California

Species on recordOpen now8Classified23Record year2026

The place

What California is like to hunt

Awaiting survey — California overview

Season classification for California is complete for 2026, but the qualitative overview has not been written yet. Dates, bag limits and status below are current; the narrative is what is outstanding.

Issuing agencyCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlifewildlife.ca.govRecord year 2026

The reason people drive here

Ring-necked pheasant

#1Ring-necked pheasantRing-necked pheasant is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 44 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open (general Nov 14-Dec 27, 2026)

44 statesUpland

Every bird classified here

Species run

Status is computed from the published dates, not stored — a stale build cannot show an ended season as open.

Open (general Nov 14-Dec 27, 2026)

44 statesUpland

#2Northern bobwhite quailNorthern bobwhite quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 42 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

42 statesUpland

#8Gray (Hungarian) partridgeGray (Hungarian) partridge is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 23 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present (no established wild population; no season published)

23 statesUpland

#7ChukarChukar is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 24 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open (Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027)

24 statesUpland

#6Greater prairie-chickenGreater prairie-chicken is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 13 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

13 statesUpland

#20Lesser prairie-chickenLesser prairie-chicken is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 5 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

5 statesUpland

#5Sharp-tailed grouseSharp-tailed grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 14 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

14 statesUpland

#3Ruffed grouseRuffed grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 38 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open (Sep 12-Oct 12, 2026), restricted to specified northern/eastern counties

38 statesUpland

#4Greater sage-grouseGreater sage-grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 11 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Closed for 2026-27 season (0 permits, all 4 zones)

11 statesUpland

#14California quailCalifornia quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 9 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open, zone-dependent (Sep 26, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 Zone Q2; Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 Zones Q1 & Q3)

9 statesUpland

#13Gambel's quailGambel's quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 9 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open, bundled into CA's combined 'All Quail' zone seasons

9 statesUpland

#18Mountain quailMountain quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 5 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open -- Zone Q1 mountain-quail-only Sep 12-Oct 16, 2026, then folds into All-Quail season

5 statesUpland

#15Scaled quailScaled quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 7 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

7 statesUpland

#11Spruce grouseSpruce grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 11 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

11 statesUpland

#12Dusky grouseDusky grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 10 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

10 statesUpland

#17Sooty grouseSooty grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 5 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open (Sep 12-Oct 12, 2026), restricted to specified northern/eastern counties -- combined season/bag with ruffed grouse

5 statesUpland

#21Willow ptarmiganWillow ptarmigan is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 1 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

1 statesUpland

#22Rock ptarmiganRock ptarmigan is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 1 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

1 statesUpland

#16White-tailed ptarmiganWhite-tailed ptarmigan is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 7 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Open (Sep 12-20, 2026) -- very restrictive 2-per-season cap

7 statesUpland

#23Himalayan snowcockHimalayan snowcock is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 1 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

1 statesUpland

Plain chachalacaPlain chachalaca is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 1 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Not present in California

1 statesUpland

#9Mourning doveMourning dove has an open season in 49 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season. This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species this pass.

Opens in 11 days

49 statesFederal framework

#10American woodcockAmerican woodcock has an open season in 37 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season. This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species this pass.

Not present -- no CA hunting season exists

37 statesFederal framework

Big game open during your bird season

Mule deerRestricted/unrestricted zone tags sold OTC to residents and nonresidents until each zone's numeric tag quota fills (quotas range from 50 to 65,000 depending on zone). A small subset of historically high-demand hunts are reclassified 'premium' and pulled into the annual Big Game Drawing instead. Nonresident tag fee $377.35 (1st or 2nd tag).
Black bearOTC to residents and nonresidents (one tag per license year); subject to a statewide 1,700-bear harvest quota that can trigger an early in-season closure (announced via wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bear or (888) 277-6398). Nonresident tag fee $397.60.
Wild turkeyOTC statewide — hunting license + Upland Game Bird Validation, no draw required for the general season. CDFW separately runs a handful of small limited-entry draw hunts at specific wildlife areas as add-on opportunities (not required for the general OTC season).
Feral hog / wild pigOTC validation (not a tag), no numeric quota, no daily bag or possession limit. Nonresident wild pig validation fee $101.26 (plus base hunting license).