Deer Hunting Regulations

WHAT’S NEW IN 2023

DEER TAG CLASSIFICATION CHANGES

For the 2023 deer hunting season, the following deer tags have changed classifications. Please refer to the 2023 Deer Hunts beginning on page 28 for more information.

From Restricted to Premium deer tag:

• D6 – tag quota filled on 6/16/2022

From Unrestricted to Premium deer tag:

• D16 – tag quota filled on 6/25/2022

From Unrestricted to Restricted deer tags:

• A32 – tag quota filled on 7/15/2022

GENERAL INFORMATION

HUNTING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

First-time applicants applying for a hunting license through the CDFW’s ALDS must present one of the following as evidence of hunter education when applying for a California hunting license:

• An annual California hunting license issued in any prior year;
• A Two-Day Nonresident California Hunting License issued after the 1999/2000 license year;
• A California certificate of hunter education completion or equivalency with a unique number imprinted on it ex: (AA00000) or a California hunter education certificate with no unique number imprinted and a California hunter education validation stamp affixed;
• A certificate of successful completion of a California-approved hunter education course from any state or province; or
• A current hunting license or a hunting license issued in either of the two previous years from any state, province, European Union country or South Africa.

Applicants that have previously purchased a hunting license through CDFW’s ALDS will already have the required proof of hunter education evidence in their customer profile. To ensure the appropriate customer profile is retrieved at a license agent, the CDFW recommends hunters provide the license agent with a previously issued ALDS license.

VALIDATION OF LICENSE

To be valid, every California hunting license shall be signed by the licensee. Proof of identification must be presented at the time of initial purchase. In addition, the license must contain the following information about the licensee: true name, residence address, date of birth, height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair, and sex.

Acceptable proof of identification:

• Any license document or GO ID number previously issued via ALDS
• A valid driver’s license or identification card issued to him or her by the Department of Motor Vehicles or by the entity issuing driver’s licenses from the licensee’s state of domicile
• US Birth Certificate
• US Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad
• Tribal Identification Card, as defined by each sovereign tribal nation
• Birth Certificate or passport issued from a US Territory
• US Passport
• US Military Identification Cards (Active or reserve duty, dependent, retired member, discharged from service, medical/ religious personnel)
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
• A foreign government-issued photo identification

Applicants who are less than 18 years of age may provide any form of identification previously described or a guardian’s identification (parent or legal guardian identification listed).

LICENSE PROVISIONS

A valid California hunting license is required to take any bird or mammal. Hunters must carry licenses and be prepared to show them upon request to any peace officer. Guns and other equipment used in hunting must be shown upon request.

A 2-Day Nonresident California Hunting License is valid only for taking resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, fur-bearing mammals wild pigs, and non-game mammals. A 2-Day Nonresident California Hunting License is not valid to hunt bighorn sheep, bear, deer, elk, or pronghorn.

JUNIOR HUNTING LICENSE ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for a junior hunting license, a hunter must be less than 16 years of age as of July 1, of the license year for which they are applying.

DISABLED VETERAN AND RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBER HUNTING LICENSES

CDFW offers reduced fee hunting licenses for Disabled Veterans and Recovering Service Members.

Honorably discharged disabled veterans (resident or nonresident) with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability are eligible for a reduced fee hunting license. Applicants must submit a letter from the Veterans’ Administration documenting that you were honorably discharged from the US military and have a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or greater.

Recovering service members are eligible for a reduced fee hunting license while undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, and are in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member’s military service. Applicants must submit a letter from your commanding officer or military medical doctor verifying your eligibility as a recovering service member, including the expected recovery date in your verification letter.

To prequalify, applicants must submit the document of eligibility along with a photocopy of your personal identification and GO ID by fax to (916) 419-7585 or by secure document upload. To upload your documentation, please email your request to LRB@ wildlife.ca.gov and follow the link provided in the response. You may also apply by mail or in person at any CDFW license sales office. For more information please contact your nearest CDFW license sales offices or visit our web site at wildlife.ca.gov/ licensing/hunting. Hunting tags and validations must be purchased at full price.

UPLAND GAME BIRD AND CALIFORNIA DUCK VALIDATION

Any person (except junior hunters) must have an Upland Game Bird Validation when hunting pheasant, dove, turkey, quail, grouse, ptarmigan, snipe, band-tailed pigeon, partridge or chukar. A California Duck Validation authorizes any person to hunt waterfowl in California (along with the Federal Duck Stamp and free HIP Validation). CDFW knows that many hunters collect the physical stamps. Hunters who purchase these validations can claim their collectible stamp online at the address printed on their 2023 hunting licenses. Stamps will be mailed at the end of the license year (after July 1, 2024).

