Bear Hunting

Conservation and Management Plan

The final Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California was released on April 14, 2025.

Bear Hunting Regulations

2025 Season

As of April 14, 2026, the 2025 black bear harvest total is:

1181

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

2026 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 27, 2026. In the remaining deer X zones, the general bear season begins October 10, 2026, and extends through December 27, 2026.

General bear season closes on December 27, 2026, or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. This includes bears harvested during the archery season.

2026 Archery Season

Archery bear season in all bear zones opens August 15, 2026, and runs through September 6, 2026.

Bag and Possession Limit

The daily bag limit is one legal bear per day. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. Cubs and females accompanied by cubs may not be taken.
Additional Regulations - Bear Tag Flyer (PDF)

map of California showing bear hunting areas, mainly mountainous areas

Mammal Hunting Regulations

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

Mammal Hunting Regulations Booklet (PDF)

Big Game Hunting Digest

Mammal Hunting Regulations - Full Regulatory Text

License Requirements

A California 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 (PDF))
Bear tags must be returned, regardless of success. Section 708.12(e)(2), Title 14, of the CCR requires all bear tag holders who are unsuccessful in taking a bear to return the report card portion of the tag to CDFW by February 1 of the current license year. You may also complete your report Online in lieu of mailing in the report card.

Purchase licenses and tags ONLINE or at a local AGENT.

License and Tag Fees

Valid JULY 1, 2025, through JUNE 30, 2026

Hunting Licenses	Fee	Description
Resident Hunting License	$62.90	Required for any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals
Nonresident Hunting License	$219.81	Required for any nonresident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals.
Junior Hunting License	$16.46	Required for any resident or nonresident less than 16 years of age who takes birds or mammals. To qualify, hunter must be less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1).

Tags	Fee	Description
Resident Bear Tag	$61.30	Resident and nonresident licensed hunters 12 years of age or older at the time of application may purchase one bear tag per license year. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Nonresident Bear Tag	$387.85

Publications and Forms

Big Game Hunting Digest
Summary of upcoming hunting seasons, regulations, license and tag requirements
Declaration for Entry
Information on bringing harvested black bears into California

Harvest Data

Black Bear Tooth Age Data

Hunters are required to bring black bears that have been killed to CDFW for tag validation as well the mandatory removal of a premolar tooth from the bear. The premolar tooth is used to determine a black bear’s age and how to conserve and manage ecologically functional black bear populations in California.

Black Bear Take Data

The number, age structure, and sex ratio of black bears taken each year helps the Department conserve and manage the black bear population. Annually, the data are compared to previous years' data 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.

CDFW updated its black bear population monitoring approach in 2024. Population estimates provided in the Take Reports below prior to the Interim Black Bear Take Report 2021-2023 should be interpreted with caution. The 2025 Black Bear Program Annual Report is currently under development and will be uploaded below in May 2026.

Black Bear Conservation and Management
Human-Black Bear Conflict
Bear Naked Truth Blog
Black Bear Policy in California: Public Safety, Depredation, Conflict, Animal Welfare (PDF)
1998 Black Bear Management Plan (PDF) - this document was replaced in April 2025 with the release of the Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California