CDFW News

CDFW’s SHARE Program Offering Spring Elk Hunts in Del Norte County

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:26:41 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is accepting applications for five bull elk tags offered through its Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program this spring.

These first-time special spring hunts are intended to relieve Roosevelt elk pressure and damage on 12 properties in Del Norte County. The properties are bottomland ranches and farms consisting of a total of 1,834 acres near Crescent City.

Hunting conditions vary from property to property so successful applicants skilled in legal methods of take beyond rifle hunting – such as archery and muzzleloading equipment – should bring that gear for additional opportunity.

The hunts will take place between April 1 and June 30. Each hunter will have four consecutive days of access to be determined by the hunter and hunt coordinator. Specific details for these hunts can be found on the SHARE web page.

The SHARE elk tags will be distributed through a random drawing to hunters who were not awarded any elk tags in the 2025-26 license year. Hunters with a valid 2025-26 hunting license may apply online at CDFW’s Online License and Sales Services website or at any CDFW license sales office or sales agent through Wednesday, March 11.

A $14.86 non-refundable application fee will be charged for each hunt application. Applicants may view their draw results and download hunt packets on March 13 from their online CDFW licensing accounts.

CDFW’s SHARE Program provides public hunting opportunities on private lands and other properties typically off-limits to public access in cooperation with participating landowners. These elk hunts and more SHARE big-game hunting opportunities are offered outside of and in addition to CDFW’s Big Game Drawing. Preference points do not apply and are not gained or lost in SHARE hunts.

By expanding access and creating new hunting experiences, SHARE plays a key role in CDFW’s Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) initiative across California.

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Media Contacts:
Victoria Barr, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 203-0567
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3848

Wild Pig Hunts Coming Up at Joice Island

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:34:25 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering wild pig hunting opportunities in March, April and May at the Joice Island Unit of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County.

To apply for pig hunt drawings, visit CDFW's Online License Sales and Services website. For more information about Joice Island wild pig hunts and pig hunting opportunities on CDFW lands elsewhere in the state, go to CDFW's wild pig hunt information page. Applications are due Feb. 14 for March hunts, March 14 for April hunts and April 11 for May hunts.

Joice Island is a 2,150-acre wetland area consisting of thick cattails, tules, brush and standing water. The limited-entry, permit-only hunts help control the population of  wild pigs on Joice Island. Hunters may only use shotguns with nonlead slugs or archery equipment. Dogs and bicycles are not allowed.

Four hunters will be drawn each weekend during the 13-week wild pig season at Joice Island. The maximum hunting party size for this hunt is two hunters. There is a $2.98 fee for each hunter to apply within each of the three hunt periods.

Hunters may apply for up to three hunts within each period. A hunter has an opportunity to be drawn for one hunt in each period. All hunters must possess a draw-issued permit. Permit holders may bring one non-hunting partner.

The first hunt weekend at Joice Island will be reserved for apprentice hunters, age 12 to 15, holding junior hunting licenses. Junior hunting license holders receiving a permit must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. The adult accompanying the junior license holder does not need to be a licensed hunter.

Selected hunters must possess a draw-issued permit, a valid California hunting license and a valid wild pig validation. All members of a hunting party must apply using the party ID from the party leader (first applicant).

Apprentice Hunt Weekend – Only Junior Hunting License Holders (Age 12 to 15) May Apply

March 7-8

General Hunt Weekends — Adults and Junior License Holders May Apply

March 14-15
March21-22
March 28-29
April 4-5
April 11-12
April 18-19
April 25-26
May 2-3
May 9-10
May 16-17
May 23-24
May 30-31

CDFW reserves the right to cancel any of these hunts and close the area to all public users without prior notification due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies.

For more information or questions, contact CDFW at (707) 425-3828.

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Media Contacts:
Orlando Rocha, CDFW Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, (707) 425-3828
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

Nonprofit Organizations Encouraged to Apply for Fundraising Hunting Tags

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:04:12 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites nonprofit organizations to assist with conservation efforts by auctioning special big game tags for the 2026-27 hunting season.

