Laws & Safety · Legal Guide
How to get a hunting license
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
On this page
- How do you get a hunting license?
- Do you need hunter education first?
- How much does a California hunting license actually cost?
- License vs. tag: two different things
- How do you actually get a tag?
- What if you're hunting out of state?
- Other states: what actually varies
- Does a hunting license cover airgun hunting too?
- FAQ
- Sources
Every fee, requirement, and citation below comes directly from CDFW's own published pages and California's Code of Regulations, all linked in Sources. Hunting license rules, fees, and hunter-education formats vary by state and change from year to year — confirm the current requirement with your own state wildlife agency before you apply. Full methodology & editorial policy →
How do you get a hunting license?
The order matters, especially for a first-timer. Most state wildlife agencies, California's CDFW included, won't sell a hunting license until proof of hunter education is on file, so work through these in sequence:
| Step | What it involves | California example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hunter education | Course or equivalency exam, once, before your first license | Required for all first-time residents, any age (CDFW) |
| 2. Base hunting license | Annual purchase from your state wildlife agency | $64.54 resident / $225.46 nonresident (2026-27) |
| 3. Species tags/validations | Separate permits for specific big game or bird species | Deer, bear, wild pig, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep need tags |
| 4. Check local rules | Season dates, legal methods, discharge ordinances | See hunting law questions answered |
Do you need hunter education first?
In nearly every state, yes, if you were born after that state's cutoff year, and California takes the strictest version of this rule: CDFW requires "all first time resident hunters, regardless of age, to complete hunter education training or pass a comprehensive equivalency test before purchasing a hunting license." There's no apprentice or mentored license in California that defers this — unlike some other states, which let a new hunter go afield with a licensed mentor for a season or two before completing the course. If you already have hunting experience from another state, country, or the U.S. Armed Forces, 14 CCR §710 lets CDFW evaluate your prior training for equivalency, or you can sit a direct comprehensive equivalency exam instead of the standard course.
California's course itself is a hybrid format, not online-only: you complete an online study and test portion at your own pace, then attend a required in-person follow-up class to finish certification. A CDFW-approved online provider commonly charges in the neighborhood of $35 for that online portion (verify current pricing directly with your chosen provider), on top of whatever the in-person field day session costs locally.
How much does a California hunting license actually cost?
| Item | 2026-27 fee | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Resident hunting license | $64.54 | Any resident 16 or older taking birds or mammals |
| Junior hunting license | $17.02 | Residents under 16 |
| Nonresident hunting license | $225.46 | Nonresidents 16 or older |
| Two-day nonresident license | $64.54 | Short out-of-state trips, species-restricted |
| Upland game bird validation | $25.41 | Anyone taking upland game bird species |
| California duck validation | $41.04 | Anyone taking waterfowl |
| Federal duck stamp | $25.00 | Waterfowl hunters 16 and older |
CDFW's official 2026-2027 hunting license fee schedule. Fees are set annually and change; verify the current schedule directly with CDFW before you buy.
License vs. tag: two different things
A hunting license is the base credential that lets you hunt at all in a given state; a tag is a separate permit, one per animal, required on top of the license for specific big game species. In California, that's deer, bear, wild pig, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep — small game like rabbits and squirrels, most upland birds, and nongame species don't need a tag, just the underlying license (plus any validation, like the upland game bird validation above). Confusing the two is a common first-timer mistake: a valid license alone doesn't authorize you to take a tagged species.
How do you actually get a tag?
It depends on the species and how much demand there is for it. California issues its premium tags — elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and premium deer hunts — through an annual lottery-style draw, with applications accepted April 15 through June 2 and results posted within about 10 business days of the deadline. The system splits quotas between preference points (which favor hunters who've applied and not drawn before) and a random draw-by-choice portion. Non-premium deer tags and wild pig tags, by contrast, are sold directly over the counter, first-come first-served, with no drawing required.
What if you're hunting out of state?
Expect to pay more, and expect your home state's hunter education certificate to travel with you. Most states, California included, charge nonresidents substantially more than residents for the same base license — California's 2026-27 nonresident fee of $225.46 runs more than three times the resident rate. Hunter education certificates are honored across states under wide reciprocity, and IHEA-USA's course finder covers every U.S. state and Canadian province if you need to confirm or complete a course before an out-of-state trip. Some premium tags also cap the number of nonresident applicants separately from residents, so check your destination state's specific rule well before you plan the trip.
