Hunting in California is a long-time tradition, but decreasing habitat and increasing hunting regulations chip away the numbers of resident hunters in this state.
However, despite those issues, there are still enough game species to hunt in California, like bighorn sheep, pronghorn, three species of elk, and multiple species of waterfowl, among the more widespread deer and black bear.
Deer
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 13 – Nov. 27 2022
A (South Unit 110 and North Unit 160), B1 – B6, C1 – C4, D3 – D19, X1 – X12
Dates may vary by Zones
General Additional Hunts
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 24 – Dec. 31 2022
C4 Late Season, Goodale, Kern River, Gray Lodge, San Diego, Sutter-Yuba, Ventana, Anderson Flat, X10 Late Season, Round Valley
Buck or Either Sex Deer may vary by Zones
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Jul. 9 – Aug. 14 2022
A (South Unit 110 and North Unit 160), B4
Dates may vary by Zones
Aug. 20 – Dec. 31 2022
B1 – B3, B5, B6, C1 – C4, D3 – D19, X1 – X12, Anderson Flat, Bass Hill, Devil’s Garder, Covelo, and San Louis Obispo, San Diego, Monterey, Lake Sonoma, Los Angeles, Ventura/Los Angeles Late Season, Fort Hunter Logget Late Season, and Santa Barbara Hunts
Dates may vary by Zones, Buck or Either Sex may vary by Zone
Muzzleloader
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 22 – Dec. 31 2022
Doyle, Horse Lake, East Lassen, Bass Hill, Devil’s Garden, Northwestern California, and Santa Barbara Hunts, Sand Diego, Ventura, and San Louis Obispo Hunts
Dates may vary by Zones, Buck or Either Sex may vary by Zone
Apprentice General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 24 – Oct. 30 2022
Fort Hunter, Bucks Mountain/Nevada City, Blue Canyon, Pacific/Grizzly Flat, Zone X7a and 7b, East Tahema
Either Sex Deer
Nov. 5 – Dec. 31 2022
Lake Sonoma, Tahema Wildlife Area, Shasta/Trinity, Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, San Bernardino, Round Valley, Riverside, Anderson Flat
Either Sex Deer
Apprentice Shotgun
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 17 – Sep. 25 2022
Little Dry Creek
Either Sex Deer
Military
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Dec. 4 2022
Beale, Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Pendleton
Dates may vary by Zones, Either Sex or Antlerless Deer may vary by Zones
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Elk
Apprentice
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 16 – Aug. 21 2022
Grizzly Island
Only Tule Elk, Antlerless or Spike Bull may vary by Dates
Sep. 7 – Sep. 25 2022
Marble Mountains, Northeastern California
Either Sex Elk, Roosvelt or Rocky Mountain Elk may vary by Zones
Oct. 8 – Oct. 30 2022
La Panza, Cache Creek
Tule Elk Only, Bull or Antlerless may vary by Zones
Dec. 20 2022 – Jan. 1 2023
Fort Hunter Liggett
Tule Elk Only, Bull or Antlerless
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Jul. 30 – Aug. 7 2022
For Hunter Liggett
Tule Elk Only, Either Sex
Aug. 13 – Aug. 21 2022
Owens Valley Multiple Zone
Tule Elk Only, Bull
Aug. 31 – Sep. 25 2022
Lone Pine, Northeastern California
Tule or Rocky Mountain Elk may vary by Zones, Entlerless or Either Sex may vary by Zones
Oct. 29 – Nov. 13 2022
Fort Hunter Liggett, Marble Mountains
Tule Elk or Roosvelt may vary by Zones, Antlerless or Either Sex may vary by Zones
Muzzleloader
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 10 – Sep. 25 2022
Independence
Only Tule Elk, Bull
Oct. 29 – Nov. 6 2022
Marble Mountains
Only Roosvelt Elk, Either Sex
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 16 – Aug. 21 2022
Grizzly Island
Only Tule Elk, Antlerless or Spike Bull may vary by Dates
Sep. 7 – Oct. 30 2022
Marble Mountain, Northeastern California Roosvelt, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Bear Valley, Cache Creek, East Park Reservoir, Goodale, Grizzly Island, Independence, La Panza, Lake Pillsbury, San Louis Reservoir, West Tinemaha, Whitney
Roosvelt, Rocky Mountain or Tule Elk may vary by Zones, Bull, Spike bull, Antlerless or Either Sex may vary by Zones
Nov. 12 – Dec. 4 2022
Fort Hunter Liggett, La Panza
Only Tule Elk, Bull or Antlerless may vary by Zones
Dates may vary by Zones, Any bear except cubs and sows with cubs, No bait allowed
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 27 – Sep. 19 2022
All Zones
Dates may vary by Zones, Any bear except cubs or sows with cubs, No bait allowed, No dogs allowed
Pronghorn
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Aug. 28 2022
1 Mount Dome, 2 Clear Lake, 3 Likely Tables, 4 Lassen, 5 Big Valley, 6 Surprise Valley,
Buck Only, Dates may vary by Zones
Sep. 3 – Sep. 11 2022
3 Likely Tables, 4 Lassen
Buck Only, Dates may vary by Zones
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 6 – Aug. 14 2022
2 Clear Lake, 3 Likely Tables, 4 Lassen, 5 Big Valley, 6 Surprise Valley
Buck Only
Apprentice
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Aug. 28 2022
3 Likely Tables, 4 Lassen, 5 Big Valley, 6 Surprise Valley
Either Sex
Bighorn Sheep
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Sep. 25 2022
7
Ram only
Dec. 3 2022 – Feb. 5 2023
1 – 4, 8 – 10
Ram only
Fundraising
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 6 – Sep. 27 2022
7
Ram only
Nov. 5 2022 – Feb. 5 2023
1-4, 8, 9
Ram only
Wild Pig
Dates
Zones
Notes
Open Season
All Zones
No limits
Wild Turkey
Fall
Dates
Zones
Notes
Nov. 12 – Dec. 11 2022
