California hunting license

How much does a California hunting license cost?

A resident California hunting license costs $64.54, as listed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the current license year. It is an annual license for residents 16 and older, and you need it to take any bird or mammal in the state. Deer, bear, elk and other big game tags are sold separately, and so are stamps.

That price already includes a 3% application fee, capped at $7.50. If you buy from a license agent instead of online or at a CDFW office, the agent adds a 5% handling fee, so buying direct saves a little.

Here is how the main prices compare. A junior hunter pays $17.02, a resident adult pays $64.54, and a nonresident adult pays $225.46 for the year. A visitor who only wants birds or small game for a weekend can use the $64.54 two-day license instead of the full nonresident price. Keep in mind that the license is only the first purchase. A resident who hunts deer adds a $42.38 first deer tag, and stamps or drawing fees may apply depending on what you hunt.

The table below lists the nonresident, short-term, junior and lifetime options, all pulled from the CDFW hunting license items page. California has no reduced-fee senior license, which surprises many older hunters, but it does offer a low-cost license for qualifying disabled veterans. Fees are set for each license year, so the price you see at checkout is the one that counts.

Who needs hunter education in California?

California requires hunter education for anyone who has never held a California hunting license, unless they already have a hunter education certificate or a hunting license from another state issued within the past two years. There is no birth-date cutoff, and seniors are not exempt. This is stricter than many states, where older hunters are grandfathered in.

The way you take the course has changed. The online-only option has been discontinued. Today you can study online, but you must then finish with a 4-hour in-person class before you are certified. Plan for that class when you set your timeline, because spots can fill before the season.

The two-year window matters for people moving to California. If you held a hunting license in another state within the past two years, that can stand in for a certificate, but an older out-of-state license will not. Keep your certificate number or old license handy when you buy, since you may be asked to show proof.

California does not list an apprentice or mentored option that lets you skip the course, so certification comes first. Find classes and the online portion on the CDFW hunter education page. Once you hold a California license, you will not need to repeat the course to renew.

Where do you buy a hunting license in California?

You can buy your license through the CDFW online license sales system, at a CDFW License Sales Office, or from license agents throughout the state. Online and office purchases avoid the 5% agent handling fee, while agents are handy if you are already at a sporting goods store.

If you are a disabled veteran applying for the reduced-fee license for the first time, you must go to a CDFW License Sales Office. Most other buyers can finish the whole process online once their hunter education is on file.

Remember that the license year starts July 1. A license bought in May or June expires on June 30, so check the dates before you buy.

1. Complete hunter education with its in-person class if you have never held a California license.
2. Open the CDFW online license sales system, or visit a CDFW License Sales Office or license agent.
3. Buy the annual license that fits you: resident, nonresident, two-day nonresident or junior.
4. Add the big game tags, stamps or drawing applications you need for your hunts.

Buy a California hunting license on the official site

How do deer and big game tags work in California?

Every big game species in California needs its own tag on top of your license. A resident first deer tag costs $42.38, and nonresidents pay $377.35 for a deer tag. Your annual license alone does not let you hunt deer, bear, elk, pronghorn or bighorn sheep.

The most sought-after tags come through the Big Game Drawing. Elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and premium deer tags are all awarded this way. Applications are accepted from April 15 through midnight on June 2 each year, and late applications are not accepted, so mark that window on your calendar.

Plan your tag purchases around the drawing. If you hope to hunt elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep or a premium deer zone, the spring application window is your only chance for the year. Read the tag rules for each species on the CDFW site before the window opens, since each one has its own requirements and fees.

Reporting is required too. Deer tag holders must report their harvest, or report that they did not harvest, by January 31. Skipping the report can create problems the next time you buy tags. Details on each species are on the CDFW big game page.

What license do young hunters need in California?

Hunters under 16 on July 1 of the license year buy the Junior Hunting License, which costs $17.02. Age is measured on that July 1 date, so a hunter who turns 16 later in the season can keep using a junior license for the rest of that year.

Junior hunters still need hunter education. The same course rules apply, including the in-person class, so young hunters should finish certification before their first season.

Big game has its own age limits. A hunter must be at least 12 to get a big game tag, and 16 for a bighorn sheep tag. Junior hunters now pay the same big game tag fees as adults, since the earlier junior tag reductions ended July 1, 2025.

Families planning ahead can also look at a lifetime license for a child. The lowest age bracket, 0 to 9, costs $709.00 for 2026, and the buyer needs proof of hunter education.

What does a California hunting license cost for nonresidents?

A nonresident annual California hunting license costs $225.46 for hunters 16 and older. Nonresidents also pay more for tags, such as $377.35 for a deer tag, so budget for both pieces if you are coming for big game.

California offers two shorter options. The Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License costs $64.54 and covers game birds, small game, wild pigs and furbearers, but it is not valid for deer, bear, pronghorn, elk or bighorn sheep. The One-Day Nonresident license costs $31.06 and only works on licensed game bird clubs or domesticated migratory game bird shooting areas.

For a quick bird or pig hunt, the two-day license is the better value, since it costs the same as a resident annual license. For any big game trip, you need the annual nonresident license plus the right tag.

Nonresidents face the same hunter education requirement as residents. Hunting near the state line? Compare the Arizona hunting license and Oregon hunting license guides, or see the full list of hunting license by state guides.

What else should you know before hunting in California?

Your license runs from July 1 through the following June 30, so the 2026-27 license is valid from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Buying late in the year means a short season of use. A few more points help you plan.

• Lifetime license: residents with hunter education proof can buy one for $709.00 (ages 0 to 9), $1,160.25 (10 to 39), $1,045.00 (40 to 61) or $709.00 (62 and older), based on 2026 prices.
• Lifetime add-ons: lifetime privilege packages cost $411.50 for birds and $863.25 for big game, covering items you would otherwise buy each year.
• Seniors: California has no free or reduced-fee license for seniors, so older hunters pay the standard price.
• Disabled veterans: honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of 50% or more can get a reduced-fee hunting license for $10.04 ($10.54 at agents).
• Hunter orange: CDFW pages we checked do not state a blaze orange rule, so check the current regulations from the CDFW hunting page before you go.
• Landowners: CDFW says a license is needed by any person taking birds or mammals, and we found no specific landowner exemption. Ask CDFW if you plan to hunt your own land.