With the help of this thorough guide, enter the captivating world of California Deer Season in 2024. As hunters eagerly await the beginning of this year’s season, we’ll explore the dates, regulations, and essential information you need to know to make the most of your hunting experience. We want to provide you unique insights and expert assistance, whether you are a seasoned hunter searching for new challenges or a beginner. As we reveal everything there is to know about the upcoming deer season in California, be ready to go on spectacular hunting trips.Â
California has a special chance for outdoor enthusiasts with its deer and elk range. According to the hunting zone, the season normally lasts from mid-August to late November, although exact dates may vary.
Zone A
Subzone
Archery
General
Tag Quota
South Unit 110
7/13/2024 – 8/4/2024
8/10/2024 – 9/22/2024
65,000
North Unit 160
7/13/2024 – 8/4/2024
8/10/2024 – 9/22/2024
65,000
Zone B
Subzone
Archery
General
Tag Quota
B-1
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
35,000
B-2
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
35,000
B-3
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
35,000
B-4
7/27/2024 – 8/18/2024
8/24/2024 – 9/29/2024
35,000
B-5
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
35,000
B-6
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 10/20/2024
35,000
Zone C
Subzone
Archery
General
Tag Quota
C-1
See Hunt A-1
9/21/2024 – 10/20/2024
8,150
C-2
See Hunt A-1
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
8,150
C-3
See Hunt A-1
9/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
8,150
C-4
See Hunt A-1
9/21/2024 – 10/6/2024
8,150
Zone D
Subzone
Archery
General
Tag Quota
D-3
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 11/3/2024
33,000
D-4
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 11/3/2024
33,000
D-5
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 11/3/2024
33,000
D-6
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 11/3/2024
10,000
D-7
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/21/2024 – 11/3/2024
9,000
D-8
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 10/27/2024
8,000
D-9
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 10/27/2024
2,000
D-10
8/17/2024 – 9/8/2024
9/28/2024 – 10/27/2024
700
D-11
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/12/2024 – 11/10/2024
5,500
D-12
10/5/2024 – 10/27/2024
11/2/2024 – 11/24/2024
950
D-13
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/12/2024 – 11/10/2024
4,000
D-14
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/12/2024 – 11/10/2024
3,000
D-15
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/12/2024 – 11/10/2024
1,500
D-16
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/26/2024 – 11/24/2024
3,000
D-17
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/12/2024 – 11/3/2024
500
D-19
9/7/2024 – 9/29/2024
10/5/2024 – 11/3/2024
1,500
Zone X
Subzone
Archery
General
Tag Quota
X-1
See Hunt A-3
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
760
X-2
See Hunt A-4
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
190
X-3a
See Hunt A-5
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
355
X-3b
See Hunt A-6
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
500
X-4
See Hunt A-7
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
480
X-5a
See Hunt A-8
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
75
X-5b
See Hunt A-9
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
50
X-6a
See Hunt A-11
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
330
X-6b
See Hunt A-12
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
310
X-7a
See Hunt A-13
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
230
X-7b
See Hunt A-14
10/5/2024 – 10/20/2024
135
X-8
See Hunt A-15
9/28/2024 – 10/13/2024
210
X-9a
See Hunt A-16
9/21/2024 – 10/14/2024
270
X-9b
See Hunt A-17
9/21/2024 – 10/14/2024
230
X-9c
See Hunt A-18
10/19/2024 – 11/10/2024
325
X-10
See Hunt A-19
9/28/2024 – 10/13/2024
400
X-12
See Hunt A-20
9/21/2024 – 10/14/2024
350
CA Elk Season
General
Hunt Code
Elk Subspecies
Dates
Name
Tag Quota
301
Roosevelt
Sep 11–22
Marble Mountains antlerless
8
302
Sep 11–22
Marble Mountains bull
34
374
Sep 4–26
Northwestern antlerless
15
355
Sep 4–26
Northwestern bull
25
483
Sep 4–26
Northwestern either-sex
3
401
Sep 11–22
Siskiyou antlerless
30
300
Oct 9–20
Siskiyou bull
