California Hunting Seasons & Prices
2026 big-game season dates and license/tag prices.
California offers 2026 hunting seasons for mule deer across archery and firearm methods. Seasons run from July 11 through November 29, 2026. A hunting license (annual) costs $64.54 for residents and $225.46 for nonresidents.
Planning reference only — always confirm dates and prices with the state wildlife agency before applying, buying a license, or hunting.
Season dates
Mule deer
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery – Zone A | Archery | Jul 11, 2026 | Aug 2, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Archery – Zone B-4 | Archery | Jul 25, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| General – Zone A | Firearm | Aug 8, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Archery – B-1/2/3/5/6, D-3 to D-10 | Archery | Aug 15, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 | Covers zones B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8, D-9, D-10. | 🔔 |
| General – Zone B-4 | Firearm | Aug 22, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Archery – D-11/13/14/15/16/17/19 | Archery | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Covers zones D-11, D-13, D-14, D-15, D-16, D-17, D-19. | 🔔 |
| General – B-1/2/3/5, C-2/3 | Firearm | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | Zone C-4 shares this open date but closes 10/4; zones X-9a, X-9b and X-12 share this open date but close 10/12 — see CDFW's zone table. | 🔔 |
| General – D-3/4/5 | Firearm | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Zones X-8 and X-10 share this open date but close 10/11 — see CDFW's zone table. | 🔔 |
| General – X zones (X-1 to X-7) | Firearm | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Covers X-1, X-2, X-3a, X-3b, X-4, X-5a, X-5b, X-6a, X-6b, X-7a, X-7b; zone D-19 shares this open date but closes 11/1. | 🔔 |
| Archery – Zone D-12 | Archery | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| General – D-11/13/14/15 | Firearm | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | Zone D-17 shares this open date but closes 11/1. | 🔔 |
| General – Zone X-9c | Firearm | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| General – Zone D-16 | Firearm | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| General – Zone D-12 | Firearm | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 🔔 |
License & tag prices
| License | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License (annual) | $64.54 | $225.46 | |
| Deer Tag (first tag) | $42.38 | $377.35 |
Deer needs a hunting license plus a zone-specific deer tag (some zones are drawn).
Source: California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife license items & fees (wildlife.ca.gov)
California hunt units
Explore harvest history, success rates, and draw odds by unit.
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Browse all California harvest data →California hunting FAQ
- When does mule deer season open in California in 2026?
- California's 2026 mule deer archery season opens July 11 and runs through August 2. Always confirm exact dates with the state wildlife agency before hunting.
- What big-game species can you hunt in California?
- In 2026, California has hunting seasons for mule deer.
- How much is a California hunting license for nonresidents?
- A hunting license (annual) in California is $225.46 for nonresidents and $64.54 for residents.