All Zones (except Sand Diego)
1 Either Sex Turkey
Spring General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Mar. 25 – Apr. 30 2023
All Zones
1 Bearded Turkey
Spring Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
May 1 – May 14 2023
All Zones
1 Bearded Turkey
Spring Apprentice
Dates
Zones
Notes
Mar. 18 – Mar 19 2023
All Zones
1 Bearded Turkey
May 1 – May 14 2023
All Zones
1 Bearded Turkey
Pheasant
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Nov. 12 – Dec. 25 2022
All Zones
No lead, 2 males per day during first two days, after that 3 males per day
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 8 – Oct. 30 2022
All Zones
2 pheasants per day during first two days, after that 3 pheasants per day (only one female)
Dec. 26 2022 – Jan. 22 2023
All Zones
2 pheasants per day during first two days, after that 3 pheasants per day (only one female)
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 2022 – Feb. 28 2023
All Zones
2 pheasants per day during first two days, after that 3 pheasants per day
Quail
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 10 2022 – Jan. 29 2023
Q1, Q2, Q3
Mountain Quail Only in Q1
Apprentice
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 1 – Oct. 2 2022
Mojave National Preserve
Daily limit 10
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Sep. 9 2022
All Zones
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 2022 – Feb. 28 2023
All Zones
Chukar Partridge
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 15 2022 – Jan. 29 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 6
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Sep. 9 2022
All Zones
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 2022 – Feb. 28 2023
All Zones
Sooty/Ruffed Grouse
General
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 10 – Oct. 10 2022
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba.
Daily limit 2
Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 – Sep. 9 2022
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba.
Daily limit 2
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 2022 – Feb. 28 2023
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba.
Daily limit 2
White-tailed Ptarmigan
General/Archery
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 10 – Sep. 18 2022
All Zones
Daily limit 2
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Aug. 20 2022 – Feb. 28 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 2
Dove
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 1 – Sep. 15 2022
All Zones
Mourning, White-tailed, Spotted, and Turtle Dove
Nov. 12 – Dec. 26 2022
All Zones
Mourning, White-tailed, Spotted, and Turtle Dove
Open season
All Zones
Eurasian Collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 17 – Sep. 25 2022
North
Daily limit 2
Dec. 17 – Dec. 25 2022
South
Daily limit 2
Snipe
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 15 2022 – Jan. 29 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 8
Waterfowl
General
Bird
Dates
Zones
Notes
Duck
Oct. 2 2022 – Jan. 31 2023
Northeastern, Southern San Joaquim Valley, Southern California, Colorado River Zones, Balance of State Zone
Dates may vary by Zones
Coot/Moorhen
Oct. 2 2022 – Jan. 31 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 25
Scaup
Oct. 2 2022 – Jan. 31 2023
Northeastern, Southern San Joaquim Valley, Southern California, Colorado River Zones, Balance of State Zone
Dates may vary by Zones
Geese
Oct. 2 2022 – Mar. 10 2023
Northeastern, Southern San Joaquim Valley, Southern California, Colorado River Zones, Balance of State Zone
Dates may vary by Zones, Canada, White-fronted or White Geese may vary by Zones
Youth
Dates
Zones
Notes
Sep. 18 – Sep. 19 2022
Northeastern
Same species as regular seasons
Feb. 5 – Feb. 6 2023
Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Colorado River, Balance of State
Same species as regular seasons
Falconry
Dates
Zones
Notes
Oct. 2 2022 – Jan. 31 2023
Northeastern, Southern San Joaquim Valley, Southern California, Colorado River Zones, Balance of State Zone
Ducks Only in Southern San Joaquin Valley and Colorado River, Dates may vary by Zones
Veterans and Active Military Personnel
Dates
Zones
Notes
Jan. 15 – Jan. 16 2023
Northeastern
Ducks Only
Feb. 12 – Feb. 13 2023
Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California
Balance of State Ducks Only, Other same as regular season
Small Game
Animal
Dates
Zones
Notes
Tree Squirrel: General
Sep. 10 2022 – Jan. 29 2023
Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba, Kern County east of Interstate 5
Daily limit 4
Archery/Falconry
Aug. 6 – Sep. 9
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba, Kern County east of Interstate 5
Daily limit 4
Rabbits and Hares: General
Jul. 1 2022 – Jan. 29 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 5
Falconry
Jan. 30 – Mar. 19 2023
All Zones
Daily limit 5
Jackrabbit
Open Season
All Zones
No limit
Aoudad, mouflon, tahr, and feral goats
Dates
Zones
Notes
Open Season
All Zones
No limit
Non Game Animals
excluding English sparrow, starling, domestic pigeon (Columba livia), coyote, weasels, skunks, opossum, moles and rodents (excluding tree and flying squirrels, and those listed as furbearers, endangered or threatened species).
Dates
Zones
Notes
Open Season
All Zones
No limit
Fallow, sambar, sika, and axis deer, of either sex, may be taken concurrently with the general deer season.
