How to Get Your California Hunting License
A California hunting license is required for all hunters age 16 and older to legally take any bird or mammal in the state. Residents pay $64.54 for an annual license, while non-residents pay $225.46. All first-time hunters, regardless of age, must complete a CDFW-approved hunter education course before purchasing a license.
Licenses are sold at wildlife.ca.gov, by phone, and at authorized retailers statewide. The California hunting license year runs July 1 through June 30, and it does not renew automatically.
This guide walks you through how to get your California hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in California?
A California hunting license is the legal document that allows you to take birds and mammals in the state. It is issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and comes in several forms:
- A standard resident or non-resident annual license
- Ajunior license for hunters under 16
- Areduced-fee license for disabled veterans and recovering service members, and a lifetime license
The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed CDFW-approved safety training.
You need the certificate before CDFW will sell you your first license, and once you earn it, it lasts for life. The license, on the other hand, expires every June 30 and must be purchased again each season.
Who Needs a Hunting License in California?
California law requires a hunting license for anyone age 16 or older who takes any bird or mammal in the state. Hunters younger than 16 need a junior hunting license, which costs less but carries the same hunter education requirement.
California's hunter education rule is stricter than in most states: every first-time hunter, regardless of age, residency, or hunting experience, must complete a CDFW-approved hunter education course before buying any license. You're exempt from the course only if you've held a valid hunting license from California or any other state or Canadian province within the past two years.
There is no minimum age to enroll in the hunter education course itself, though instructors generally recommend waiting until a child can read and follow along with course material, typically around age 10.
Exemptions from California's Hunter Education Requirement
You may be exempt from the hunting license requirement if you fall into one or more of the situations below:
- You held a valid California hunting license within the past two years.
- You held a valid hunting license from another U.S. state or Canadian province within the past two years.
- You can produce another form of CDFW-recognized proof of prior hunting license history.
How to Get Your California Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in California takes a bit more upfront work than in most states, since hunter education comes before everything else, regardless of your age or experience. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete a CDFW-approved hunter education course at Hunter-Ed (required for all first-time hunters of any age).
- Gather proof of course completion and a government-issued ID.
- Purchase your license at wildlife.ca.gov, by phone, or at an authorized retailer. Online purchases require the buyer to be at least 18; a parent or guardian can complete the purchase for a minor.
- Select your license type: resident ($64.54), non-resident ($225.46), junior ($17.02), or a reduced-fee option for qualifying veterans.
- Apply for big game tags (deer, elk, bear, pronghorn, bighorn sheep) separately through CDFW's drawing system.
- Carry your digital or printed license and Hunter Education Certificate any time you hunt.
Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below walk through the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete a CDFW-Approved Hunter Education Course
California requires a hybrid course format: an online study portion followed by a mandatory in-person class. There's no exam built into the online portion, but you must score at least 80% on each unit quiz to move forward.
- Online course: The Hunter-Ed California-approved online course costs $34.95 and is self-paced, IHEA-approved, and available on any device. Most students finish the online portion in three to four hours.
- In-person Follow-Up Class: After passing the online course, you must attend a required Follow-Up Class, typically four hours, that includes a live-fire safety demonstration and a final test. This class is free to roughly $10 depending on the sponsoring chapter. You must bring your Online Course Completion Voucher to attend.
- Fully in-person option: Volunteer CDFW-affiliated instructors also offer a traditional classroom course with no online component, generally free or low-cost (up to about $20 in some counties).
Unlike most other states, California does not offer an online-only path. Passing the online course does not guarantee a Follow-Up Class seat, so register for a class before you rely on a hunting season deadline.
Step 2: Purchase Your License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate number in hand (CDFW adds it to your GO ID account within 48 hours of course completion), you can buy your license through the CDFW website, by phone at 800-565-1458, or at any authorized license agent.
You'll need your CDFW GO ID, a government-issued photo ID, and payment.
Step 3: Apply for Tags and Go Hunting
Your license alone covers small game, upland birds, and non-game species with the right validations. Big game, including deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, and bighorn sheep, requires a separate tag or drawing application.
Once your license and any needed tags are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.
California Hunting License Requirements by Age
Let's take a look at the requirements for hunting licenses in California by age.
California Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision |
| Under 12 |
| n/a |
| 12–15 |
| No statewide adult-supervision mandate, but mentored and apprentice hunts are encouraged |
| 16 and older |
| n/a |
| Any age with a valid license held in the past two years | Hunter education course not required | n/a |
Big game tag rules: Hunters must be 12 years old by July 1 of the license year to apply for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, or wild pig tags. Bighorn sheep applicants must be at least 16.
Deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep tags go through CDFW's annual online drawing, with applications typically due in early June. Bear tags are sold over the counter on a quota basis, and wild pig requires only a validation, not a draw.
Season dates and bag limits vary by zone and species, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
California offers different hunter safety course formats to meet the certification requirements. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats and costs.
California Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparisons | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Online + Follow-Up (hybrid) | Hunter-Ed | $34.95 online + Follow-up Class (free–$10) | 3–4 hrs online + 4 hrs in person | Live-fire demonstration and final test at Follow-Up Class |
In-Person Classroom | CDFW volunteer instructors | Free–$20 | 10+ hrs, one or more sessions | Exam included |
Your Hunter Education Certificate never expires once issued, no matter which format you choose. Only the annual hunting license itself needs to be renewed each season.
What to Bring When Buying Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your California hunting license. You'll need:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Hunter Education Certificate number (added to your CDFW GO ID account)
- Payment (credit/debit card online, or check/card in person)
- Proof of residency, if applying for resident rates
California Hunting Laws and Penalties
California treats hunting without a required license as a specific, more serious violation than a general Fish and Game Code infraction. Under Fish and Game Code Section 12002.1, taking a mammal or bird that requires a license, tag, seal, or stamp without having the valid document in your possession carries a fine of $250 to $2,000, up to one year in county jail, or both.
Make sure you review California's hunting laws and regulations for the full requirements.
What About Reciprocity?
California's Hunter Education Certificate is accepted in every U.S. state, territory, and Canadian province with a mandatory hunter education requirement, since it's issued to IHEA-USA standards. California returns the favor and accepts hunter education certificates from other IHEA-USA-compliant states and provinces.
The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to purchase a California non-resident license and any required tags.
Out-of-State Visitors
Non-residents can hunt in California with a non-resident license ($225.46 annually) and applicable tags. If you already hold a valid hunter education certificate or hunting license from your home state issued within the past two years, you're exempt from retaking California's course.
Additionally, non-residents may apply for the same big game drawings as residents, though some species cap the number of non-resident tags issued each year, such as pronghorn's one-tag limit.
Start Your California Hunter Safety Course Today
The Hunter-Ed California course is self-paced, IHEA-approved, and available on any device. Complete the online portion, attend your Follow-Up Class, and get your lifetime California Hunter Education Certificate.
Approved by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | Last verified August 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need a hunting license in California?
A: Yes. All hunters age 16 and older must hold a valid California hunting license, and hunters under 16 need a junior license. Every first-time hunter, regardless of age, must also complete a CDFW-approved hunter education course before buying either.
Q: How old do you have to be to get a California hunting license?
A: There's no minimum age to hold a junior license, but hunters must be 12 by July 1 of the license year to apply for most big game tags and 16 to apply for bighorn sheep. A standard adult license applies at 16.
Q: How much does a California hunting license cost?
A: A resident annual license costs $64.54. A non-resident annual license costs $225.46. A junior license costs $17.02. Prices reflect the current 2026–2027 license year and are set annually by CDFW.
Q: Does a California hunting license expire?
A: Yes. Annual licenses expire every June 30 and must be purchased again for the new season. Your Hunter Education Certificate is different: once issued, it's valid for life and never needs renewal.
Q: Can I take the hunter education course online in California?
A: Yes, but California requires a hybrid format. You complete the online course, then attend a required in-person Follow-Up Class to finish your certification. California does not offer an online-only path like most other states.
Q: Do I need hunter education in California?
A: Yes, unless you've held a valid hunting license from California or another state or Canadian province within the past two years. This requirement applies to first-time hunters of every age, not just minors.
Q: What if I'm visiting California to hunt?
A: Non-residents need a California non-resident hunting license ($225.46 annually) and any required tags. If you already hold a hunter education certificate or hunting license from your home state issued within the past two years, you don't need to retake California's course.
Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in California?
A: Taking a bird or mammal that requires a license, tag, seal, or stamp without having it in your possession carries a fine of $250 to $2,000, up to one year in county jail, or both, under Fish and Game Code Section 12002.1.
