratory game birds on Licensed Game Bird Clubs (Upland Game Bird Validation is also required) or Licensed Domesticated Migratory Game Bird Shooting Areas
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Allows a non resident 18 years of age or older to take resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, nongame mammals and furbearers for two consecutive days.
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Pheasant
2 males per day for the first two days of the season; 3 males per day after the first two days of the season.
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Quail
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Duck
7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, and/or 3 scaup. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Goose
Bag limit 30 per day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese, and no more than 2 Large Canada geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Rabbit
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
1-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$23.76
2-Day Hunting License
Nonresident:
$49.94
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.
Upland Bird
Hunt Zones
Seasons
Licenses & Permits
Hunting License
Required for any resident and non resident 18 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License
Less than 18 years of age required for resident and non resident.
Nonresident:
$13.22
Disabled Veteran Hunting License
Resident and non resident honorably discharged with 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
Nonresident:
$7.82
Recovering Service Member License
Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
Nonresident:
$7.47
As we continue to improve Hunt Central, feel free to provide your feedback.