20
328
Roosevelt/Tule
Sep 25–Oct 6
Mendocino bull
2
304
Rocky Mountain
Nov 13–24
Northeastern antlerless
10
305
Sep 18–29
Northeastern bull
15
379
Sep 7–Oct 6
Tehachapi antlerless
10
380
Sep 7–Oct 6
Tehachapi bull
5
329
Tule
Oct 12–20
Bear Valley antlerless
1
330
Oct 12–20
Bear Valley bull
2
406
Oct 12–27
Cache Creek Period 1 bull
2
416
Oct 19–Nov 3
Cache Creek Period 2 antlerless
2
375
Oct 5–Dec 3
Central Coast antlerless
10
376
Oct 5–Dec 3
Central Coast bull
10
463
Sep 7–Dec 3
East Park Reservoir antlerless
2
461
Sep 7–Dec 3
East Park Reservoir bull
2
448
Nov 23–Dec 1
Fort Hunter Liggett Period 2 antlerless
6
447
Dec 21–Jan 2
Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 bull
8
377
Nov 9–Dec 1
Gabilan antlerless
6
378
Nov 9–Dec 1
Gabilan bull
4
373
Sep 14–29
Goodale period 1 bull
1
365
Oct 5–13
Goodale Period 2 antlerless
1
366
Oct 19–27
Goodale Period 3 antlerless
1
433
Aug 13–16
Grizzly Island Period 1 antlerless
2
359
Sep 12–15
Grizzly Island Period 10 bull
4*
360
Sep 17–20
Grizzly Island Period 11 antlerless
4
362
Sep 19–22
Grizzly Island Period 12 bull
4*
363
Sep 24–27
Grizzly Island Period 13 antlerless
4
381
Sep 24–27*
NEW Grizzly Island Period 13 bull*
3*
437
Aug 15–18
Grizzly Island Period 2 spike bull
2
357
Sep 5–8
Grizzly Island Period 8 spike bull
6
358
Sep 10–13
Grizzly Island Period 9 antlerless
4
368
Oct 5–13
Independence Period 2 antlerless
1
369
Oct 5–13
Independence Period 2 bull
1
370
Oct 19–27
Independence Period 3 antlerless
1
371
Oct 19–27
Independence Period 3 bull
0*
417
Oct 12–Nov 3
La Panza Period 1 antlerless
5
419
Oct 12–Nov 3
La Panza Period 1 bull
6
418
Nov 9–Dec 1
La Panza Period 2 antlerless
6
420
Nov 9–Dec 1
La Panza Period 2 bull
6
331
Sep 11–20
Lake Pillsbury Period 1 antlerless
4
332
Sep 30–Oct 9
Lake Pillsbury Period 2 bull
2
486
Oct 5–13
Lone Pine Period 2 bull
1
497
Oct 5–27
San Luis Reservoir either-sex
5
315
Sep 14–29
West Tinemaha Period 1 bull
1
323
Oct 5–13
Whitney Period 2 bull
1
324
Oct 19–27
Whitney Period 3 antlerless
1
Archery
Hunt Code
Name
Dates
Elk Subspecies
Tag Quota
411
Northeastern either-sex
Sep 4–15
Rocky Mountain
10
450
Fort Hunter Liggett only antlerless
Nov 2–10
Tule
8
449
Fort Hunter Liggett only either-sex
July 27–Aug 4
6
337
Lone Pine Period 1 antlerless
Sep 14–29
1
422
Owens Valley Multiple Zone bull
Aug 10–18
3
Muzzleloader/Archery
Hunt Code
Name
Dates
Elk Subspecies
Tag Quota
303
Marble Mountains either-sex
Oct 26–Nov 3
Roosevelt
10
Muzzleloader
Hunt Code
Name
Dates
Elk Subspecies
Tag Quota
367
Independence Period 1 bull
Sep 14–29
Tule
1
Apprentice Elk
Hunt Code
Hunt Name
Hunt Dates
Elk Subspecies
Tag Quota
409
Northeastern either-sex
Sep 18–29
Rocky Mountain
2
408
Marble Mountains either-sex
Sep 11–22
Roosevelt
4
484
Cache Creek Period 1 bull
Oct 12–27
Tule
1
471
Fort Hunter Liggett antlerless
Dec 21–Jan 2
1
472
Fort Hunter Liggett bull
Dec 21–Jan 2
1
466
Grizzly Island Period 1 antlerless
Aug 13–16
2
469
Grizzly Island Period 2 spike bull
Aug 15–18
2
464
La Panza antlerless
Oct 12–Nov 3
1
Note: These amendments were approved on April 19, 2023, by the California Fish and Game Commission. Refer to the CFGC website.
Pronghorn Season
General
Zone
Hunt/ Name
Dates
Tag Quota
Code
1
Mount Dome Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
2
710
2
Clear Lake Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
12
720
3
Likely Tables Period 1 Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
5
730
3
Likely Tables Period 2 Buck
Sep 7-15
5
732
4
Lassen Period 1 Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
35
740
4
Lassen Period 2 Buck
Sep 7-15
35
742
5
Big Valley Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
5
750
6
Surprise Valley Buck
Aug 24-Sep 1
10
760
Archery
Zone
Hunt/ Name
Dates
Tag Quota
Code
2
Clear Lake Buck
Aug 10-18
1
728
3
Likely Tables Buck
Aug 10-18
5
738
4
Lassen Buck
Aug 10-18
5
745
5
Big Valley Buck
Aug 10-18
1
755
6
Surprise Valley Buck
Aug 10-18
1
765
Apprentice
Zone
Hunt/ Name
Dates
Tag Quota
Code
3
Likely Tables Period 1 Either-Sex
Aug 24-Sep 1
5
734
4
Lassen Period 1 Either-Sex
Aug 24-Sep 1
5
790
5
Big Valley Either-Sex
Aug 24-Sep 1
1
780
6
Surprise Valley Either-Sex
Aug 24-Sep 1
4
766
Bag Limits
The bag limit for the deer season in California varies based on the species and hunting area. Black-tailed and mule deer may be taken from up to six different species by hunters.
