California hunting
Public hunting land in California
Caliber maps 219 public hunting areas in California, with California Department of Fish and Wildlife's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
California · 219 areas
Needles Field Office
BLM land · 3,289,502 acres
Barstow Field Office
BLM land · 2,723,973 acres
Inyo National Forest
National forest · 1,842,174 acres
Ridgecrest Field Office
BLM land · 1,797,342 acres
Los Padres National Forest
National forest · 1,774,285 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 219 by distance from you.
- 137
- State wildlife areas
- 25
- National forests
- 1
- National grasslands
- 17
- BLM land
- 39
- National wildlife refuges
California hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Phone
- (916) 928-5805 (License & Revenue Branch); main (916) 445-0411
- Resident license
- $64.54 — Resident Hunting License (valid Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027)
- Nonresident license
- $225.46 — Nonresident Hunting License (Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027); tags extra
- Hunter education
- Required for first-time license buyers unless they held a hunting license in any state within the last two years.
- Good to know
- Annual licenses run Jul 1 – Jun 30; big game requires separate tags; check Emergency Closures page before visiting.
Fees and rules as published by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in California
The 12 biggest of 219 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles Field Office | BLM land | 3,289,502 | Open |
| Barstow Field Office | BLM land | 2,723,973 | Open |
| Inyo National Forest | National forest | 1,842,174 | Open |
| Ridgecrest Field Office | BLM land | 1,797,342 | Open |
| Los Padres National Forest | National forest | 1,774,285 | Open |
| Palm Springs/S. Coast Field Office | BLM land | 1,694,360 | Open |
| Modoc National Forest | National forest | 1,679,907 | Open |
| Klamath National Forest | National forest | 1,647,749 | Open |
| El Centro Field Office | BLM land | 1,338,870 | Open |
| Sierra National Forest | National forest | 1,311,102 | Open |
| Plumas National Forest | National forest | 1,192,379 | Open |
| Shasta National Forest | National forest | 1,185,779 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 137
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 25
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National grasslands · 1
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. Grasslands are often mixed with private land, so know the boundaries.
BLM land · 17
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. BLM land is often scattered between private parcels, so legal access can be the hard part.
National wildlife refuges · 39
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
California hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in California?
Caliber lists 219 public hunting areas in California: 137 state wildlife areas, 25 national forests, 1 national grasslands, 17 blm land, 39 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. California Department of Fish and Wildlife also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in California?
As published by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $64.54 — Resident Hunting License (valid Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027); nonresident, $225.46 — Nonresident Hunting License (Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027); tags extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in California?
Required for first-time license buyers unless they held a hunting license in any state within the last two years. Check California Department of Fish and Wildlife for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in California?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to California Department of Fish and Wildlife's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find California hunting land near you
All 219 California areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
More in Caliber
Public hunting land
Public hunting land in all 50 states, with each state's license fees and official links.
Learn more →
Ballistic calculator & shooting tools
Free bullet drop calculator, DOPE book, scope clicks, distance estimating and more.
Learn more →
Shooting range finder
5,600+ shooting ranges nationwide, on a list or a map, with filters.
Learn more →
Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the managing agency before you hunt.
CaliberBecome a safer, more skilled firearm owner. Free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFeatures
Guides & directories
- The four firearm safety rules
- California FSC practice test
- Texas LTC practice test
- Hunter education practice test
- Shooting range directory
- Public hunting land in Colorado
- Public hunting land in Florida
- Public hunting land in Georgia
- Public hunting land in Michigan
- Public hunting land in Minnesota
- Public hunting land in Pennsylvania
- Public hunting land in Texas
- Public hunting land in Wisconsin
Caliber is an educational and tracking tool for lawful, responsible ownership. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for in-person instruction. Caliber doesn't sell firearms, ammunition or accessories. Always follow the four safety rules and your local laws. Caliber is made by Norbrook Media LLC. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.