Free Hunting Days

California residents who do not hold a current valid annual hunting license.

The Free Hunt Day Registration is valid for two designated days each year. Free hunting days are published each year in the Hunting Regulations Booklets.

The participant shall complete the following requirements to register for a Free Hunt Day Registration:

• Complete a hunter education course before registering. Be accompanied by a hunter who is 21 years of age or older and possesses a current valid California hunting license.
• The licensed hunter may only accompany one unlicensed hunter in the field at a time.

A participant must possess:

• Free Hunt Day Registration
• Federal Duck Stamp
• HIP Validation (no fee)
• Any required entry permits

A participant must possess:

• Free Hunt Day Registration
• HIP Validation (no fee)
• Any required entry permits

A participant must possess Free Hunt Day Registration

Participants wishing to hunt wild pig on Free Hunting Days are required to purchase a "Wild Pig Validation - Free Hunt Days" when claiming their Free Hunt Day Registration. To hunt wild pigs, participants must be 12 years of age or older.

A resident may only register and participate in free hunting days for one license year.

The Free Hunt Day Registration is available at CDFW license sales offices, license agents, online license sales and through telephone sales.

The Free Hunt Day Registration allows participants to take only resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, nongame mammals and wild pigs.

A Free Hunt Day participant with a Free Hunt Day Registration must also be in possession of any required tags, report cards, entry permits or required federal entitlements, and must follow restrictions, conditions, statutes, rules and regulations applicable to anyone holding a valid hunting license.

No. A Free Hunting Days participant is an unlicensed hunter and shall not apply for any draw or lottery to obtain any tag, reservation, or other hunting opportunity.

No, a hunting license from another state cannot be used to participate in Free Hunting Days.

Yes. Free Hunting Days participants must complete and provide a hunter education certificate to claim their Free Hunt Day Registration. CDFW accepts hunter education certificates from any state. Hunter education classes are available in two formats. To view California hunter education options, visit the hunter education page.

On Free Hunting Days, participants may hunt on open state-managed wildlife areas. Hunters must purchase a wildlife area pass to hunt on Type A and Type B wildlife areas. Contact the wildlife area you wish to hunt to verify hunting access is available. To find out more information about passes for state-operated hunting areas, visit Hunting Licenses and Tags.