Tips for Hunting in California

Any person who hunts birds or mammals in California is required to carry a valid Hunting License. Before getting a license, hunters are required to take a California Hunter Education Program, and obtain a certificate of completion. Online training programs are available, but they still require a portion of the training to be completed with a Certified Hunter Education Instructor. The traditional class is ten hours of class time, which includes homework and field instruction. There is an equivalency exam that can be taken in lieu of the course. To get more information on completing your certification, visit the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) at their website. The DFG will accept a certificate that was already completed in another state, but not one from another country.

Once you have completed your Hunter Education exam and earned your certificate, or passed the equivalency exam, you are able to purchase your hunting license. Licenses cannot be purchased online at this time, although an automated system is being developed. In the meantime, you will have to purchase your license from an approved agent or from a DFG license sales office. There are several hundred locations where you can purchase a hunting license in the State of California. The Department of Fish and Game website maintains a complete database, which can be searched by organization name or County. Many local shops are authorized to sell licenses, so there is probably one in your area.

Hunting licenses are valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. In addition to the general license, special tags may need to be purchased depending on what type of animals you wish to hunt. These are mostly for large game animals, which include certain deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, wild pigs, bobcats, and bears, to name a few. Some of these tags are distributed in a lottery system, since there are a limited number of animals that may be taken each year.

Many animals are subject to limits, hunting periods, and other restrictions. The Department of Fish and Game offers these online publications that will help you to understand hunting in California:

Guide to Hunting Deer in California

Guide to Hunting Turkey in California

Guide to Hunting Quail in California

Guide to Hunting Wild Pigs in California

For more regulations, consult the Mammal Hunting Regulations booklet that is available online. This publication is updated annually, and provides detailed information on which species of animals can be hunted, what date restrictions may apply, where and when hunting can occur, and more. Remember to follow the guidelines for hunting in California, and good luck!