How to Get a Hunting License in California in 2026
California's diverse terrain and many opportunities for big game, waterfowl, and upland hunting offer unique experiences for residents and visitors alike. Though getting a license isn't difficult, the state's hunter education requirements, species-specific rules, and changing regulations may leave some new hunters unsure about where to begin.
Here's a step-by-step process for how to get a hunting license in California in 2026.
What Do You Need for a Hunting License in California?
Before you can buy a California hunting license, you'll need to complete a few basic steps required by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
- First, you must have proof of completing a CDFW-approved hunter education course. If you've held a California hunting license from a previous year, that can also serve as proof of completing the hunter education requirement.
- Next, you'll need an approved form of identification, such as a state driver's license or other state-issued ID.
- If you're purchasing your license online, you'll have to create a customer account. Then, you'll receive a unique Get Outdoors Identification (GO ID) number, which applies to your licenses, tags, and validations.
Once you've completed your hunter education course, have valid identification, and have created your online account, you can purchase the correct license for your age, residency status, veteran status, or disability status.
Depending on the species you plan on hunting, you may also be required to purchase additional tags or validations.
How Long Is the California Hunting License Course?
CDFW requires first-time hunters to complete a hunter education course before they can buy a hunting license. Most courses take 10–12 hours to complete, including the in-person portions of the requirement.
Many hunters now opt for the hybrid (online + in-person) course, allowing them to study at their own pace. However, California recently changed its regulations to require all online course participants to complete an in-person follow-up class and a final written exam with a CDFW-certified instructor.
The four-hour follow-up session reviews the course material, and hunters must pass the written exam to receive a valid hunter education certificate.
How Long Does a License Last in California?
Like most states, a California hunting license is valid for one year.
California does not use a rolling 12-month schedule. License dates run from July 1 through June 30 of the following year, and this calendar applies to all hunting license types.
If you're planning and asking yourself, "How long does a license last in California?", consider timing your purchase for maximum use. Buying your hunting license in early July allows you to get 12 full months of valid hunting opportunities.
Licenses Do Not Automatically Renew
Note that California hunting licenses do not automatically renew at the end of the cycle. You'll need to purchase a new license every year through the CDFW website, CDFW offices, or authorized agents in retail locations.
Tags
Tags generally have shorter time windows and are valid for species-specific seasons and hunting zones. These dates change every year, so always check the CDFW website for season dates before planning your hunt.
3 Steps for How to Get a Hunting License in California
California's licensing process is straightforward and follows a specific sequence to ensure you meet CDFW's legal requirements before purchasing a license, tag, or validation.
Here are three easy steps for how to get a hunting license in California.
- Complete Hunter Education. Again, every first-time hunter must complete a CDFW-approved hunter education course. You can choose an in-person class or a hybrid option that combines a recognized online course with a mandatory in-person follow-up session. Once you complete a written exam, you'll get a hunter education certificate, which is required to purchase a California hunting license.
- Create a CDFW Account. Go to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website and select Online License Sales and Services. Then, create a customer account and receive a GO ID number. This number applies to all your licenses, tags, and validations.
- Purchase Your License. After you've completed the first two steps, you can purchase your hunting license for the current hunting season. If you're hunting bear, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, or pronghorn antelope, you will need to buy a separate tag for each species. For wild pigs, you will also need to purchase a validation for the entire hunting season.
If you purchase your license at a CDFW office or through an authorized agent, you'll leave with a paper copy of your license and any appropriate tags and validations. If you make your purchase online, you can get paper copies mailed to you.
You can also carry a digital version of your license on the CDFW License App, but you will still need paper big game tags to attach to animals immediately after harvest.
Who Needs a Hunting License in California?
Youth hunters under 16 must have a junior hunting license, and hunters age 16 and older must also have a hunting license (general, veteran, recovering service member, or lifetime). Active-duty military members stationed in California are eligible for resident license pricing.
There are a few exceptions to the license requirement for depredation or nuisance control on private property. However, these hunts are tightly regulated and require separate permits from CDFW.
No matter which type of license you intend to buy, if you're a new hunter, you are still required to complete a hunter education course (including the mandatory in-person follow-up) before you can purchase a license.
What Can You Hunt With a License in California?
Once you've purchased a California hunting license, you can hunt a variety of game animals within the state's borders. However, California's hunting seasons, bag limits, zones, and legal hunting methods can vary widely, so be sure to review current CDFW regulations before you head to the field.
- Big game species that require species-specific tags include mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear, elk, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn sheep. Hunters obtain most tags through a draw or quota system. You can pursue wild pigs with a wild pig validation on your license.
- Tree squirrels, rabbits, and jackrabbits are considered small game and do not require additional tags or validations to hunt.
- Furbearers and nongame species, such as bobcats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and coyotes, are subject to additional restrictions. You can legally hunt coyotes and skunks year-round with a valid California hunting license and have no bag limit.
- California is also home to outstanding upland hunting opportunities for chukar, dove, grouse, pheasant, quail, and wild turkey. You will need an upland bird validation to hunt these birds legally. Unlike other states, California does not require you to purchase a separate turkey tag.
- Major routes in the Pacific Flyway go through California, creating a wide variety of waterfowl hunting options. To hunt these birds legally, you must also have a California duck validation and a federal duck stamp.
Note that it's illegal to hunt or trap bobcats in California as of January 2020.
Let ilearntohunt Help You Get Your California Hunting License
Hopefully, we've shed some light on how to get a hunting license in California. It can be a straightforward process when you complete your hunter education course, create a GO ID account, and purchase your license.
To start your first California hunting adventure, go ahead and take the state's required hunter education course through ilearntohunt. Our CDFW-approved course provides instruction in safety, ethics, basic field skills, game processing, first aid, and conservation, preparing you for the mandatory in-person review session and written exam.
Our course not only helps you meet the requirements to purchase a California hunting license, but you'll also learn the core principles that will be the foundation of a lifetime of hunting!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to the top questions about how to get a hunting license in California!
Q: What do you need for a hunting license in California?
A: To get a California hunting license, you must show proof of hunter education. This can include a California hunter education certificate or equivalent with a unique number, a certificate from a California-approved hunter education course from any state/province, a current hunting license or one issued within the last two years (any state/province), or a prior California hunting license. You can then purchase your license online, at a CDFW office, or from a license agent.
Q: How long is the California hunting license course?
A: California’s official hunter education course includes at least 10 hours of instruction (classroom, homework, and field) covering safety, wildlife, ethics, game care, etc. Successful completion earns you the certificate needed for a license.
