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Is deer season open in California?

Every California deer season we have read for 2026 from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, open or closed on the day you pick, and when the next one opens.

California deer seasons 2026

California's Zone A general season opens Aug 8, 2026.

Your tag is good only in the zones it names, and California's special draw hunts (junior, muzzleloader, late and area-specific archery hunts, which include all archery in the C and X zones) run on other dates and are not included here.

Zone A archery season · Zone AJul 11 to Aug 2
Archery season · B zones · Zone B-4 onlyJul 25 to Aug 16
Zone A general season · Zone AAug 8 to Sep 20
Archery season · B zones · Zones B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-5 onlyAug 15 to Sep 6
Archery season · B zones · Zone B-6 onlyAug 15 to Sep 6
Archery season · D zones · Zones D-3, D-4 and D-5 onlyAug 15 to Sep 6
Archery season · D zones · Zones D-6 and D-7 onlyAug 15 to Sep 6
Archery season · D zones · Zones D-8, D-9 and D-10 onlyAug 15 to Sep 6

23 more seasons

General season · B zones · Zone B-4 onlyAug 22 to Sep 27
Archery season · D zones · Zones D-11, D-13, D-14 and D-15 onlySep 5 to Sep 27
Archery season · D zones · Zone D-16 onlySep 5 to Sep 27
Archery season · D zones · Zone D-17 onlySep 5 to Sep 27
Archery season · D zones · Zone D-19 onlySep 5 to Sep 27
General season · B zones · Zones B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-5 onlySep 19 to Oct 25
General season · B zones · Zone B-6 onlySep 19 to Oct 18
General season · C zones · Zone C-1 onlySep 19 to Oct 18
General season · C zones · Zones C-2 and C-3 onlySep 19 to Oct 25
General season · C zones · Zone C-4 onlySep 19 to Oct 4
General season · D zones · Zones D-6 and D-7 onlySep 19 to Nov 1
General season · X zones · Zones X-9a, X-9b and X-12 onlySep 19 to Oct 12
General season · D zones · Zones D-3, D-4 and D-5 onlySep 26 to Nov 1
General season · D zones · Zones D-8, D-9 and D-10 onlySep 26 to Oct 25
General season · X zones · Zones X-8 and X-10 onlySep 26 to Oct 11
Archery season · D zones · Zone D-12 onlyOct 3 to Oct 25
General season · D zones · Zone D-19 onlyOct 3 to Nov 1
General season · X zones · Zones X-1 through X-7b onlyOct 3 to Oct 18
General season · D zones · Zones D-11, D-13, D-14 and D-15 onlyOct 10 to Nov 8
General season · D zones · Zone D-17 onlyOct 10 to Nov 1
General season · X zones · Zone X-9c onlyOct 17 to Nov 8
General season · D zones · Zone D-16 onlyOct 24 to Nov 22
General season · D zones · Zone D-12 onlyNov 7 to Nov 29

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Approved 2026 Deer Seasons by Zone (California Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 2026.

Deer Season DatesCalifornia · 2026

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Deer season · California · Today

Depends where you hunt

Depends on where you hunt. 3 deer seasons are open today in parts of California.

General season, Oct 10 to Nov 8: Zones D-11, D-13, D-14 and D-15
General season, Oct 17 to Nov 8: Zone X-9c
General season, Oct 24 to Nov 22: Zone D-16

Pick your zone above to see its season calendar.

Pick your zone above to see its 31 zone seasons.

Hunting in California

32 outfitters, guides and lodges listed in California. Legal shooting hours in California today.

See California outfitters

Common questions

Deer season questions

California's Zone A general season opens Aug 8, 2026. Your tag is good only in the zones it names, and California's special draw hunts (junior, muzzleloader, late and area-specific archery hunts, which include all archery in the C and X zones) run on other dates and are not included here. Source: Approved 2026 Deer Seasons by Zone (California Department of Fish and Wildlife).

California's Zone A archery season opens Jul 11, 2026 in the zones it covers. Source: Approved 2026 Deer Seasons by Zone (California Department of Fish and Wildlife).

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