CDFW News

California Deer Season Hits Full Stride as Hunters Prepare for Major September Openers

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:48:44 GMT

From the Klamath National Forest in Del Norte County to the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra, almost two dozen California deer hunt zones throughout the state will open to rifle hunting in the final weeks of September.

As many coastal deer hunting opportunities close, inland opportunities are opening up, beginning with the Saturday, September 19 rifle season openers in most B zones and all C zones in Northern California; D6 and D7 in the Central Valley and X9a, X9b and X12 in the Eastern Sierra.

Deer are one of the most popular game species among licensed hunters in California. Along with a valid hunting license, a deer tag is required to hunt deer in California. Only upland game bird hunting rivals the interest in deer. Hunters who purchase deer tags in California get to enjoy an outdoor activity they love with the added benefit of supporting critical conservation efforts across the state.

Deer tag sales in 2025 generated nearly $7 million in revenue, which provided crucial funding for big game conservation, habitat protection and restoration, and scientific research. Last year, these revenues helped fund deer capture and collaring efforts in 31 counties, aerial deer surveys across northeastern and eastern California, habitat enhancement and landscape connectivity efforts, implementation of California’s deer hunting program, and the biologists and staff responsible for deer monitoring, management, planning and coordination statewide.

CDFW is also developing a new California Deer Conservation and Management Plan to guide deer conservation and management statewide. The plan will provide an updated, science-based framework for conserving deer populations, maintaining and improving habitat and landscape connectivity, supporting sustainable hunting opportunities and strengthening coordination with California Native American tribes, agencies, landowners, hunters and other partners, according to CDFW Statewide Deer Coordinator Brian Leo.

“The plan incorporates updated population monitoring and analytical approaches that will improve how CDFW evaluates deer abundance, survival, recruitment, habitat conditions and harvest,” Leo said. “It will give us a stronger foundation for future conservation and management decisions across California.” California’s deer seasons vary by hunting zones and types of hunting. General seasons for rifle hunting occur during different periods from August through November. Hunters are strongly encouraged to review the regulations for the specific zone they plan to hunt in/on? before heading out into the field. Information about the specific zones and their opening dates can be found on CDFW’s approved 2026 deer seasons by zone map (PDF).

As a reminder, hunters who harvest a deer must immediately complete the tag and attach it to the deer. The tag must then be validated and countersigned by an authorized person. The deer may be transported from the point of harvest to the nearest authorized validator along the route being followed. Tags can be validated by authorized individuals including CDFW employees, California Hunter Education Instructors, firefighters, public notaries, peace officers, meat processors, USDA Forest Service staff and other designated state, federal and local agents.

Separately, all deer tag holders must submit a harvest report, whether or not they harvested a deer. Successful hunters must report within 30 days of harvest or by January 31, whichever occurs first; unsuccessful hunters and those who did not hunt must report by January 31. Hunters who fail to report a tag by January 31 will be assessed a $21.60 nonreporting fee when purchasing a deer tag drawing application or deer tag in the following license year. Hunters looking to purchase deer tags should act quickly as tag availability varies by zone. A current list of available deer tags can be found online. Tags can be purchased through CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services website, or in person at a designated license agent. CDFW urges all hunters to review big game and mammal hunting regulations and follow them carefully to support sustainable wildlife management and conservation efforts.

CDFW is continuing statewide surveillance and management efforts for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and other members of the deer family. CWD was first detected in California in 2024. Ongoing testing of hunter-harvested deer helps CDFW track the disease’s distribution and prevalence. It also informs management decisions to protect California’s deer and elk herds.

For the 2026 hunting season, all hunters who harvest deer in hunt zones D7, X9a, X9b and X9c, including deer taken during specialty hunts within those zones, must have their take sampled for CWD. Hunters can have their harvest sampled at a CDFW sampling station or office, through a participating meat processor or taxidermist, or by collecting and submitting samples themselves according to CDFW instructions.

For all other zones, CDFW highly encourages hunters statewide to voluntarily submit deer for CWD sampling.

Hunters remain an important partner in California’s ongoing CWD surveillance and management efforts, and continued sampling is essential to understanding and responding to the disease.

For more information on CWD and how to get your harvest sampled for testing, visit CDFW’s Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance web page.

For more information on deer hunting in California, visit CDFW’s Deer Hunting web page.

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Media Contacts:
Cort Klopping, CDFW Communications, (916) 201-2958
Brian Leo, CDFW Statewide Deer Coordinator, (916) 628-0553

End-of-Season Deer Hunts Coming to Los Banos, North Grasslands Wildlife Areas

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:08:28 GMT

Hunters must apply by Aug. 3 for one of 11 available access permits

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer hunting access permits at the Los Banos and North Grasslands wildlife areas for the last week of A Zone deer season, September 16 through September 20.

An access permit issued by CDFW is required and only 11 permits (five on Los Banos, three on Salt Slough and three on China Island) will be given to successful applicants. The number of access permits is limited to support healthy deer populations on the wildlife areas.

Hunters can find the application online (PDF) or request an application by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to LosBanosWA@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W. Henry Miller Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635. Possession of a valid 2026 A Zone deer tag at the time of application is not necessary.

