$10 Off NRA Membership$10 Off NRA Membership




Join our mailing list!
You are here: Home > CA Hunting License Info

2011 - 2012 California Hunting Entitlements

Valid JULY 1, 2011 through JUNE 30, 2012

Fish and Game Code Section 70 defines "Resident" as any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps established pursuant to Section 2883 of Title 29 of the United States Code.

Fish and Game Code Section 86 defines "Take" as hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.

Fees for licenses that are available from license agents include 5% license agent handling fee.

Fees for licenses that are available from license agents and Department offices include 3% license buyer surcharge. $7.50 maximum per item.

Hunting Licenses Fee Description
Resident Hunting License $43.46 Required for any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals
Nonresident Hunting License $151.20 Required for any nonresident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License $11.37 Required for any resident or nonresident less than 16 years of age who takes birds or mammals. To qualify, hunter must be less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1).
One-Day Nonresident Hunting License $20.78 IMPORTANT! This license is only available for nonresidents taking resident and migratory game birds on Licensed Game Bird Clubs (Upland Game Bird Validation is also required) or Licensed Domesticated Migratory Game Bird Shooting Areas (Federal Duck Stamp and California Duck Validation are also required).
Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License $43.46 Allows a nonresident 16 years of age or older to take resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, nongame mammals and furbearers for two consecutive days. Additional validations and tags may be required for certain species. IMPORTANT! This license is NOT valid for deer, bear, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, bobcat, or pig.
Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Hunting License $6.74 Available to any resident or nonresident honorably discharged disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability who takes birds or mammals. Certification from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs is required at the time of application or a copy of a previous year’s California Disabled Veteran’s Hunting License. The first license must be purchased from a DFG License Sales Office. Subsequent licenses may be purchased from any license agent or online.
Duplicate Hunting License $9.72 Available at DFG License Sales Offices and license agents.
Big Game Applications Fee Description
Resident First-Deer Tag Application $29.16 Residents and nonresident licensed hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application or who turn 12 before July 1, may purchase one first-deer tag application and one second-deer tag application. Tags are nontransferable. Enter up to three tag choices (See the Big Game Hunting Digest for proposed zones and hunts). Up to six hunters may apply as a party by using the party number assigned to the party leader.
Resident Second-Deer Tag Application $36.21
Nonresident First-Deer Tag Application $255.96
Nonresident Second-Deer Tag Application $255.96
Antelope, Elk and Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Applications $8.13 per application See the Big Game Hunting Digest for more information about the Big Game Drawing.
Tags Fee Description
Resident Bear Tag $42.38 Resident and nonresident licensed hunters 12 years of age or older at the time of application may purchase one bear tag per license year. Tags are nontransferable and refundable only if the season has not opened.
Nonresident Bear Tag $269.74
Elk Tag $393.00 Resident
$1,199.75 Nonresident 		Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application or who turn 12 before July 1, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Elk Tag Drawing Application per license year.Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Antelope Tag $132.10 Resident
$404.75 Nonresident 		Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application or who turn 12 before July 1, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Antelope Tag Drawing Application per license year. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Bighorn Sheep Tag $363.50 Resident
$507.50 Nonresident 		Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, 16 years of age or older at the time of application or who turn 16 before July 1, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Application per license year. Hunters can not apply as a party. Applicants can not apply if they have previously been issued a California Bighorn Sheep Tag. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Bobcat Tags $15.38
(5 tags per book) 		Resident and nonresident licensed hunters may purchase one (1) book of five (5) Bobcat Tags per license year. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Resident Wild Pig Tag $20.78 Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application, may purchase an unlimited number of Wild Pig Tags. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Nonresident Wild Pig Tag $69.69
Bird Hunting Validations Fee Description
California Duck Validation $18.93 Required for any person taking waterfowl, excluding juniors hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License.
Upland Game Bird Validations $8.90 Required for any person taking upland game bird species, excluding juniors hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License.
Federal Duck Stamp $15.00 Required for any person hunting waterfowl. Hunters under the age of 16 are exempt from Federal Duck Stamp requirements.
Harvest Information Program  (HIP) Validation NO FEE Required for any person hunting ducks, dove, gallinules, geese, band-tailed pigeon, black brant, coots, and snipe. This validation is free to hunters who complete the Harvest Information Program (HIP) Survey. The validation is available where hunting licenses are sold.

