License Items and Fees
Purchase these items ONLINE or at any CDFW License Sales Office or License Agent.
Valid JULY 1, 2024, through JUNE 30, 2025
Fish and Game Code Section 70 defines “Resident” as any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps established pursuant to Section 2883 of Title 29 of the United States Code.
Fish and Game Code Section 86 defines “Take” as hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.
License fees include a 3% nonrefundable application fee, not to exceed $7.50 per item.
Licenses issued from license agents include a 5% nonrefundable license agent handling fee.
Hunting Licenses
Title Fee Description Resident Hunting License $61.82 Required for any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals. Nonresident Hunting License $216.00 Required for any nonresident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals. Junior Hunting License $16.20 Required for any resident or nonresident less than 16 years of age who takes birds or mammals. To qualify, hunter must be less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1). One-Day Nonresident Hunting License $29.73 IMPORTANT! This license is only available for nonresidents taking resident and migratory game birds on Licensed Game Bird Clubs (Upland Game Bird Validation is also required) or Licensed Domesticated Migratory Game Bird Shooting Areas (Federal Duck Stamp and California Duck Validation are also required). This license is only available for purchase online or at any CDFW License Sales Offices. Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License $61.82 Starting with the 2023-2024 hunting license year, a Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License allows a nonresident 16 years of age or older to take resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, wild pigs, nongame mammals and furbearers for two consecutive days. Additional validations and tags may be required for certain species. IMPORTANT! This license is NOT valid for deer, bear, elk, pronghorn antelope, or bighorn sheep. Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Hunting License $9.53 at CDFW Offices $9.98 from License Agents
Available for any resident or nonresident honorably discharged disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability. After you prequalify for your first Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Hunting License, you can purchase a disabled veteran license anywhere licenses are sold.
Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Hunting License
Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License $9.53 at CDFW Offices $9.98 from License Agents Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member’s military service. After you prequalify for your Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License, you can purchase a recovering service member hunting license anywhere licenses are sold. Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License
Big Game Tag Drawing Applications
More information about Applying for the Big Game Tag Drawing
Title Fee Description Resident First-Deer Tag or First-Deer Tag Drawing Application $40.78
Hunters may obtain two deer tags per license year. Applicants for deer tags must be age 12 as of July 1, of the current license year or at the time of purchase if purchasing 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. See the Big Game Hunting Digest for more information.
Deer tag holders who fail to return their deer tags or report their tags online by January 31, will be assessed a $21.60 non-reporting fee when they purchase a deer tag or deer tag drawing application in the following license year.
Resident Second-Deer Tag or Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application $50.76 Nonresident First-Deer Tag or First-Deer Tag Drawing Application $361.90 Nonresident Second-Deer Tag or Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application $361.90 Elk, Pronghorn Antelope and Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Applications $8.13 per application
See the Big Game Hunting Digest for more information about the Big Game Drawing.
Big Game Tags
Title Fee Description Bear Tag Resident and nonresident licensed hunters age 12 or older as of July 1 of the current license year, may purchase. One bear tag per license year. Elk Tag Resident and nonresident licensed hunters age 12 or older as of July 1 of the current license year, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Elk Tag Drawing Application per license year. Pronghorn Antelope Tag Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, age 12 or older as of July 1 of the current license year, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Pronghorn Tag Drawing Application per license year. Bighorn Sheep Tag $535.50 Resident $1986.75 Nonresident Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, age 16 or older as of July 1 of the current license year, may enter a drawing for this tag. Each person may submit only one Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Application per license year. Hunters can not apply as a party. Applicants can not apply if they have previously been issued a California Bighorn Sheep Tag through the Big Game Drawing. Wild Pig Tag N/A Wild Pig Tags will no longer be available for purchase after June 30, 2024. Beginning July 1, 2024, a Wild Pig Validation is required to take wild pigs. Resident and nonresident licensed hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application, may purchase an unlimited number of Wild Pig Tags. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Wild Pig Validation $27.00 Resident $97.20 Nonresident NEW FOR 2024! A Wild Pig Validation is required to take wild pigs beginning July 1, 2024. Wild Pig Validations will be available for purchase starting April 15, 2024. Resident and nonresident hunters, 12 years of age or older at the time of application, with a valid annual or two-day California hunting license may purchase a wild pig hunting validation. There is no limit on the number of wild pigs one person may harvest with a validation; fees are nonrefundable and cannot be transferred from one person to another.
