California is home to a wide range of big game species, with a couple of those solely found in the Golden State. The greatest opportunity for hunting big game is the various species of deer that are found throughout the state. You have Columbian Blacktails along the coastal regions in the western half of the state and Mule deer can be found from the deserts in the south to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevadas. There is a growing population of all three subspecies of elk - Rocky Mountain, Tule, and Roosevelt.
Permits for elk are very limited but are a great hunt when you get a tag. Antelope are isolated to the northeast corner of the state and have a limited number of permits as well. Black Bears can be hunted during the same seasons as deer. There are restrictions that don't allow the use of dogs or baiting, and with the thick cover that many of them inhabit, it can be hard to hunt them. However, with an over-the-counter tag, you do have the opportunity to harvest one if you are already in the field hunting deer.
License Costs
California License Costs
License | Hunting License |
|---|---|
Resident | $61.82 |
Nonresident | $216.00 |
Resident Junior | $16.20 |
Nonresident Junior | $16.20 |
License | Resident | Nonresident | Resident Junior | Nonresident Junior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hunting License | $61.82 | $216.00 | $16.20 | $16.20 |
Species Costs
California Species Costs
Permits and Tags | Deer |
|---|---|
Resident | $40.78 |
Nonresident | $361.90 |
Resident Junior | $40.78 |
Nonresident Junior | $361.90 |
Permits and Tags | Elk |
Resident | $585.00 |
Nonresident | $1,793.80 |
Resident Junior | $26.74 |
Nonresident Junior | $1,793.80 |
Permits and Tags | Antelope |
Resident | $197.13 |
Nonresident | $602.85 |
Resident Junior | $26.74 |
Nonresident Junior | $602.85 |
Permits and Tags | Bighorn Sheep |
Resident | $535.50 |
Nonresident | $1,986.75 |
Resident Junior | $535.50 |
Nonresident Junior | $1,986.75 |
Permits and Tags | Black Bear |
Resident | $60.22 |
Nonresident | $381.30 |
Resident Junior | $32.40 |
Nonresident Junior | $381.30 |
Permits and Tags | Application fee (Elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep) |
Resident | $8.13 |
Nonresident | $8.13 |
Resident Junior | $8.13 |
Nonresident Junior | $8.13 |
Permits and Tags | Resident | Nonresident | Resident Junior | Nonresident Junior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Deer | $40.78 | $361.90 | $40.78 | $361.90 |
Elk | $585.00 | $1,793.80 | $26.74 | $1,793.80 |
Antelope | $197.13 | $602.85 | $26.74 | $602.85 |
Bighorn Sheep | $535.50 | $1,986.75 | $535.50 | $1,986.75 |
Black Bear | $60.22 | $381.30 | $32.40 | $381.30 |
Application fee (Elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep) | $8.13 | $8.13 | $8.13 | $8.13 |
Important Dates
California Dates and Deadlines
Deadlines and draw results |
Date |
Application deadline |
June 2, 2024 |
Deadline to correct application |
June 2, 2024 |
Draw results available |
June 16, 2024 |
Deadline to buy drawn antelope, elk, or sheep permits |
July 15, 2024 |
Leftover premium deer tags available (First deer tag) |
July 2, 2024 |
Leftover premium deer tags available (Second deer tag) |
August 2, 2024 |
Deadlines and draw results | Date |
Application deadline | June 2, 2024 |
Deadline to correct application | June 2, 2024 |
Draw results available | June 16, 2024 |
Deadline to buy drawn antelope, elk, or sheep permits | July 15, 2024 |
Leftover premium deer tags available (First deer tag) | July 2, 2024 |
Leftover premium deer tags available (Second deer tag) | August 2, 2024 |
Draw Result Dates
California Draw Result Dates
Year | 2020 |
|---|---|
Results Posted | June 11 |
Year | 2021 |
Results Posted | June 11 |
Year | 2022 |
Results Posted | June 10 |
Year | 2023 |
Results Posted | June 13 |
Year | 2024 |
Results Posted | June 11 |
Year | Results Posted |
|---|---|
2020 | June 11 |
2021 | June 11 |
2022 | June 10 |
2023 | June 13 |
2024 | June 11 |
Draw System
Tag Lottery
California uses a preference point system in the draw process. Applicants who are unsuccessful in drawing a permit will earn a preference point for that species. Applicants may select three hunt choices when applying for premium deer permits. Applicants may only select one hunt choice for antelope, elk, and bighorn sheep. The state considers everyone's first choice before considering any applicant's 2nd choice.
