If you thought California was just beaches and sunny city strips, you’re in for a surprise. The Golden State offers a bounty of hunting, including deer, bear, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep. If you’re looking for a hunting adventure with beautiful views, scenic California has woods to get “lost” in.

Many of California’s hunting seasons are broken up by regional zones. With countless zones, it can be confusing on which area you may hunt or reside in. For more information on hunting zones, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

 

California Deer Seasons

General Season	Aug. 14-Nov. 7**
Archery	July 10-Oct. 2**

*Specific areas within a zone can have different start and end dates. These are general season dates. For more information, contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

 

General Season	Concurrent with general deer season through Dec. 26
Archery	Aug. 21-Sept. 12

 

California Pronghorn Seasons

General Season	Aug. 7-Sept. 13**
Archery Season	Aug. 7-15
Apprentice Hunts	Aug. 21-29

**Season dates vary by zone

 

California Elk Seasons

General Season	Aug. 19-Dec. 5**
Archery Season	July 31-Nov. 14**
Apprentice Season	Aug. 19-Jan. 2**

**Season dates vary by zone. Elk seasons generally run between August and November, but vary greatly by hunting region. Hunts in some areas have been canceled due to increased military training in those regions.

 

California Desert Bighorn Sheep Seasons

General Season

Aug. 21-Sept. 26** and Dec. 4-Feb. 6**

**Season dates vary by zone. Bighorn sheep seasons generally run between August and February, but vary greatly by hunting region. Some areas are extremely rugged and at high altitudes, requiring hunters to take extra safety precautions.

 

California Small Game Seasons

Tree Squirrel	Archery/Falconry: Aug. 7-Sept. 10 General: Sept. 11-Jan. 30
Rabbits and Varying Hare	General: July 1-Jan. 30 Falconry: Jan. 31-March 20
Jackrabbit	Open season

**Season dates vary by take method

Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for California hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.