Bear Hunting

Bear Hunting Regulations

2022 Seasons

The 2022 black bear hunting season is now closed. As of January 19, 2023, the 2022 black bear harvest total is:

A weekly bear harvest update is also available by calling (888) 277-6398 (toll-free).

2022 General Season

General bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 deer hunting zones and extends through December 25, 2022. For those portions of zones X1, X2, X3a, X4, X6a, X6b, X7a, and X7b open to bear hunting, the general bear season begins October 8, 2022, and extends through December 25, 2022.

General bear season closes on December 25, 2022, or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. This includes bears harvested during the archery season.

2022 Archery Season

• Archery bear season in all bear zones opens August 20, 2022, and runs through September 11, 2022.

Bag and Possession Limit

• One adult bear per hunting license year. Cubs and females accompanied by cubs may not be taken.
• Additional Regulations - Bear Tag Flyer (PDF)

Mammal Hunting

Regulations for taking big and small game mammals, furbearers and nongame

• 2022-2023 Mammal Hunting BOOKLET (PDF)(opens in new tab)
  (effective through June 2023) includes regulations for: hunting small and big game mammals; trapping furbearers (fox, badger, beaver and raccoon, etc.); hunting nongame animals (bobcat, coyote, weasel, etc.)
• 2023 Big Game Hunting Digest
  includes: hunt seasons, tag quotas and drawing for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep; bear and wild pig hunting; other related hunting regulations
• Mammal Hunting Regulations (HTML)(opens in new tab)

License Requirements

• A CA hunting license and bear tag are required for hunting bear
• If a bear is taken, the bear tag must be validated by a CDFW employee before transporting the bear, except for the purpose of taking it to the nearest CDFW employee authorized to validate the bear tag. If CDFW offices are closed, the bear tag shall be validated within one business day of transporting the bear from the point where taken. The skull must be presented to CDFW within 10 days (see tag validation details (opens in new tab))
• Bear tags must be returned, regardless of success

Purchase licenses and tags ONLINE or at a local AGENT.

License and Tag Fees

Valid JULY 1, 2021 through JUNE 30, 2022

Publications and Forms

• Big Game Hunting Digest
  Summary of upcoming hunting seasons, regulations, license and tag requirements
• Declaration for Entry
  for bringing harvested bear into California

Black Bear Tooth Age Data

Hunters are required to bring bears that have been killed to CDFW for tag validation as well the removal of a premolar tooth from the bear. The premolar tooth is used to determine a bear’s age and thus develop more precise harvest data information and how to manage sustainable and healthy bear populations in California.

• 2018 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF)
• 2017 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF)
• 2016 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF)
• 2015 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF)

Annual Take Data

Hunter harvest data, such as number, age structure, and sex ratio of black bears taken each year, helps the Department monitor and manage the bear population. Annually, the data are compared to previous years to determine trends that may require adjustments to the hunting program. In 1917, California black bears were classified as furbearers with no restrictions on how, when or number of animals taken. Since 1948, California black bears have been classified as game animals with an established hunting season.

• California Black Bear Hunter Harvest (PDF)
• California Black Bear Hunter Harvest and Sex Graph (PDF)
• California Black Bear Hunter Harvest Age Composition (PDF)
• Percent Females in California Black Bear Harvest (PDF)