California Hunting License, Tags & Hunter Education

Resident, non-resident, senior, youth, and lifetime hunting fees, tags and stamps, trapping licenses, and hunter safety requirements for California. Checked 2026-11-12.

Hunting Licenses (10)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Resident Hunting License	Resident	$64.54	16 and older	Official page
Nonresident Hunting License	Non-resident	$225.46	16 and older	Official page
Junior Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	$17.02	Under 16 at start of license year (July 1)	Official page
One-Day Nonresident Hunting License	Non-resident	$31.06	Nonresident Game bird clubs and domesticated migratory game bird areas only	Official page
Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License	Non-resident	$64.54	16 and older Not valid for deer bear elk pronghorn or bighorn sheep	Official page
Lifetime Hunting License package ages 0-9	Resident	$709.00	Ages 0-9 Hunter education proof required before issue	Official page
Lifetime Hunting License package ages 10-39	Resident	$1160.25	Ages 10-39	Official page
Lifetime Hunting License package ages 40-61	Resident	$1045.00	Ages 40-61	Official page
Lifetime Hunting License package ages 62+	Resident	$709.00	Ages 62 and older	Official page
Senior hunting license	All / N/A	Not offered	No separate senior hunting fee listed	Official page

Tags, Stamps & Permits (23)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
California Duck Validation	Resident & Non-resident	$41.04	Required for waterfowl except juniors under Junior Hunting License	Official page
Upland Game Bird Validation	Resident & Non-resident	$25.41	Required for upland game birds except juniors under Junior Hunting License	Official page
Federal Duck Stamp (federal)	Resident & Non-resident	$25.00	Hunters under 16 exempt Sold at post offices and some agents; not a CDFW fee	Official page
Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Migratory game bird hunters Free with HIP survey	Official page
First-Deer Tag (resident)	Resident	$42.38	Age 12 as of July 1 or at purchase Drawing application or tag; max two deer tags per year	Official page
Second-Deer Tag (resident)	Resident	$52.92	Age 12 as of July 1 or at purchase First-deer tag must be bought first	Official page
First-Deer Tag (nonresident)	Non-resident	$377.35	Age 12 as of July 1 or at purchase Drawing application or tag	Official page
Second-Deer Tag (nonresident)	Non-resident	$377.35	Age 12 as of July 1 or at purchase	Official page
Bear Tag (resident)	Resident	$62.90	Age 12 as of July 1 One per licence year	Official page
Bear Tag (nonresident)	Non-resident	$397.60	Age 12 as of July 1 One per licence year	Official page
Elk Tag drawing (resident)	Resident	$610.20	Age 12 as of July 1; drawing One application per licence year	Official page
Elk Tag drawing (nonresident)	Non-resident	$1871.80	Age 12 as of July 1; drawing One application per licence year	Official page
Pronghorn Antelope Tag drawing (resident)	Resident	$205.77	Age 12 as of July 1; drawing One application per licence year	Official page
Pronghorn Antelope Tag drawing (nonresident)	Non-resident	$628.85	Age 12 as of July 1; drawing One application per licence year	Official page
Bighorn Sheep Tag drawing (resident)	Resident	$558.50	Age 16 as of July 1; drawing	Official page
Bighorn Sheep Tag drawing (nonresident)	Non-resident	$2072.75	Age 16 as of July 1; drawing	Official page
Wild Pig Validation (resident)	Resident	$28.34	Age 12 at application with valid hunting licence Required from July 1 2024	Official page
Wild Pig Validation (nonresident)	Non-resident	$101.26	Age 12 at application with valid hunting licence Required from July 1 2024	Official page
Second Rod Validation (inland)	Resident & Non-resident	$20.26	Two rods or lines in inland waters Not required in ocean waters	Official page
Type A One-Day Pass (state wildlife area)	Resident & Non-resident	$29.16	Licensed hunter; juniors exempt	Official page
Type A Two-Day Pass (state wildlife area)	Resident & Non-resident	$46.70	Licensed hunter; juniors exempt	Official page
Type A Season Pass (state wildlife area)	Resident & Non-resident	$219.24	Licensed hunter; juniors exempt Type A and Type B areas	Official page
Type B Season Pass (state wildlife area)	Resident & Non-resident	$73.70	Licensed hunter; juniors exempt	Official page

Trapping Licenses (3)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Trapping License (pest control)	Resident	$160.94	Resident trapper Fur-bearing and nongame mammals for pest control	Official page
Trapping License (pest control)	Non-resident	$792.75	Nonresident Only where the home state issues licences to California residents	Official page
Junior Trapping License	Resident	$54.33	Under 16	Official page

Hunter Education Requirements (2)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Hunter Education Certificate (course requirement)	Resident & Non-resident	Not shown	Required if never held a California hunting licence; no certificate; or no other-state hunting licence in past 2 years Course fee not shown on official pages; traditional or hybrid format; online course is for ages 12 and up; under-18 needs consent form	Official page
Duplicate Hunter Education Certificate	Resident & Non-resident	$9.21	Replacement	Official page

Free, Senior, Veteran & Disability Exemptions (11)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Disabled Veteran Reduced-Fee Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	50% or greater service-connected disability; CDFW offices 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Disabled Veteran Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	50% or greater service-connected disability; CDFW offices 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	Member in outpatient recovery status; commanding officer or doctor letter 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	Member in outpatient recovery status; commanding officer or doctor letter 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing - Low Income Senior	Resident	$10.04	65 and older on SSI or CAPI Renewed annually at CDFW office	Official page
Free Sport Fishing - Blind / Mobility Impaired / Developmentally Disabled	Resident	Free ($0.00)	Certified blind or developmentally disabled; mobility impaired resident First licence from CDFW License and Revenue Branch	Official page
Free Sport Fishing - Low Income Native American	Resident	Free ($0.00)	Resident Native American financially unable to pay Tribal enrolment proof required	Official page
Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Permanently confined to wheelchair or amputee or dependent on walker/crutches; physician certification Only from CDFW License and Revenue Branch	Official page
Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Visually impaired hunter; physician or optometrist certification Annual certification unless permanent	Official page
Disabled Archer Permit	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Permanent or significant upper-extremity impairment; physician certification Annual certification unless permanent	Official page
Active military (resident rate)	Resident	$64.54	Active duty armed forces treated as residents No separate reduced fee shown	Official page

Next steps for California hunters

Check official California season dates before heading out, and stock up on tags/gear from licensed outfitters (Sportsman's Warehouse / Amazon Associates placeholder).

Also see: California Fishing Licenses →