CA Deer Hunting

California Deer Season Dates 2026

Deer season in California runs Sep 5 – Oct 26 across 98 Zones.

523 Seasons7 Weapon Types

General

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone A (North)GeneralAug 8 — Sep 20———
Zone A (South)GeneralAug 8 — Sep 20———
Zone B1GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone B2GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone B3GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone B4GeneralAug 22 — Sep 27———
Zone B5GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone B6GeneralSep 19 — Oct 18———
Zone C1GeneralSep 19 — Oct 18———
Zone C2GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone C3GeneralSep 19 — Oct 25———
Zone C4GeneralSep 19 — Oct 4———
Zone D10GeneralSep 26 — Oct 25———
Zone D11GeneralOct 10 — Nov 8———
Zone D12GeneralNov 7 — Nov 29———
Zone D13GeneralOct 10 — Nov 8———
Zone D14GeneralOct 10 — Nov 8———
Zone D15GeneralOct 10 — Nov 8———
Zone D16GeneralOct 24 — Nov 22———
Zone D17GeneralOct 10 — Nov 1———
Zone D19GeneralOct 3 — Nov 1———
Zone D3GeneralSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone D4GeneralSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone D5GeneralSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone D6GeneralSep 19 — Nov 1———

+ 198 more

Archery

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone A (North)ArcheryJul 11 — Aug 2———
Zone A (South)ArcheryJul 11 — Aug 2———
Zone B1ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone B2ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone B3ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone B4ArcheryJul 25 — Aug 16———
Zone B5ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone B6ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone C1ArcheryAug 15 — Aug 30———
Zone C2ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone C3ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone C4ArcheryAug 15 — Aug 30———
Zone D10ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone D11ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D12ArcheryOct 3 — Oct 25———
Zone D13ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D14ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D15ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D16ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D17ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D19ArcherySep 5 — Sep 27———
Zone D3ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone D4ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone D5ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone D6ArcheryAug 15 — Sep 6———

+ 178 more

Archery — Archery Special

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone A21Archery — Archery SpecialNov 14 — Nov 27———
Zone A22Archery — Archery SpecialSep 5 — Oct 18———
Zone A22Archery — Archery SpecialNov 21 — Dec 31———
Zone A24Archery — Archery SpecialOct 10 — Nov 8———
Zone A25Archery — Archery SpecialOct 3 — Oct 26———
Zone A26Archery — Archery SpecialNov 21 — Dec 13———
Zone A27Archery — Archery SpecialOct 24 — Nov 8———
Zone A30Archery — Archery SpecialNov 14 — Nov 29———
Zone A31Archery — Archery SpecialSep 26 — Dec 31———
Zone A32Archery — Archery SpecialNov 14 — Dec 6———
Zone A33Archery — Archery SpecialOct 3 — Nov 11———
Zone C1Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Aug 30———
Zone C2Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone C3Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone C4Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Aug 30———
Zone X1Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X10Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Aug 30———
Zone X12Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X2Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X3aArchery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X3bArchery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X4Archery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X5aArchery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X5bArchery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———
Zone X6aArchery — Archery SpecialAug 15 — Sep 6———

+ 7 more

Junior

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone J1JuniorNov 7 — Nov 8———
Zone J10JuniorOct 3 — Oct 4———
Zone J10JuniorOct 10 — Oct 12———
Zone J11JuniorNov 21 — Nov 29———
Zone J12JuniorDec 5 — Dec 20———
Zone J13JuniorNov 21 — Nov 29———
Zone J14JuniorNov 21 — Nov 29———
Zone J15JuniorNov 28 — Dec 6———
Zone J16JuniorSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone J17JuniorSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone J18JuniorSep 26 — Nov 1———
Zone J19JuniorOct 3 — Oct 18———
Zone J20JuniorOct 3 — Oct 18———
Zone J21JuniorSep 19 — Nov 1———
Zone J3JuniorNov 28 — Nov 29———
Zone J4JuniorNov 28 — Dec 6———
Zone J8JuniorDec 5 — Dec 31———
Zone J9JuniorSep 19 — Sep 27———

Special General

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone G1Special GeneralOct 24 — Nov 1———
Zone G10Special GeneralSep 5 — Dec 6———
Zone G11Special GeneralAug 24 — Sep 30———
Zone G12Special GeneralSep 19 — Sep 27———
Zone G13Special GeneralOct 24 — Nov 15———
Zone G19Special GeneralSep 26 — Dec 31———
Zone G21Special GeneralNov 14 — Dec 6———
Zone G3Special GeneralDec 5 — Dec 20———
Zone G37Special GeneralNov 28 — Dec 6———
Zone G38Special GeneralOct 17 — Nov 1———
Zone G39Special GeneralOct 24 — Nov 8———
Zone G40Special GeneralNov 28 — Dec 6———
Zone G6Special GeneralDec 5 — Dec 13———
Zone G7Special GeneralSep 12 — Nov 29———

Muzzleloader — Muzzleloader

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone M11Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderNov 14 — Nov 29———
Zone M3Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderNov 21 — Nov 29———
Zone M4Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderOct 24 — Nov 1———
Zone M5Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderOct 24 — Nov 1———
Zone M6Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderDec 19 — Dec 31———
Zone M7Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderNov 28 — Dec 13———
Zone M8Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderOct 24 — Nov 1———
Zone M9Muzzleloader — MuzzleloaderOct 24 — Nov 8———

Muzzleloader_archery — Muzzleloader

ZoneTypeDatesHarvestPressurePublic
Zone MA1Muzzleloader_archery — MuzzleloaderNov 28 — Dec 13———
Zone MA3Muzzleloader_archery — MuzzleloaderNov 28 — Dec 13———

Deer in California: FAQ

When is deer season in California?

Deer season in California currently runs Sep 5 to Oct 26, across 500 season rows and 98 Zones, split by weapon (Archery, General, Archery — Archery Special, Special General, Junior, Muzzleloader — Muzzleloader, Muzzleloader_archery — Muzzleloader).

Where is the best place to hunt deer in California?

The best Zones for deer in California depend on harvest success and public-land access, both shown per Zone above. Compare units before you apply for a tag or plan your hunt.

Plan your Deer hunt in California

View Zone boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas on our interactive map.

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Also see California seasons, public land, and license.

Deer seasons in California — offline

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