The application process for these deer hunts takes place outside of CDFW’s Automated License Data System. Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m. August 3, 2026. Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m. August 4, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing. Results will not be given over the phone.

Each applicant may only apply for one area and must include all required information on the application. If an individual’s name and GOID# appear in the drawing on any other applications, that individual will be disqualified from all drawings. Junior hunting license holders 12 and older may apply if accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

Successful applicants will be allowed access to the area they were drawn for and must have a valid hunting license, A Zone deer tag and follow all hunting regulations. Hunters must also adhere to wildlife area specific regulations regarding parking in designated parking lots, no stopping along roadways and no access other than walking or using non-motorized bicycles. Only legal bucks may be taken. Each hunter is allowed to bring one non-hunting guest. The areas will be closed to all other visitors throughout the week.

Hunters may only use a shotgun with nontoxic slugs as their authorized method of take. All deer harvested must also be validated by wildlife area staff. Biological samples will be taken. CDFW staff is collecting biological samples to test for Chronic Wasting Disease, among other conditions. CDFW is testing for and monitoring the disease to protect California’s elk and deer populations as well as hunting opportunities.

For participants new to hunting or looking to try a different style of hunting, visit CDFW’s Hunter Education and R3 (Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.) web pages for more resources and helpful information.

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Media Contacts
Lara Sparks, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

CDFW Accepting Applications for Deer Hunting Opportunities at Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:30:15 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for deer hunting opportunities at the Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve in Sacramento County for the 2026 A Zone and D-5 Zone archery and general seasons.

CDFW initiated a limited deer hunting program within the ecological reserve in 2021. The program proved safe and popular with hunters and was expanded in 2022, doubling the number of access permits offered to eight.

In 2026, permits again will be issued for eight separate one-week hunting periods – four permits for the A Zone and four for the D-5 Zone seasons that fall within the reserve’s boundaries. Each permit will accommodate up to two hunters. Only archery equipment may be used during the A Zone archery season and D-5 Zone archery season. Only archery equipment or shotguns with nonlead slugs may be used during the general season hunt dates. Rifles, pistols or muzzleloaders will not be allowed due to safety concerns. Harvest is limited to one legal buck per hunter per access period.

The A Zone hunts take place in July through September within the reserve’s Arno Unit, located west of Highway 99. The D-5 Zone hunts are offered in mid-August through early November within the reserve’s Dillard Unit, east of Highway 99.

Hunters can download the applications online at the Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve web page. Hunters can also request an access permit application by calling CDFW’s Rancho Cordova office at (916) 358-2900 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to R2CRPhunts@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Rancho Cordova office at 1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.

For the A Zone, Arno Unit general hunt applications must be received by 2 p.m. on July 13, 2026. For the D-5 Zone Dillard archery and general hunts, applications must be received by 2 p.m. on Aug 3, 2026. Permits will be awarded by a computerized, random drawing. Successful applicants will be notified by e-mail or phone call/text message within two working days of the drawing, and will receive additional information, including maps and special instructions, prior to the hunt. Results will not be given over the phone.

Up to two people may apply for the hunt as one party by including all required information on the application form. Junior hunting license holders who are 12 years of age or older may also apply if accompanied by an adult hunter. Applicants may apply for one access permit on one area only. An individual’s name may appear in the drawing only once. Any individual’s name who appears on more than one application will cause all applications with that individual’s name present to be disqualified.

Hunters selected for an access permit for the Arno Unit (A Zone) or Dillard Unit (D-5 Zone) must possess the necessary A Zone, D3-5 Zones or Archery Only deer tag for the 2026 season. All hunters selected for a permit must also possess a 2026-27 California hunting license.

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Media Contacts:
Dustin Wallis, CDFW North Central Region, (916) 282-8977
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

CDFW Taking Applications for Opening Weekend Deer and Pig Hunting Access Permits for Cottonwood Creek, San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Areas

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:16:14 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer and wild pig hunting access permits for general season opening weekend, Aug. 8 and 9, 2026, in Merced County (Zone A). This is not a special hunt; the drawing is to control the number of hunters in these areas on opening weekend only.

Locations include Upper and Lower Cottonwood Creek and the San Luis Reservoir wildlife areas. Reservations are required for access to wildlife areas and only 30 permits will be issued for each day (Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9). Hunters can access the application online through the Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area or San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area web pages or request an application by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Applications may be submitted via email to LosBanosWA@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W. Henry Miller Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635.

Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m. July 6, 2026. Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m. July 9, 2026. The drawing is open to the public. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing. Results will not be given over the phone.

Applicants must have a 2026-27 hunting license. If drawn, hunters may take both deer and pig; it is the responsibility of the hunter to have the appropriate deer tag or wild pig validation.

Up to three people may apply as one party by including all the required information on the 2026 Zone A application form. Junior license holders aged 12 and older may also apply if accompanied by an adult hunter.

Applicants may apply for a one-day hunt, in one area only. A hunter’s name may appear in the drawing only once. If a hunter’s name and GO ID# appears on any other applications, they will be disqualified from all drawings.

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Media Contacts:
Lara Sparks, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463
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