For premium deer permits, 90% of the tags are reserved for those applicants with the most points. 10% are drawn randomly.
For deer permits, residents and nonresidents are combined in the draw - treated exactly the same (no advantage to one or the other).
For antelope, elk, and bighorn sheep, where there is a quota of 4 or more permits, 75% of the permits are drawn to those applicants with the most preference points, and the remaining 25% will be drawn randomly. Where there is a quota of 3 or fewer permits, 1 permit will be drawn randomly.
Nonresidents are limited to up to 10% of total tags statewide for bighorn sheep.
Nonresidents are limited to 1 permit statewide for elk and antelope.
Nonresident tag allocation
All applicants(resident and nonresident) are considered equal in the deer drawing
For elk and antelope a maximum of one tag per species will be awarded to a nonresident annually
For sheep, nonresidents can draw up to 10% of the total tags but the 10% is not guaranteed
Application choices
For deer hunts, applicants can list three choices but the state will look at your first choice, first. If tags are remaining after the first choice round the state will begin placing hunters based on their second and third choice options. Drawing a second or third-choice hunt will not affect your point count.
For elk, antelope, and sheep permits hunters can only list one hunt choice
Building points in California
Applicants can build points in one of two ways in California: Either by being unsuccessful in the primary drawing for their first choice tag or by applying for a point only. California does not have a separate point-only purchase period.
Party Applications
When applying as a party, you will be prompted to either create a new party (party leader), or join an existing party. If you apply as the party leader, you will receive a PartyNumber at the end of your transaction. Those who wish to join the party application must enter that Party Number, in order to join.
Deer - up to six applicants.
Elk and Antelope - residents only and only as a party of two.
Bighorn Sheep - no party apps allowed.
Correcting applications
Applicants can call CDFW prior to the application deadline to correct any application errors. It is recommended to do this as early as possible to avoid lengthy wait times.
Waiting Period
There are no waiting periods for deer, elk or antelope. Bighorn sheep permits are limited to one in your lifetime.
Leftover licenses
Around mid-August the state will make any remaining licenses available for purchase in a first-come-first-serve manner. These licenses can be purchased through CDFW offices, license agents, by telephone at 800-565-1458, or online
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted online. (Visa or Mastercard)
Hunting license
California requires all hunters to hold an annual hunting license before applying for or purchasing hunting permits.
Getting a Tag
Draw a tag in the public draw
Purchase a leftover tag
Purchase a landowner tag
Purchase a fundraising tag
Landowner Tags
Landowner tags are available to purchase in California. The state allows landowners to market and resell tags to the public. Most of the permits are sold as a guided package for Roosevelt and Tule elk.
Youth Tags
Hunters who are younger than 16 as of July 1st for the year in which they are applying qualify as a junior. There are a couple of benefits, one of which is a discounted rate on the annual hunting license for both residents and nonresidents. There are also junior or apprentice hunts that are reserved for the youth. With apprentice hunts, 50% of the permits go to the max point pool, and 50% are drawn randomly.
Returning Tags/Transferring Tags
Premium deer tags cannot be returned. Non-premium deer permits may be returned if certain criteria is met. For a list of criteria, check out the state regulations.
Hunting Rules
Minimum age to hunt
Hunters must be 12 years of age or older on or before July 1st to hunt deer, elk or antelope. Hunters must be 16 years of age or older on or before July 1st to hunt bighorn sheep.
Hunters education
California requires anyone applying to provide an accepted form of hunter education. The proof of hunter education must be entered by a licensed agent.
The following are acceptable forms of proof:
Annual California hunting license, issued in any prior year
2-day California nonresident hunting license, issued after 2000
California hunter education certificate, with imprinted number and validation stamp
Certificate of successful completion of a California approved hunter education course from any state or province
Current hunting license or a hunting license issued in either of the previous two years from any state, province, European Union country or South Africa
Bowhunters education
California does not require a bowhunter's education
Hunters orange
California does not require hunters orange.
Nonlead Hunting Ammunition
As of July 1, 2019, all hunters must use nonlead ammunition when taking any wildlife in California.
Weapons Restrictions
California does have some weapon restrictions that you should pay attention to before you apply. For more information, check out the state regulations.
Hunting opportunities for military members
Residency
Any person on active military duty with the U.S. Armed Forces or auxiliary branch may purchase licenses as a resident providing the conditions are met immediately prior to the person submitting their application for a license or permit.
Disabled veteran reduced-fee hunting license
This option is available for any resident or nonresident who is an honorably discharged veteran with a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
Recovering service member reduced fee hunting license
This license option is 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.
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