California Deer and Hunting Season Information and Regulations, 2023 – 2024
*All information listed below is disclosed based on research we have conducted. We do our best to ensure that all information is up-to-date and accurate. However, rules and regulations are changing every day. Please make sure to verify your state-specific regulations prior to your hunt.
California Deer Season
| General Deer Season | Aug. 13 – Nov. 27 |
| Archery Deer Season | Aug. 20 – Dec. 31 |
*CA Deer Season has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official deer hunting page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
In 2015-2016 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife passed legislation that required any hunter having purchased a deer tag(s) to report their harvest, even if they were unsuccessful, or did not hunt at all. Successful hunters must report their harvest within 30 days or by January 1st, whichever comes first. Unsuccessful hunters, or those who do not hunt, are still required to report by January 31st. Harvest reports can be submitted via online portal or buy mail using the address printed on the tag. Hunters may purchase two deer tags per fiscal year.
California doesn’t recognize a crossbow as archery equipment. Therefore, crossbow hunting during archery season is not permitted. There are exceptions for those who are disabled. Disabled hunters must apply for a disability permit in which the disability must be confirmed by a medical physician. If you qualify, the deer permits is free.
Doe Tags
California ONLY manages deer through buck harvest.
California Bear Season
| General Bear Season | Runs Concurrent with Deer Season Until Dec. 26 |
| Archery Bear Season | Aug. 21 – Sep. 12 |
*California has a variety of different hunting zones CA that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official bear page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Since 1948, California black bears have been classified as large game animals with an established California hunting season. Due to dangerously low populations, it is currently illegal to harvest grizzly bear. General bear season opens simultaneously with general deer season in most zones. Hunters are permitted one adult bear per license year.
California Pronghorn Season
| General Pronghorn Season | Aug. 6 – Sep. 11 |
| Apprentice Pronghorn Hunts | Aug. 21 – Aug. 29 |
| Archery Pronghorn Hunts | Aug. 7 – Aug. 15 |
*California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official pronghorn page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
You can find out a lot more information about hunting Pronghorn (Antelope) from the California Big Game Hunting Digest, a magazine they publish which can be found here.
California Elk Season
| General Elk Season | Aug. 18 – Jan. 1 |
| Apprentice Elk Hunt | Aug. 16 – Jan. 1 |
| Archery Elk Hunt | Aug. 13 – Nov. 13 |
*California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official elk page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
California Bighorn Sheep Season
| General Bighorn Sheep Season | Aug. 21 – Sep. 26 and Dec. 4 – Feb. 6 |
*California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official bighorn sheep page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Many of the bighorn sheep hunts in California are on inaccessible terrain that should be approached by experienced hunters. Oftentimes vehicle access is impossible. Keep this in mind and prepare appropriately before embarking on any of these hunts!
California Wild Pig Season
| Wild Pig Hunting | Open All Year |
*California wild pig hunting is open all year, however a hunting license is required when hunting the animals.
There is not a daily bag limit or possession limit when it comes to hunting wild pigs. There are a number of special pig hunts however, that can be found at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the Wild Pig Hunting page.
California Waterfowl Seasons
| Duck Hunting Season | Oct. 2 – Jan. 31 |
| Scaup Hunting Season | Oct. 2 – Jan. 31 |
| Geese Hunting Season | Oct. 23 – Jan. 23 |
| Coots & Moorhens Hunting Season | Concurrent with Duck Season |
*California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official waterfowl page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Waterfowl hunting in California comprises a diverse range of species from Canadian Geese to duck. Each species has different regulations surrounding bag limits, hunting locations, and more.
California Upland Game Bird Seasons
| Pheasant | Oct. 8 – Feb. 28 |
| Quail | Aug. 20 – Oct. 14 |
| Chukar | Aug. 20 – Feb. 28 |
| Greater Sage-Grouse | Closed Season |
| Ruffed Grouse | Aug. 20 – Feb. 28 |
| White-tailed Ptarmigan | Sep. 10 – Sep. 18, Aug. 20 – Feb. 28 |
| Wild Turkey | Mar. 25 – May 14 |
| Dove | Sep. 1 – Sep. 15, Nov. 12 – Dec. 26 |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Sep. 17 – Sep. 25, Dec. 17 – Dec. 25 |
| Snipe | Oct. 15 – Jan. 29 |
* California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official upland game bird page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
California’s spring turkey season opens statewide on March 25th through May 14th. With the growing population of wild turkey in California it has become one of the most anticipated seasons in the state. A hunter is permitted three turkey per season. The other upland game birds share various regulations and rules and should be properly researched prior to planning a hunt.
California Small Game Mammal Hunting Seasons
| Tree Squirrel | Sep. 10 – Jan. 29 |
| Rabbits & Varying Hare | July 1 – Jan. 29 |
| Jackrabbit | Open All Year |
* California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official small game mammal hunting page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
California Nongame and Furbearer Hunting Seasons
| American Crow | Dec. 3 – Apr. 5 |
| Raccoon | Nov. 16 – Mar. 31 |
* California has a variety of different hunting zones that each have separate blocks of time available. These dates are the wide range that each zone falls inside of. For specific information surrounding the zone you plan on hunting, please reference the official nongame and furbearer hunting page on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Pay close attention to the nongame and furbearing animal regulations when planning a hunt as there are a variety of specifics per species to be aware of.
Crossbow Regulations
Crossbow regulations in California are important because the weapon is not considered an archery device in the state. This means that none of the archery specific hunting season slots apply to crossbows.
- For big game, the head of the bolt must be larger than 7/8”.
- Poisons and explosives are not permitted.
- Only bolts with the right kind of fletching can be used to hunt pheasants or migratory birds.
- Minimum draw weight of 125 pounds.
Hunting Licenses in California
Any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals is required to purchase a resident hunting license for $54.00. A non-resident license is $188.74. There are several other license’s available such as: junior hunter’s license, one-day license for both residents and non-residents, disabled veteran, and more.
If you want to check out the next state on our list, click here to see Colorado.
Or, you can check out the last state on our list, Arkansas.