The HIP Validation is imprinted on your hunting license document when you answer the HIP Survey questions. If you hunt migratory game birds, verify that a HIP Validation has been printed on your hunting license.

The HIP Survey provides wildlife biologists with data needed to make wildlife management decisions and formulate hunting seasons.
Permits and Passes for State-Operated Hunting Areas Fee Description
Type A One-Day Pass $18.00 Allows a licensed hunter to hunt on a Type A State-operated Wildlife Area for one day if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from permit requirements.
Type A Two-Day Pass $31.58 Allows a licensed hunter to hunt on a Type A State-operated Wildlife Area. This pass may be used as follows: 1) by one person for any two authorized shoot days; or 2) by two persons on any one authorized shoot day. Junior hunters are exempt from pass requirements.
Type A Season Pass $146.62 Allows a licensed hunter unlimited season access to Type A and Type B State-operated Wildlife Areas for one person if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from permit requirements.
Type B Season Pass $48.86 Allows a licensed hunter unlimited season access to Type B State-operated Wildlife Areas for one person if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from pass requirements.
Reservation Applications for State-Operated Hunting Areas Fee Description
Reservation Application $1.34 per application Allows a licensed hunter to apply for reservation drawings to hunt on State-operated Wildlife Areas.
Lifetime Hunting Licenses Fee Description
Ages 0-9 $478.50 Available to any resident showing proof of completion of hunter education training. Lifetime hunting licensees receive an annual hunting license each year for life. The license and privilege package are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Ages 10-39 $781.50
Ages 40-61 $704.25
Ages 62+ $478.50
Lifetime Bird Hunting Privilege Package $278.75 Lifetime licensees who purchase the Lifetime Bird Hunting Privilege Package receive Upland Game Bird and California Duck Validations each year for life.
Lifetime Big Game Hunting Privilege Package $581.75 Lifetime licensees who purchase the Big Game Hunting Privilege Package receive a One-Deer Tag Application and five Wild Pig Tags each year for life.
Disabled Entitlements Fee Description
Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License Application NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident for mobility impaired disabled hunter who must use a motor vehicle to pursue game. A person must be either permanently or fully confined to a wheel chair, a single or double amputee above the knee or double amputee below the knee or depend upon the aid of a walker, crutches, etc. to walk. Certification from the hunter's physician is required. The license is only available from the DFG's License and Revenue Branch.
Application and more information (PDF).
Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident visually impaired hunter having a permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs the vision of a hunter, preventing the hunter from viewing and aligning the sights of a muzzle-loading rifle with the target in order to hunt deer. A visually disabled hunter may use a scope of no more than one power while hunting under the conditions of a muzzle-loading deer hunt tag. Certification from the hunter's physician or optometrist is required annually, except if the physician or optometrist indicated on the initial application that the hunter's disability is permanent the hunter will be able to provide a copy of their previously issued Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit to renew the permit. The permit is only available from the DFG's License and Revenue Branch.
Application and more information (PDF).
Disabled Archer Permit NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident hunter's having permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing a hunter to draw and hold a bow in a firing position. Allows the hunter to hunt with a crossbow or other device to draw and hold a bow in a firing position under the conditions of an archery tag or during archery season. Certification from the hunter's physician is required annually, except if the physician indicated on the initial application that the hunter's disability is permanent the hunter will be able to provide a copy of their previously issued Disabled Archer Permit to renew the permit. The permit is only available from the DFG's License and Revenue Branch.
The application and information about applying for this permit is available at Application and more information (PDF).