California offers hunters the chance to hunt a wide range of game from bear to elk. If you want to enjoy all the golden state offers, you must follow the rules and regulations of the state enforced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Anyone intending to hunt in the state of California must be properly licensed. California residents are eligible for a lifetime hunting license.  

All hunters in California must complete a hunters education course unless they have a hunting license from another state in the past two years. Before purchasing a license online, individuals must provide proof of their hunter education at a CDFW licensed sale shop or licensed vendor. Proof of completion can also be faxed or emailed to the CDFW. 

Depending on the intended game, additional tags may be required in addition to the hunting license. Big-game species such as deer, elk, and bear require big game tags. Hunters must be over the age of 12 to hunt big game, excluding bighorn sheep. Premium deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn tags are distributed through the CDFW big game drawing based on a preference points system.

For additional information about the big game draw, refer to the annual California big game hunter’s digest or the big game hunting tags page on the CDFW website.