California Deer Hunting Season 2025, 2026
Recorded deer windows for California, including history and unverified dates.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 4 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
California Deer Season Calendar
Find all deer hunting season dates for California including archery, rifle, muzzleloader, and shotgun seasons for 2025, 2026.
Recorded Deer Windows at the Assessment Date
SNAPSHOT1 deer season recorded with dates including the assessment date in California
Sep 26 - Nov 1, 2026
Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions. Approved 2026 Deer Seasons by Zone, PDF page 2, General Season column. Matching D3–5 tag required; forked-horn buck or better. AO tags allow archery equipment only, not firearms. CDFW D3 2026 guide requires nonlead ammunition and written permission on private property. General base dates shown in the rifle view; current legal-device, ammunition, license, closure, access and boundary rules still need agency checks. Not statewide dates or hunting permission.
All Deer Seasons
4 seasons for California deer hunting
Jul 12 - Sep 21, 2025
Unverified date record; agency review required. Early archery
Sep 20 - Nov 2, 2025
Unverified date record; agency review required. Unverified historical general-season summary; source and hunt-code scope were not recorded.
Sep 26 - Nov 1, 2026
Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions. Approved 2026 Deer Seasons by Zone, PDF page 2, General Season column. Matching D3–5 tag required; forked-horn buck or better. AO tags allow archery equipment only, not firearms. CDFW D3 2026 guide requires nonlead ammunition and written permission on private property. General base dates shown in the rifle view; current legal-device, ammunition, license, closure, access and boundary rules still need agency checks. Not statewide dates or hunting permission.
Aug 16 - Sep 7, 2025
Unverified date record; agency review required. Zone D archery
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Zone-Specific Information
California has different deer hunting dates by zone. This page shows seasons for: A Zone, D3 / D4 / D5 — D3–5 tag, D Zones. Check the official state regulations for detailed zone maps and boundaries.
Important Note for California
Only the approved 2026 D3–D5 general deer base date window was reviewed. Matching tag, legal buck/device/ammunition rules, licenses, closures, private permission, access and zone boundaries require agency checks. Other zone/species/special-hunt records and license-year metadata remain unverified.
California Deer Hunting FAQ
Common questions about deer hunting in California
When is deer season in California?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-07-12 to 2025-09-21; 2025-09-20 to 2025-11-02; 2026-09-26 to 2026-11-01; 2025-08-16 to 2025-09-07. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
When does archery deer season start in California?
Recorded archery deer window: Jul 12, 2025 to Sep 21, 2025. Unverified date record; agency review required. Early archery
When is deer rifle/firearms season in California?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-09-20 to 2025-11-02; 2026-09-26 to 2026-11-01. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Are there different deer hunting zones in California?
Yes, California has zone-specific deer seasons. The zones include: A Zone, D3 / D4 / D5 — D3–5 tag, D Zones. Check the season calendar above for zone-specific dates.
Do I need a license to hunt deer in California?
Yes, you need a valid California hunting license and any required deer tags or permits. Check with the California wildlife agency for current license requirements and fees.
Deer Hunting in Other States
Compare deer seasons across states
View All California Hunting Seasons
See recorded windows and their review status for other species in California.
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