HARVEST INFORMATION PROGRAM (HIP) VALIDATION REQUIREMENT

If you plan to hunt migratory game birds in 2023-24 (ducks, geese, coots, dove, band-tailed pigeon, snipe, gallinules or black brant) you must complete a Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey. To take the survey you must request a HIP validation at any CDFW license sales office, license agent, or online. There is no charge for the HIP validation. Hunters may be cited for hunting migratory game birds without a HIP validation in their immediate possession.

DUPLICATE LICENSES

Your customer record contains a history of all your license purchases. If you lose your license or additional validations, you can go to any CDFW license sales office, license agent, online or by telephone sales and purchase a duplicate license and validations.

DISABLED ENTITLEMENTS

The CDFW offers the following free disabled entitlements to any resident or nonresident hunter that meets the qualifications. These entitlements must be certified by a licensed physician and submitted to the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch. Hunters that qualify for these entitlements must also have a valid California hunting license in possession while hunting.

Disabled Archer Permit

A disabled archer permit is available to any hunter who has permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing the hunter from drawing and holding of a bow in a firing position. The Disabled Archer Permit authorizes the disabled archer to use a crossbow or device which holds a string and arrow in the firing position, to assist in the taking of birds and mammals under the conditions of an archery tag or during archery season.

Certification from a licensed physician is required. If the physician indicates on the initial application that the disability is permanent, hunters may renew the permit every year at any CDFW license sales office, license agent, online or by telephone sales.

If the disability is temporary, the physician is required to enter the end date of the disability on the application. Temporary permits may be renewed at any CDFW’s license sales office, license agent, online or by telephone sales every year until the temporary disability end date; once the end date has passed, re-certification is required.

Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit

A disabled muzzleloader scope permit is available to any 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 muzzleloader rifle with the target in order to hunt deer. The Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit allows the hunter to use a 1X scope on a muzzleloader rifle while hunting under the conditions of a muzzleloader deer hunt tag. Hunters must renew the permit each license year, but hunters may provide a copy of their previously issued permit to the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch to renew annually.

Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License

A Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License is available for any mobility impaired disabled hunter who must use a motor vehicle to pursue game. The Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License allows a hunter to discharge a firearm from a vehicle that is stopped and its engine turned off. To qualify a person must be either permanently or fully confined to a wheelchair, 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 a licensed physician is required. The license is only available from the CDFW's License and Revenue Branch.

HUNTER EDUCATION

Class Options

Hunter education classes include instruction in firearms safety and handling, sportsmanship and ethics, wildlife management and conservation, archery, black powder, wildlife identification, game care, first aid, and survival. Classes are offered in two formats:

1. Traditional (minimum of 10 hours of classroom, homework, and field instruction) or
2. Online course and follow-up class. For more information or to register for a class, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education.

Hunter Education Equivalency Exams

Hunter education equivalency exams are given by appointment only at CDFW regional offices for a fee. In some states, the California equivalency certificate may not be accepted as evidence of hunter education. For more information on the hunter education equivalency exam, contact your nearest CDFW regional office.

Duplicate Hunter Education Certificates

Duplicate hunter education certificates can be issued to any person who completed and passed a hunter education class. If the class was completed prior to 1989, CDFW does not have records before this date; the hunter should contact the original instructor, club, or organization where the course was taught to obtain a duplicate. If the hunter is unable to obtain a duplicate through these means, they will have to repeat the course. Visit the hunter education web page at wildlife.ca.gov/HunterEducation for more information.

ADVANCED HUNTER EDUCATION

Advanced Hunter Education Clinics are species-specific or skillspecific. Learn how to field dress a deer, call in a mallard, find your way out of the woods, process and prepare your game for the table, plus much more! For additional information, including clinic dates and locations, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education/ Advanced. Bowhunter Education Class Although bowhunter education training is not required in California, many states do require it for all bowhunters. CDFW’s bowhunter education program meets the requirements of all states. For more information or to register for a class, visit wildlife. ca.gov/Hunter-Education.

DEER TAGS AND GENERAL INFORMATION

In addition to a valid California hunting license, deer tags are also required and must be in possession when taking deer. Hunters may obtain two deer tags per license year. Applicants for deer tags must be at least 12 years of age on or before July 1 of the license year for which they are applying or at the time of application if they are applying after July 1. A First-Deer Tag Drawing Application or First-Deer Tag must be purchased before or at the same time as a Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application (junior hunters only) or Second-Deer Tag.

License and Tag Privileges Can Be Revoked

It is illegal to purchase more than one First-Deer Tag Drawing Application/First-Deer Tag and one Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application/Second-Deer Tag in the same license year. Persons convicted of a deer violation during the 2022-23 license year may not apply for deer tags in 2023-24. The Fish and Game Code provides that the Fish and Game Commission shall revoke the hunting privileges of any person who is convicted of three violations of the state’s hunting laws or regulations within any five-year period. (FGC 12155, CCR T-14 745.5).