Other states: what actually varies
The three-step structure above (hunter education, license, tags) holds almost everywhere in the U.S., but the details shift state to state: the birth-year cutoff that triggers the hunter education requirement, whether an apprentice or mentored license defers it, course format (online-only vs. a required field day), and the actual license and tag fees all vary. California's "no exceptions, any age" hunter education rule is on the strict end; plenty of other states are more flexible for adult first-timers. Always confirm your specific state wildlife agency's current requirement rather than assuming California's rules, or a neighboring state's, apply to you — see hunting and airgun law questions answered for how license and legal questions differ from state to state more broadly.
Does a hunting license cover airgun hunting too?
Yes — in states where air rifles are an authorized hunting method, the same base hunting license covers airgun hunters as covers firearm hunters for the same species. California is a good worked example: air rifles are authorized for resident small game and most nongame species under California airgun hunting laws, and the license requirement described on this page applies the same way regardless of which legal method you're using to hunt.
Good fit
- First-time hunters who complete hunter education before assuming they can just walk in and buy a license
- Anyone planning a big game hunt who checks the tag and drawing deadlines months ahead, not the week before season
- Out-of-state hunters who confirm nonresident fees and tag caps before booking a trip
Look elsewhere
- Assuming any state has an apprentice license that defers hunter education — California doesn't
- Assuming a license alone covers a tagged big game species without a separate tag
- Treating fee figures as permanent — CDFW and every other state wildlife agency revises fees and deadlines regularly
Verdict
Hunter education first, license second, tags third — that order rarely changes no matter what state you're in. California is a strict, well-documented worked example: hunter education for every first-time resident regardless of age, a $64.54 resident license, and a separate lottery-based tag system for premium big game. Confirm the same three steps with your own state wildlife agency, since the specific cutoff years, formats, and fees are the parts that actually vary.
FAQ
How do you get a hunting license?
Three steps in almost every state: complete a hunter education course (or an equivalency exam if you qualify for one), buy the base hunting license from your state wildlife agency, then add any species-specific tags or validations your target requires. First-timers do this in order — most states won't sell a license without proof of hunter education on file first.
Do you need hunter education before your first hunting license?
In nearly every state, yes, if you were born after that state's cutoff year — and California goes further, requiring it of "all first time resident hunters, regardless of age," per CDFW. Some states offer an apprentice or mentored license that defers the requirement for a season or two; California doesn't have one, so plan on completing hunter education, or its equivalency exam, before you can buy any license there.
What's the difference between a hunting license and a tag?
The license is the base credential that lets you hunt at all; a tag is a separate, per-animal permit required on top of it for specific big game species. In California, deer, bear, wild pig, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep all require a tag in addition to the annual hunting license — small game, upland birds, and most nongame species don't need a tag, just the license.
How much does a California hunting license cost?
CDFW's 2026-27 fee schedule lists a resident hunting license at $64.54 and a junior license (residents under 16) at $17.02. A nonresident hunting license is $225.46, or $64.54 for a two-day nonresident license with species restrictions. Tags, validations (an upland game bird validation runs $25.41), and the federal duck stamp ($25.00) are separate costs on top of the base license.
Can you take hunter education entirely online?
Not in California — its hunter education course is a hybrid format: an online study and test portion, followed by a required in-person follow-up class to finish certification. Most other states now accept a similar online-plus-field-day structure, but a handful still require a fully in-person course, so confirm your specific state's format before enrolling.
How do you get a big game tag once you have a license?
It depends on the species. California issues most premium tags — elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and premium deer hunts — through an annual lottery, with applications accepted April 15 through June 2 and drawings held within about 10 business days of the deadline. Non-premium deer tags and wild pig tags are sold directly over the counter without entering a drawing.
Is there an equivalency option if you already have hunting experience?
Yes, in California. 14 CCR §710 lets CDFW evaluate hunter education courses completed through another country, a U.S. state, or the U.S. Armed Forces for equivalency, and it also offers a direct comprehensive equivalency exam for qualified applicants. Passing either route earns a Certificate of Equivalency that satisfies the same requirement as the standard course.
Do non-residents need a different hunting license?
Yes, in most states, including California, where a standard nonresident hunting license costs substantially more than a resident one ($225.46 vs. $64.54 for the 2026-27 season). Some species and premium tags also cap the number available to non-residents, so check your destination state's specific non-resident rules well ahead of a planned out-of-state hunt.
Does completing hunter education in one state count in another?
Generally yes. Hunter education certificates are honored under widespread reciprocity agreements between states, and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) maintains a course finder covering every U.S. state and Canadian province if you need to locate or verify a course wherever you're headed.
Sources
- CDFW — Hunting Licenses: Hunter Education Requirements
- CDFW — Hunter Education Program
- CDFW — Hunting License Items and Fees (2026-2027)
- CDFW — Big Game Hunting Tags
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14, §710 — Hunter Education Training Equivalency (Cornell LII)
- International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) — Find a hunter education course
