California · License · 2026 Edition
California Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $64.54 for residents and $225.46 for nonresidents. Just visiting? One-Day Nonresident Hunting License costs $31.06.
California's deer, bear, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep tags are drawing applications, not guaranteed purchases — the fee below buys an entry, not a tag. There is no separate turkey tag; turkey hunting is covered by the Upland Game Bird Validation (which also covers dove, quail and pheasant).
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License | $64.54 | |
| Junior Hunting License (under 16) | $17.02 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. |
| Nonresident Hunting License | $225.46 | |
| One-Day Nonresident Hunting License | $31.06 | Game-bird-club hunting only; not valid for deer or other big game. |
| Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License | $64.54 | Not valid for deer, bear, elk, pronghorn or bighorn sheep. |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Resident First-Deer Tag / Drawing Application | $42.38 |
| Resident Second-Deer Tag / Drawing Application | $52.92 |
| Nonresident First-Deer Tag / Drawing Application | $377.35 |
| Nonresident Second-Deer Tag / Drawing Application | $377.35 |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Upland Game Bird Validation (covers turkey) | $25.41 |
04 — Waterfowl stamp
| Stamp | Total |
|---|---|
| California Duck Validation | $41.04 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $25 |
Waterfowl hunters 16+ also need the free federal HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. California duck season dates →
05 — Hunter education
California requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. No birth-year cutoff — required for anyone without a prior California hunting license, a California Hunter Education Certificate, or a hunting license issued within the last two years by another state or province.
06 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through CDFW Online License Sales, the state's official portal.
California hunting licenses are valid July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Fees include a nonrefundable 3% application fee (capped at $7.50/item); agent purchases add a 5% handling fee.
Verified · California Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-06
Publisher's note. Prices read from the CDFW license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-06. Review due 2027-05-15. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.