HUNT TAG DESCRIPTIONS

A, B, and D Zone Hunt Tags

These tags allow hunting during the archery season with archery equipment only and during the general season with a muzzleloading or centerfire rifle, shotgun, authorized pistol or revolver, crossbow, or bow. Tags are valid for a specific zone of issuance except:

• A zone tag is valid in both A North and A South;
• B Zone Deer Tags are valid in any B zone;
• D3-5 Deer Tags are valid in zones D3, D4, and D5; and
• D11, D13, or D15 tags may be used in any of these three zones.

C Zone Hunt Tag

A C zone tag is valid in zones C1, C2, C3, and C4 during the general season only, using a muzzleloading or centerfire rifle, shotgun, authorized pistol or revolver, crossbow, or bow. To hunt with archery equipment only during the archery season in any C zone you must apply in the Big Game Drawing for an A1 Area-Specific Archery Hunt tag.

X Zone Hunt Tags

These tags allow hunting during the general season only, in a specific zone using a muzzleloading or centerfire rifle, shotgun, authorized pistol or revolver, crossbow, or bow.

Archery-Only (AO) Hunt Tag

The AO (Archery-Only) tag allows hunting with archery equipment only during the archery and general seasons in A, B, or D zones and Hunt G10 (military only). To hunt during an X zone archery season, you must have an Area-Specific Archery Hunt tag for the appropriate zone. You may not possess a firearm or crossbow when hunting under the authority of an Archery-Only deer tag except as otherwise provided.

Apprentice Hunt Tags

Applicants must be less than 16 years of age as of July 1, of the license year for which they are applying, and must possess a valid 2023-24 California Junior Hunting License. See page 31 for more information on Apprentice Deer Hunts. Junior hunters receiving Apprentice Deer Hunt tags must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older while hunting.

Area-Specific Archery Hunt Tags

These tags allow archery hunting in designated areas throughout the state, including X zones.

Military Lands Hunts J10 and A33 (Additional Hunt Deer Tags), are held on military installations and offer limited number of tags for the public. Tags are issued through the CDFW’s Big Game Drawing. The G8 hunt has been cancelled by the Base Commander for the 2023 hunting season. Additional Military Lands Hunts, G7 (Beale Air Force Base EitherSex Hunt), G10 (Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base Either-Sex Hunt), and G11 (Vandenberg Air Force Base Either-Sex Hunt) are for military personnel only. Military personnel must contact the base directly for information on application procedures. Hunters interested in the G7 hunt tag may contact the Beale AFB Natural Resources Office at (530) 634-2738. For information on the G10 hunt tag contact the Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base at (760) 725-3360.

Deer Tag Exchanges

Premium deer tags cannot be exchanged. Non-Premium deer tags may be exchanged if all of the following conditions are met:

• The earliest season (either archery or general) for the tag being exchanged has not yet opened;
• The tag quota for the tag being exchanged has not filled;
• Tags are still available for the zone being requested; and
• The exchange fee of $12.36 for the exchange tag accompanies your request.

Deer tag exchanges are only processed at CDFW license sales offices (CCR T14-708.4).

Deer Tag Refunds

Deer tag fees are nonrefundable. Deer Tag Drawing Application fees are nonrefundable once the deer tag application has been entered into the Big Game Drawing or a deer tag has been issued regardless of closures of any zone or hunt due to fire, weather or other natural disasters.

DEER DEFINITIONS

Antlerless Deer: Female deer, fawns of either sex other than spotted fawns, and male deer with an unbranched antler on one or both sides which is not more than three inches in length (CCR T14-351(b)).

Either-sex Deer: Antlerless deer, or legal bucks that have two or more points in the upper two-thirds of either antler (CCR T14-351(c)).

Forked-horn Buck: A male deer having a branched antler on either side with the branch in the upper two-thirds of the antler. Eyeguards or other bony projections on the lower one-third of the antler shall not be considered as points or branches (CCR T14-351(a)).

Spike Buck Deer: A male deer with unbranched antlers on both sides which are more than 3 inches in length (FGC 204(d)).

DEER TAG CLASSIFICATIONS

Deer tags are issued for a specific hunt. Each hunt has a tag quota – the total number of tags that can be issued. Deer hunts are categorized into three different classifications (premium, restricted and unrestricted) based on the prior year’s demand for the tag. Hunt classification determines tag issuance method and other rules as follows:

PREMIUM DEER HUNTS are any hunt where the quota filled on or before the first business day after July 1, of the previous year. Hunters may only obtain one premium hunt tag per license year. To apply for a premium deer hunt tag, hunters must apply in the Big Game Drawing using a First-Deer Tag Drawing Application. Except junior hunters who may also apply for premium Apprentice Hunts using a Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application.

