California dfg fishing license fees

Although fishing and hunting license fees have increased throughout the years, the increase ensures that the CDFW has adequate funding to manage California's diverse fish and wildlife resources and provide the public with enjoyable fishing and hunting experiences. Q: Is a fishing license required while fishing from a public fishing pier in ocean waters?

A: No, but it must be a public fishing pier. A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to take sturgeon from a public pier in ocean waters. A Spiny Lobster Report Card is required to take spiny lobster from a public pier in ocean waters.

A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1.

Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers.

Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.

Even though licenses and validations are not required while fishing from a public pier, all other regulations apply including minimum size, bag limits, seasons and report card requirements.

A: In addition to your fishing license, you may need one or more of the following:. If you have a valid California sport fishing license or a valid Arizona sport fishing license, you can fish from either shore of the portion of the Colorado River that makes up the California-Arizona boundary.

A: Yes, children are required to purchase report cards if they fish for salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River Systems, abalone, steelhead, sturgeon or spiny lobster. Q: Can a child who is under 16 years of age use two rods while fishing in inland waters? A: A child under age 16 may fish with two rods in inland waters, except for those waters where only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.

Am I required to purchase a report card? Report cards are required even when a fishing license is not required. While fishing from a public pier for spiny lobster, you must have a spiny lobster report card.

While fishing for sturgeon from a public pier in the ocean, you must have a sturgeon fishing report card. Q: I heard that we are required fill out a report card for abalone and tag them. Can you briefly explain how this works? A: The Abalone Report Card comes with 18 tags attached to the bottom. Each time you take an abalone, you must make an entry on the report card and on one tag. Immediately upon exiting the water or immediately upon boarding a vessel, whichever occurs first, fill in the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location on the abalone tag, remove and completely detach the tag from the card, and affix it to the shell of the abalone by running a string, line or zip tie through the tag and through a siphon hole of the abalone shell.

Carefully read and follow the instructions on the report card as the data collected will be used for fisheries management and to enforce bag limits.

You must report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed on the report card by January 31 of the following year.

More abalone FAQs. You must record each sturgeon that you keep or release on your Sturgeon Fishing Report Card. When you keep a sturgeon, you also must complete and attach a sturgeon tag to the sturgeon. It is not required to fish for salmon in the ocean or other river systems. Individuals may alternatively choose not to fish for spiny lobster and would then be eligible to purchase a report card after sitting out one lobster season.

A: All report cards must be reported by January 31 of the following year, except the spiny lobster report card which is due by April You can either report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed below:. A: Eligible low-income seniors, who are at least 65 years of age, and honorably-discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent, may qualify for a Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License. The CDFW also offers Free Sport Fishing Licenses to persons who are blind; low-income American Indians; developmentally disabled persons; and residents who are so severely physically disabled that they are permanently unable to move from place to place without the use of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches, or a comparable mobility-related device.

Proof of eligibility for all free and reduced-fee licenses is required. Q: There are often in-season regulation changes for groundfish. How can I find out about these changes if I do not have a computer? Using a touch tone keypad, anglers can now get the latest regulations information over the phone; with a cell phone, it's even possible to get this information while at sea.

Each species has a unique life history so researchers must tag individuals of the species in which they are interested. Q: How do I find out when the next good low tide is or how low the tide will be? A: Most boating and tackle stores have inexpensive or free tide-books.

You can check the tide predictions in the daily newspaper for the area you are interested in or check online. License and Revenue Branch P. Home Licensing Fishing. Annual Sport Fishing Licenses valid January 1, through December 31, or for the remainder of the year if purchased after January 1 A sport fishing license is required for any person attempting to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters.

After you prequalify for your first Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Sport Fishing License , you can purchase disabled veteran licenses anywhere licenses are sold. How to Prequalify for a Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member License Send a photocopy of your identification and documentation of eligibility by: Mail to any CDFW license sales office Fax at Secure document upload - To upload your documentation, you must request a secure document upload.

Send your request for a secure document upload to LRB wildlife. You will receive a response with a link to upload your documentation securely. DO NOT send your documents via email. Recovering Service Members must submit a letter from their Commanding Officer or a military doctor. Telephone number Email address optional, but may expedite issuance For hunting licenses only - proof of hunter education Proof is not needed if you purchased a California hunting license after CDFW will have your hunter education on file.

Certification of blindness by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist is required. View a list of tags eligible for return PDF. Resident deer tag fees are nonrefundable regardless of closures due to fire, weather, or other natural disasters CCR T Preference points used to obtain a premium deer tag may be reinstated if the premium tag is returned to CDFW prior to the start of the season see below for more information and list of eligible deer tags. Nonresident deer tag fees may be partially refunded as follows CCR T Premium deer hunt tags cannot be exchanged but preference points may be reinstated.

Customers unable to hunt may surrender their tag via mail to the CDFW License and Revenue Branch prior to the season start date along with a written request to have their preference points reinstated. The tag must be postmarked prior to the earliest date that the tag is valid for hunting.

If the request is approved, preference points will be reinstated and one preference point will be awarded for deer for the hunt year CCR T Premium deer tags are defined as any hunt in which the quota filled on or before the first business day after July 1 of the previous year. As of August 18, , many premium deer tags are eligible for return. View a list of tags eligible to return for preference points PDF.

If all of the tag exchange conditions above are met, you must contact a CDFW license sales office via telephone or email to arrange your tag exchange. License and Revenue Branch P. Home Licensing Hunting. Valid JULY 1, through JUNE 30, Fish and Game Code Section 70 defines "Resident" as any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps established pursuant to Section of Title 29 of the United States Code.