CA Deer Licenses
License / Tag Types
Resident
Nonresident
Hunting License
$54.00
$188.74
Junior Hunting
$14.30
First-Deer Tag or First-Deer Tag Drawing Application
$35.38
$317
Second-Deer Tag or Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application
$44.28
$317
Elk, Pronghorn Antelope and Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Applications
$8.13 per application
Elk Tag ($23.50 Resident Junior)
$512.05
$1,568.05
CA Deer Regulations
California hunters may seek deer tags for A, B, and certain D zones until the tag quotas are met. Deer tags may be bought via a local licensing agent or online, but they must be sent to hunters, which can take up to 15 days. Following restrictions and hunting responsibly requires a deer tag before hunting.
A, B, and D Zone Deer Tags allow hunters to use muzzleloading rifles, centerfire rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, crossbows, and bows during the archery season and firearms and other authorized equipment during the general season. These tags are zone-specific except for the B zone tag, the D3-5 tag, and the D11, D13, or D15 tag. To hunt legally and responsibly, hunters must follow tag and zone laws.
Bow-Only Deer Tags (AO Tags) are for bow hunters. These tags enable archery and general hunting in zone A, any B or D zone, and the military-only Additional Hunt G-10. AO Tags cannot be used in C or X zones or for Area-Specific Archery Hunts. Unless otherwise stated, hunting with an Archery-Only deer tag prohibits firearms and crossbows. Hunters need an Area-Specific Archery Hunt tag for a C or X-zone archery season.
Premium Deer Tags are unique hunting possibilities for hunts that have met their quota by July 1. Premium deer hunts need Big Game Drawing applications. The 2022 California Big Game Hunting Digest, published online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Publications/Hunting-Digest, lists all deer hunts and their categories. The Big Game Drawing requires a First-Deer Tag Drawing Application for premium deer tags. Junior hunters may apply for apprentice hunts using their Second-Deer Tag Application.
C Zone Deer Tags are for general season hunting in zones C1, C2, C3, and C4. These tags permit hunting in these zones during the normal season. For archery hunting in any C zone, hunters must apply for an A-1 Area-Specific Archery Hunt tag.
X Zone Tags are for general season hunting in a zone. X Zone Tag hunters may use muzzleloading or centerfire rifles, shotguns, allowed pistols or revolvers, crossbows, or bows. These tags allow hunters to hunt in the zone during the general season.
Additional shoot Deer Tags allow hunters to shoot deer beyond the usual season. These hunts include antlerless, either-sex, and buck hunting throughout the state. Some of these hunts are for younger hunters, military grounds, or unique equipment. Hunters may target individual deer or explore specific locations during these supplementary hunts.
Apprentice Deer Hunts let young hunters hunt with an older tutor. These hunts need a California junior hunting license and a minimum age of 12 by July 1 of the licensing year or at the time of application if applying after July 1. Junior hunters may submit one Apprentice Deer Hunt application utilizing a First-Deer or Second-Deer Tag Drawing Application. Juniors with tags must hunt with an adult over 18. Young hunters learn from seasoned mentors in this program.
Military Lands Hunts provide public and military hunting in military locations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Big Game Drawing distributes public tags for G8, J10, and A33 hunts. Military members who want to hunt must apply to their base. G7, G10, G11, the Beale, Camp Pendleton, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, either-sex hunts are designated for military members. These hunts allow hunters to explore and enjoy military territory while following installation laws.
Deer tags must be purchased and submitted according to California deer hunting laws. Hunters must buy a beforehand-Deer Tag/Application beforehand. The same license year cannot have multiple First-Deer Tag/Application or Second-Deer Tag/Application. Deer tags are also ineligible for anyone convicted of deer violations in the previous licensing year. California deer hunting is sustainable with these precautions.
FAQ
When does the general deer season open in California?
The general deer season opens in California on September 21, 2024.
Are there different deer seasons in different zones of California?
Yes, California is separated into many zones, each with unique deer hunting season dates and sorts. A zone, B1-B6 zones, C1-C4 zones, D3-D19 zones, and X1-X12 zones are the five zones that make up the state.
Is a hunting license required for deer hunting in California?
Anyone who wants to shoot deer or any other birds or animals in California must possess a hunting license. Hunters are required to have a current hunting license, which they should always have on them. Upon request, they could be requested to provide their license.
James Ellis, the passionate creator of DeerSeason.Org, is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for wildlife. With over a decade of experience in exploring the world of deer, his writing reflects an extensive understanding of these magnificent creatures