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Upland Game Wild Bird Hunts

a male turkey with two females lin the background
2023/2024 Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest winning entry of wild turkeys by artist Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana.

CDFW special hunts are specially managed hunting opportunities on public and private lands for upland game birds and game mammals. Hunters must be successfully drawn through the ALDS random drawing application to participate. To apply hunters must have a valid California hunting license. Adult hunters who hunt upland game birds must also purchase an Upland Game Bird Stamp.

  • Deadline to apply to these hunts is approximately 21 days prior to the season opener for the species.
  • The application period will open approximately 51 days prior to the season opener for the species.
  • A single drawing will be conducted within 5 business days of the application deadline.
  • To apply for these hunts, visit our internet sales site(opens in new tab), sign into your account, select the “Purchase Licenses” link and select “2024 – Hunting” from the menu on the left side of the page. Application may also be purchased at retail license agents(opens in new tab) or in person at CDFW License Sales Offices.
  • Successful applicants will be notified by USPS mail once the draw has been completed. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified. Drawing results can be viewed by logging into your ALDS account.
  • All hunters must apply and be drawn through the ALDS to attend a hunt. Only hunters listed on the official roster will be admitted to a hunt.
  • Nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California.

Special hunt opportunities, application deadlines and other hunt information are listed under the species tabs below.

Hunt Schedule

Chukar and Quail
Dove
Pheasant
Wild Turkey

Apply for Hunts

General Drawing Information

  • A non-refundable $2.42 application fee will be charged for each application.
  • Hunters may submit one application for each drawing with up to 3 hunt choices in their order of preference.
  • Permits are issued by a random draw.
  • All hunters must apply and be drawn through the ALDS to attend a hunt. Only hunters listed on the official roster will be admitted to a hunt.

Ways to Apply

Applications may be purchased:

Online Hunt Application Instructions

To apply, go to the License Sales and Service website and follow these instructions:

If joining an existing party, scroll down for instructions.

If applying alone or starting a party application:

  1. Log on.
  2. Click "Purchase License".
  3. Click "2024 Hunting" (under menu on the left side).
  4. Scroll down to "Drawings", and click on "2024 Special Hunt Drawing Application" (right side).
  5. Click add button, which will take you to the Party Selection page.
    • If applying alone or the first person in the party to apply, click "Create New Party / Apply Alone", which will open the hunt selections.
    • Select up to 3 hunt choices, in your order of preference, and click "submit." A confirmation page will show your choices.
    • If joining an existing party, enter the party number (from party leader's receipt (PDF)) and click "Join Party". A confirmation page will show your party's choices.
  6. Review the information on the confirmation page and if correct, click "Submit".
  7. Check out.

If joining an existing party:

  1. Additional party members may join your party at the same time by clicking on the green "Add Customer" tab at the very top of the page.
  2. Click "Start"
  3. Log in next party member

Drawing Results

  • Deadline to apply to these hunts is 21 days prior to the season opener.
  • A single drawing will be conducted within 5 business days of the application deadline.
  • Successful applicants will be contacted by USPS mail once the draw has been completed.
  • Successful applicants may access hunt documents by clicking on their link in ALDS under "View my Drawing Applications".
  • Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified.
  • Applicants can look up their drawing results online(opens in new tab) approximately one week after the application deadline.

How the Drawing Works

  • After the application deadline, CDFW's License and Revenue Branch uses a computer to assign each ‘application’ (or party) a unique random number. Hunters who apply as a party receive the same random number as the party leader.
  • The computer begins awarding first choices to applicants in random number order, starting with the lowest random number to the highest random number, until all quotas fill or until all applications have been processed.
  • If permit quotas remain unfilled after all first choices have been processed, this procedure is conducted again for second and third choices until all quotas fill or until all applications have been processed.
  • Note: Party applications are not split to meet the permit quota if the number of party members exceeds the number of available permits. Therefore, when there are fewer permits available than the number of members in a party, the computer bypasses the party and draws the applicant with the next lowest random number to fill the permit quota.

Liability Waiver Forms

Drawing Statistics

Wildlife Branch - Game Program
1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
(916) 557-3444