To qualify, hunter must be less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year July 1. Successful hunters must report immediately. Unsuccessful hunters must submit a report within one week after the close of the pronghorn antelope season. CCR, T14 Section Unsuccessful hunters must submit a report by February 1 of the license year. All tag holders must submit a report within 10 days after the close of the season.

Unsuccessful deer tag holders, whether they hunted or not, are required to report no harvest by January 31 CCR, T14 Section Unsuccessful hunters must submit a report within one week after the close of the elk season. How to Prequalify for a Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member License Send a photocopy of your identification and documentation of eligibility by: Mail or apply in person at any CDFW license sales office Fax at Secure document upload - To upload your documentation, you must request a secure document upload.

Send your request for a secure document upload to LRB wildlife. You will receive a response with a link to upload your documentation securely.

DO NOT send your documents via email. Identification must include your address, height, weight, eye color, hair color, gender, and date of birth. A letter documenting your eligibility. Telephone number E-mail address optional, but may expedite issuance For hunting licenses only - proof of hunter education Proof is not needed if you purchased a California hunting license after CDFW will have your hunter education on file.

Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License Application PDF Form Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit- NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident visually impaired hunter having a permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs the vision of a hunter, preventing the hunter from viewing and aligning the sights of a muzzle-loading rifle with the target in order to hunt deer.

Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit Application PDF Form Disabled Archer Permit- NO FEE Available to any resident or nonresident hunter's having permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing a hunter to draw and hold a bow in a firing position.

Q: How long is a hunting license valid? Q: What do I need to do to get my hunting license? Q: What is the minimum age requirement to purchase a hunting license? Q: Where do I purchase a hunting license? Q: How do I replace a lost or destroyed current hunting license? Q: Can I purchase a hunting license for my friend? Q: Are there any types of free or reduced-fee hunting licenses?

The following nongame birds and mammals may be taken at any time of the year and in any number except as prohibited in Chapter 6: English sparrow, starling, coyote, weasels, skunks, opossum, moles and rodents excluding tree and flying squirrels, and those listed as furbearers, endangered or threatened species.

Fallow, sambar, sika, and axis deer may be taken only concurrently with the general deer season. Aoudad, mouflon, tahr, and feral goats may be taken all year. American crows Corvus brachyrhynchos may be taken only under the provisions of Section and by landowners or tenants, or by persons authorized in writing by such landowners or tenants, when American crows are committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance.

Persons authorized by landowners or tenants to take American crows shall keep such written authorization in their possession when taking, transporting or possessing American crows. American crows may be taken only on the lands where depredations are occurring or where they constitute a health hazard or nuisance. If required by Federal regulations, landowners or tenants shall obtain a Federal migratory bird depredation permit before taking any American crows or authorizing any other person to take them.

How can I get a copy? Q: How old do you have to be to take a hunter education course? Q: Can I take a hunter education course online? Q: Will you accept a Hunter Education Certificate from another state? Q: Are senior citizens exempt from having to take a hunter education course? Q: If I cannot use my hunting license can I get a refund? Hunting license fees are nonrefundable. Q: Why are hunting license fees nonrefundable? Can I give them to someone else?

Related Information. Required for any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals. Required for any nonresident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals. Required for any resident or nonresident less than 16 years of age who takes birds or mammals. Available to any recovering service member. A recovering service member is defined as a member of the armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.

After you prequalify for your Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License, you can purchase a recovering service member hunting license anywhere licenses are sold. The Fund-raising Random Drawing Open Zone Deer Tag allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt.

Any resident or nonresident age 12 as of July 1 of the current license year, may apply. Hunters may apply multiple times and there is no additional tag fee for the successful tag holder. The hunt dates are from August 1, to September 20, Any resident or nonresident age 12 or older as of July 1 of the current license year, may apply.

The hunt dates are from July 25, to August 23, Season dates are from November 7, through February 7, This tag will be available pending adoption of new regulations by the Fish and Game Commission on April 16, A small fee is charged for each duplicate validation. You are still required to purchase any needed additional validations, report cards and tags. You can buy individual items anywhere licenses are sold. Conversely, you can purchase one or more of the additional lifetime privileges packages from a CDFW license sales office.

If you purchase an additional lifetime privilege package, you receive the included privileges each year for the remainder of your life. You do not need to provide proof of hunter education at the time of purchase, but you must provide proof of hunter education before you can receive your lifetime hunting license.

You must be a resident to purchase the license, but after it is purchased, it will be valid for use in California for the rest of your life, regardless of where you reside. You can purchase lifetime fishing and hunting licenses as gifts, but you must provide a copy of the recipient's driver's license or birth certificate at the time of purchase.

The fee charged for additional privilege packages is based on validations, harvest report cards, and tags in effect at the time of purchase.

If new validations, harvest report cards, or tags are required in the future, you may have to purchase them annually. License and Revenue Branch P. Home Licensing Lifetime.

Information: Invest in the future of hunting and fishing by purchasing a lifetime license. If you renew your license at a license agent of CDFW office, having your previous license with you will speed the transaction, as the clerk can scan your license to retrieve your customer record and renew you license very quickly. If you renew your license online , log in using your last name, date of birth and GO ID from your fishing or hunting license. Select "Purchase Licenses" from the menu near the top.

Select your lifetime license and any other privileges you wish to renew or purchase.