PointsAfieldSeason2026–27
California · Upland

Ring-necked pheasant

Open (general Nov 14-Dec 27, 2026)
Season 2026-27
4 windows on one classification

Season windows

  1. Window 114 NOV – 27 DEC 202644d
  2. Window 210 OCT – 01 NOV 202623d
  3. Window 328 DEC 2026 – 24 JAN 202728d
  4. Window 415 AUG 2026 – 28 FEB 2027198d

As publishedNov 14-Dec 27, 2026 (general); Oct 10-Nov 1 & Dec 28, 2026-Jan 24, 2027 (archery); Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027 (falconry)

What you may take, and when

Take and hours

Bag limit2 males/day for first 2 days, then 3 males/day (general); possession limit triple the daily bag

Licence and outlook

HIP requiredNot required
Exceptions posted at the boundary

General season is males (roosters) only, hens illegal; 2 males/day first two days then 3/day. Archery Oct 10-Nov 1, 2026 & Dec 28, 2026-Jan 24, 2027 allows up to 1 female per day within the archery bag. Falconry Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027 allows either sex.

Population outlook

California 2026

Awaiting survey — California 2026

CDFW runs no pre-season population forecast for ring-necked pheasant — confirmed absence. Its only recurring pheasant-specific release is a November wild-pheasant-genetics-study announcement (hunter tongue-clip sampling for inbreeding/genetic-mixing research), which is retrospective sampling published after the season opens, not a predictive outlook.

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