Premium Deer Tags for 2023 are:

General Zone Hunts: C, D6, D9, D12, D14, D16, and D17; X Zone Hunts: X1, X2, X3A, X3B, X4, X5A, X5B, X6A, X6B, X7A, X7B, X8, X9A, X9B, X9C, X10 and X12; General Methods Hunts: G1, G3, G6, G12, G13, G19, G21, G37, G38 and G39;

Muzzleloader Hunts: M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M11, MA1 and MA3;

Area-Specific Archery Hunts: A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A11, A12, A13, A14, A15, A16, A17, A18, A19, A20, A21, A22, A24, A25, A26, A27, A30, A31, and A33;

Apprentice Hunts: J1, J3, J4, J8, J9, J10, J11, J12, J13, J14, J15, J16, J17, J18, J19, J20 and J21.

RESTRICTED DEER HUNTS are any hunt that filled on or before the first business day after August 1 of the previous year. Restricted deer hunt tags may be issued upon the purchase of a First-Deer Tag. Second-Deer Tag applicants may also obtain a restricted deer hunt tag at any time, if you do not have a pending drawing application, have not been issued a premium deer hunt tag or restricted deer hunt tag as a FirstDeer Tag. Restricted tags are issued upon request until the tag quota for the hunt is filled.

UNRESTRICTED DEER HUNTS are any hunt that did not fill on or before the first business day after August 1, in the previous year. Unrestricted deer hunt tags are issued upon the purchase of either a First-Deer Tag or Second-Deer Tag.

Unrestricted Deer Tags for 2023 are:

Archery Only Hunts: AO

General Hunt Zones: A, B, D3-5, D7, D8, D10, D11, D13, D15, and D19

TAG RETURN FOR AREAS IMPACTED BY PUBLIC LAND CLOSURES CAUSED BY WILDFIRES

On April 18, 2022, regulations went into effect allowing eligible tag holders whose seasons were cut short or eliminated due to public land closures caused by wildfires to return unfilled deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn sheep tags for reinstatement of their preference points and/or refunds.

A tag holder whose hunt zone was inaccessible for sixty-six percent (66%) or more of the hunt season due to a public land closure caused by wildfire may return their unfilled tag with their written request for preference point reinstatement and/ or tag refund. The tag holder must return their unfilled tag with their written request postmarked on or prior to February 28 of the current license year for which the tag is valid. Requests postmarked after this date shall not be considered. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/ Hunting#580623472-post-season-tag-returns.

FIRST DEER TAG DRAWING APPLICATION

A First-Deer Tag Drawing Application may only be used to apply for the following hunts:

• First Choice – Premium Deer Hunts or PD (Point Deer) – The preference point code may be used as the first choice to obtain a preference point without competing in the first choice round of the drawing.
• Second and Third Choice – Second and third hunt choices are optional and may be a premium deer, restricted deer or unrestricted deer hunt tag.

SECOND DEER TAG DRAWING APPLICATION

A Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application may ONLY be used by junior hunters to apply for Apprentice Hunts, and only if they have not applied for Apprentice Deer Hunts on their First-Deer Tag Drawing Application. Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application hunt choices are limited as follows:

• First Choice – Must be an Apprentice Deer Hunt or PD (Point Deer) – The preference point code may be used as the first choice to obtain a preference point without competing in the first choice round of the drawing.
• Second and Third Choice – Second and third choice hunts are optional and may be another Apprentice Deer Hunt or unrestricted deer hunt tag. Junior hunters may select a restricted deer hunt as their second or third tag choice ONLY if they were issued an unrestricted deer tag as their First-Deer Tag or not pending a First-Deer Tag Drawing Application.

FIRST DEER TAG

A First-Deer Tag may be used to obtain the following:

• Restricted Deer Hunt Tags
• Unrestricted Deer Hunt Tags
• Leftover Premium Deer Hunt Tags issued on July 2, 2023

If any premium deer hunt tags remain after the Big Game Drawing, First-Deer Tag applicants may apply for any leftover premium deer hunt tags starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 2, 2023.

SECOND DEER TAG

• A Second-Deer Tag may be used to obtain the following:
• Unrestricted Deer Hunt Tags
• Restricted Deer Hunt Tags
• Leftover Premium Deer Hunt Tags issued on August 2, 2023.

Second-Deer Tag applicants may obtain any restricted deer hunt tag at any time if they do not have a pending First-Deer Tag Drawing Application or have not been issued a premium or restricted deer tag as a First-Deer Tag. Starting at 8:00 a.m. on August 2, 2023 all Second-Deer Tag applicants may apply for any remaining deer tag regardless if you have been issued a premium or restricted deer tag already.

In partnership with: