California Regulations
Hunting and fishing regulations, seasons, species information, and public access resources for the state of California.
Overview
California offers incredibly diverse outdoor opportunities across coastal forests, deserts, mountains, valleys, and the Pacific Ocean.
Below are quick links to seasons, species, licensing, and access information.
Season Information
- Black-tailed, Mule & Columbian Black-tailed Deer (zone-based)
- Elk (Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, Tule — limited entry)
- Black Bear
- Wild Pig (year-round)
- Turkey seasons (spring & fall)
- Upland birds (quail, pheasant, chukar, grouse)
- Waterfowl (Pacific Flyway)
- Fishing seasons (salmon, steelhead, trout, bass, sturgeon)
- Ocean species (halibut, rockfish, tuna, crab)
Licensing
California requires appropriate licenses for hunting, fishing, and ocean harvest activities.
- Hunting license (resident & non-resident)
- Fishing license (annual, 1-day, 2-day, 10-day)
- Big-game tags (deer, bear, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep)
- Wild pig tags
- Ocean enhancement validation (required in some areas)
- Harvest reporting (mandatory for big game & turkey)
Key Species
- Black-tailed, Mule & Columbian Black-tailed Deer
- Elk (Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, Tule)
- Black Bear
- Wild Pig
- Turkey
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho)
- Steelhead
- Trout (rainbow, brown, golden)
- Sturgeon, Bass, Catfish
- Halibut, Rockfish, Tuna, Crab
Public Land & Access
California offers extensive public access through national forests, BLM lands, state wildlife areas, and coastal zones.
- National Forests (Sierra, Shasta-Trinity, Los Padres, etc.)
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands
- State Wildlife Areas (SWAs)
- California State Parks
- Pacific Coast beaches & marine access
- Major rivers (Sacramento, Klamath, American, Trinity)