California hunting and fishing laws
The California rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in California
California requires hunter education training for all persons who have not formerly held a California hunting license; who do not have a hunter education certificate of completion; or who do not hold a current hunting license, or a hunting license issued in either of the two previous hunting years, from another state or province. CDFW states there are no occupational or age exemptions.
Minimum hunting age in California
There is no minimum age to buy a hunting license if the applicant shows proof of hunter education, though instructors generally ask that students be at least 10. Hunters who are under 16 when the license year starts buy a Junior Hunting License; hunters 16 and older need an adult license.
Blaze orange in California
Not verified. No statewide hunter orange requirement was found in CDFW's hunting pages or regulations reviewed, and no agency statement that orange is optional was found either. Wearing orange is a sensible safety choice. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Sunday hunting in California
Not verified. CDFW's season pages list continuous season dates with no Sunday closure, but no agency statement that Sunday hunting is allowed was found. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Shooting hours in California
Applies to: Big game
14 CCR 352: big game may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Baiting in California
14 CCR 257.5: resident game birds, game mammals, and exotic game mammals may not be taken within 400 yards of any baited area. An area stays baited for 10 days after complete removal. Exceptions cover licensed game bird clubs, standing crops or naturally scattered grain from agricultural operations, and bona fide farming or wildlife-management practices on site.
Night hunting in California
14 CCR 353 prohibits any device or devices which throw, cast or project an artificial light or electronically alter or intensify a light source for the purpose of visibly enhancing an animal. Laser rangefinders, red-dot scopes with self-illuminating reticles and fiberoptic sights are permitted.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in California
Applies to: Deer
14 CCR 708.7: any person taking any deer in this state shall retain in their possession during the open season thereon and for 15 days thereafter, that portion of the head which in adult males normally bears the antlers, and shall produce the designated portion of the head upon the demand of any officer.
Hunting on private land in California
Fish and Game Code 2016 requires written permission where the land belongs to, or is occupied by, another person and is either under cultivation or enclosed by a fence, or where trespass or hunting signs are posted at intervals of not less than three per mile and at all entry points.
Can you show your California license on your phone?
Digital license yes. Paper tag on the animal.
California lets you show your fishing and hunting licenses on a phone in CDFW’s own license app instead of carrying the paper. Big-game tags are not digital: a deer tag must be filled out the moment the animal is down and attached to the antlers or an ear, and stay there through the season and 15 days after. What this app holds is your copy, not CDFW’s — if a warden asks, show it from the CDFW License app.
Carry the paper tags. Show the license from CDFW’s app.
California hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery | Jul 11 – Aug 2, 2026 | Zone A (South Unit 110, North Unit 160) | B1-B3, B5-B6 and D3-D5: Aug 15 - Sep 6 |
| Deer — general (rifle) | Aug 8 – Sep 20, 2026 | Zone A (South Unit 110, North Unit 160) | B1-B3, B5: Sep 19 - Oct 25; D3-D5: Sep 26 - Nov 1 |
| Deer — general (rifle) | Sep 26 – Nov 1, 2026 | Zones D3-D5 | |
| Black bear — general | Aug 8 – Dec 27, 2026 | Deer Zone A (opens with general deer in A, B, C, D zones) | Other zones open Oct 10. Closes early once 1,700 bears reported |
| Black bear — archery | Aug 15 – Sep 6, 2026 | All bear zones | |
| Turkey — fall | Nov 14 – Dec 13, 2026 | Statewide | 1 either sex per day |
| Turkey — spring general | Mar 27 – May 2, 2027 | Statewide | Bearded birds only; archery-only May 3-16, 2027 |
| Pheasant — general | Nov 14 – Dec 27, 2026 | Statewide | Archery-only: Oct 10 - Nov 1 and Dec 28 - Jan 24 |
| Dove — first segment | Sep 1 – Sep 15, 2026 | Statewide | Second segment Nov 14 - Dec 28 |
| Ducks — regular | Oct 24, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Balance of State Zone | Northeastern Zone: Oct 3 - Jan 13 |
What you can hunt in California
Big game
- Mule and black-tailed deer General season Premium hunts by draw
- Elk Draw or limited entry Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain and Tule
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry
- Desert bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Thirteen desert hunt zones
- Black bear General season Over-the-counter tag
- Wild pig General season Year round with a tag
- Mountain lion No season Specially protected since 1990
- Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep No season Federally endangered
- White-tailed deer No season Not present in California
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season
- Pheasant General season
- Quail General season California, mountain, Gambel's
- Chukar General season
- Grouse General season Sooty and ruffed
- Rabbit and hare General season
- Tree squirrel General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season
- Band-tailed pigeon General season
- Snipe General season
- Mallard General season 7 a day, no more than 2 females, within the 7-duck bag
- Northern pintail General season 3 a day, within the 7-duck bag
- Canvasback General season 2 a day, within the 7-duck bag
- Redhead General season 2 a day, within the 7-duck bag
- Scaup General season 2 a day, within the 7-duck bag
- Snow goose General season 20 white geese a day in most zones
- White-fronted goose General season 6 a day, within the 10 dark geese
- Canada goose General season 10 dark geese a day, no more than 3 large Canada
Furbearer and predator
- Raccoon General season
- Bobcat No season Hunting prohibited since 2020
What you can fish for in California
Sport fishing license; report cards for steelhead, sturgeon and some salmon
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 2-day, 10-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season Includes Eagle Lake and Kern River strains
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Lake trout / mackinaw General season
- Golden trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season Lahontan and coastal
Salmon and anadromous
- Chinook salmon Needs a stamp North Coast Salmon Report Card on the Smith and Klamath-Trinity
- Steelhead Needs a stamp Steelhead Report Card inland
- American shad General season
- Striped bass General season
- Coho salmon No season Closed statewide, fresh and ocean
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Spotted bass General season
- Channel and blue catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
Saltwater and marine
- Rockfish and lingcod General season
- California halibut General season
- Ocean salmon General season Chinook only
- White seabass General season 3 a day, 28 inches; one south of Point Conception in spring
- Yellowtail General season 10 a day, 24 inches, up to five under
- Surfperch General season
- Sharks General season Leopard, mako, thresher and others
- Dungeness and rock crab General season Crab Trap Validation to use traps
- Spiny lobster Needs a stamp Lobster Report Card
- Abalone No season Closed
- Giant sea bass No season Closed
Other
- Kokanee General season
- White sturgeon No season Catch and release only; Sturgeon Report Card required to fish for them
- Green sturgeon No season No take; the southern population is federally threatened
Official California links
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Carry your California license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state