Bird Hunting Validations
Title Fee Description California Duck Validation $39.14 Required for any person taking waterfowl, excluding juniors hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License. Upland Game Bird Validations $24.33 Required for any person taking upland game bird species, excluding juniors hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License. Federal Duck Stamp $25.00 Required for any person hunting waterfowl. Hunters under the age of 16 are exempt from the Federal Duck Stamp requirement. Federal Duck Stamps are not sold at CDFW offices. Federal Duck Stamps can be purchased at many post offices and some license agents. More information about the Federal Duck Stamp (USFWS). Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation NO FEE Required for any person hunting ducks, dove, gallinules, geese, band-tailed pigeon, black brant, coots, and snipe. This validation is free to hunters who complete the Harvest Information Program (HIP) Survey. The validation is available where hunting licenses are sold. The HIP Validation is imprinted on your hunting license document when you answer the HIP Survey questions. If you hunt migratory game birds, verify that a HIP Validation has been printed on your hunting license. The HIP Survey provides wildlife biologists with data needed to make wildlife management decisions and formulate hunting seasons. More information about HIP
Passes for State-Operated Hunting Areas
Title Fee Description Type A One-Day Pass $27.82 Allows a licensed hunter to hunt on a Type A State-operated Wildlife Area for one day if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from permit requirements. Type A Two-Day Pass $44.85 Allows a licensed hunter to hunt on a Type A State-operated Wildlife Area. This pass may be used as follows: 1) by one person for any two authorized shoot days; or 2) by two persons on any one authorized shoot day. Junior hunters are exempt from pass requirements. Type A Season Pass $210.09 Allows a licensed hunter unlimited season access to Type A and Type B State-operated Wildlife Areas for one person if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from permit requirements. Type B Season Pass $70.46 Allows a licensed hunter unlimited season access to Type B State-operated Wildlife Areas for one person if space is available. Junior hunters are exempt from pass requirements.
Reservation Applications for State-Operated Hunting Areas
Title Fee Description Reservation Application $1.34 per application Allows a licensed hunter to apply for reservation drawings to hunt on State-operated Wildlife Areas.
Lifetime Hunting Licenses
License Package Fee Description Ages 0-9 $679.75 Available to any resident showing proof of completion of hunter education training. Lifetime hunting licensees receive an annual hunting license each year for life. Lifetime Hunting Packages must first be purchased from a CDFW License Sales Office. See Lifetime License application and information for more detail. Note: Applicants for a Lifetime Hunting Package are not required to provide proof of hunter education at the time of purchase. However, proof of hunter education is required prior to the issuance of the lifetime hunting license. Ages 10-39 $1,112.00 Ages 40-61 $1,001.75 Ages 62+ $679.75 Lifetime Bird Hunting Privilege Package $394.50 Lifetime licensees who purchase the Lifetime Bird Hunting Privilege Package receive Upland Game Bird and California Duck Validations each year for life. Lifetime Big Game Hunting Privilege Package $827.50 Lifetime licensees who purchase the Big Game Hunting Privilege Package receive a First Deer Tag Application and a Wild Pig Validation each year for life. This privilege package may be purchased for applicants under 12 years of age. However, the tag and validation cannot be redeemed until the applicant is 12 years of age or older.
Permits for Hunters with Disabilities
Title Fee Description Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License Application NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident for mobility impaired disabled hunter who must use a motor vehicle to pursue game. 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 the hunter’s physician is required. The license is only available from the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch. Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License (PDF Form). Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident 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 muzzle-loading rifle with the target in order to hunt deer. A visually disabled hunter may use a scope of no more than one power while hunting under the conditions of a muzzle-loading deer hunt tag. Certification from the hunter’s physician or optometrist is required annually, except if the physician or optometrist indicated on the initial application that the hunter’s disability is permanent the hunter will be able to provide a copy of their previously issued Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit to renew the permit. The permit is only available from the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch. Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit Application (PDF Form). Disabled Archer Permit NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident hunter’s having permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing a hunter to draw and hold a bow in a firing position. Allows the hunter to hunt with a crossbow or other device to draw and hold a bow in a firing position under the conditions of an archery tag or during archery season. Certification from the hunter’s physician is required annually, except if the physician indicated on the initial application that the hunter’s disability is permanent the hunter will be able to provide a copy of their previously issued Disabled Archer Permit to renew the permit. The permit is only available from the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch. Disabled Archer Permit Application (PDF Form).
Duplicate Fees
Title Fee Description Duplicate Hunting License $13.78 Replaces a lost or stolen hunting license. Available Online, at select CDFW License Sales Offices and License Agents. Duplicate Hunting Validation $3.81 (California Duck Validation and Upland Game Bird Validation) Replaces lost or stolen hunting validations. Available Online, at select CDFW License Sales Offices and License Agents. Duplicate Big Game Tag $13.78 Replaces lost or stolen big game tags. Available only at CDFW license sales offices. Duplicate Big Game Tag Affidavit (PDF Form) Duplicate Hunter Education Certificate $8.64 Replaces a lost or stolen Hunter Education Certificate. Available Online, at select CDFW License Sales Offices and License Agents.