Proceeds from the sale of these tags are returned to CDFW to fund projects for bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope. Last year’s auctions raised more than $1 million for the conservation and management of big game species. Past projects funded by the sale of these and other hunting tags have included crucial habitat conservation, post-wildfire forest restoration, wildlife population studies and the installation of artificial watering devices to support wildlife during drought conditions.

Up to 18 tags will be reserved for nonprofit organizations to sell or auction. Nonprofit organizations compete through an application process for a chance to auction these special tags, which can only be purchased by members of the public through these auctions. The application process is designed to ensure maximum proceeds are received from the tags to benefit wildlife.

Offering the tags through fundraising banquets and other in-person and online auctions can attract greater participation and overall turnout for the conservation groups awarded the tags, amplifying their own conservation efforts and benefits to California’s big game species.

A call for applications and the required application form are available at CDFW’s Fundraising with Big Game License Tags web page. Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on October 20, 2025.

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Media Contacts:
CDFW Wildlife Branch, BigGame@wildlife.ca.gov
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

CDFW Seeks Public Input in Developing Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:21:17 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking public input in developing a Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan.

The public is invited to participate in a virtual workshop to help guide the development of the management plan. The two-hour session will provide an opportunity for members of the public to learn about the development process as well as the background and outline of the plan. Participants will also have the chance to ask questions and share input with CDFW staff.

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Virtual Platform: Zoom. (https://wildlife-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/88628762826)

Input received during this scoping session will help guide the preparation of a draft plan, which CDFW anticipates releasing for public review early 2026.

The development of the Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan follows on the heels of the Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California (PDF) and The Conservation and Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep in California (PDF), both of which were released in April 2025.

For more information about the Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan or the public input meeting, please contact:

Brian Leo
Statewide Deer Coordinator
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
BigGame@wildlife.ca.gov

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Media Contacts:
Brian Leo, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 628-0553
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

California Deer Season is in Full Swing

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:37:22 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) celebrated the kickoff of deer season with the Zone A General Season opener August 9, 2025. Most other hunting zones across the state will open in September and October, providing ample opportunity for deer hunters statewide.

Detailed information about the specific zones and their opening dates can be found in CDFW’s approved 2025 deer seasons by zone (PDF).

Hunters looking to purchase deer tags should act promptly, as tag availability varies by zone. A current list of available deer tags (PDF) can be found online. Tags can be purchased through CDFW’s automated license and data system, or in person at a designated license agent. CDFW urges all hunters to familiarize themselves with regulations and to follow them carefully to support sustainable wildlife management and conservation efforts.

As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the hunter to ensure deer tags are properly affixed to the animal and validated before transporting harvested game. Tags can be validated by authorized individuals, including CDFW employees, firefighters, public notaries, peace officers, meat processors, USDA Forest Service staff and other designated state, federal and local agents. Validation is mandatory, the only exception is while the animal is being transported directly to the nearest authorized tag validator.

In response to recent detections of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state, the California Fish and Game Commission has adopted regulations that define a CWD management zone as any deer hunt zone, or county, where CWD has been detected or is within 5 miles of a CWD detection. The regulations also provide the director authority to designate, based on management goals and feasibility, CWD management zones as mandatory sampling or mandatory sampling and handling zones.

For the 2025 hunting season, all hunters who harvest deer within hunt zones D7, X9a, X9b and X9c must have their animal sampled for CWD. All deer specialty hunts that occur within these deer hunt zones are included in the mandatory sampling. Please note that CWD testing is currently delayed. Hunters should continue to submit CWD samples. Testing hunter-harvests is vital to managing this disease and hunters continue to play a key role in CWD surveillance and management. For more information on CWD and how to get your harvest sampled for CWD testing, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/CWD.

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Media Contacts:
Jen Benedet, Office of Communications, Education and Outreach, (916) 202-4465
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120