Bear hunting season in California 2026 runs on a statewide cap, not a fixed calendar. CDFW can close the season early if harvest reaches 1,700 bears, and in practice the cap has not been reached since 2012.
New rules adopted in April 2026 let each hunter hold two bear tags and open more of northeastern California. This article covers dates, tags, zones, banned methods and the tagging steps that apply to you.
Pro Tip: Read the current CDFW mammal hunting regulations booklet for exact zone opening dates before you buy a tag. Zone dates follow the deer zone calendar, and the quota can end the season without notice.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in California 2026
California runs two bear seasons: a statewide archery season and a general season that follows deer zone boundaries. CDFW’s 2026 summary says black bear season closes on December 27, 2026, or earlier if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been taken.
The archery season is listed in the CDFW regulation materials as August 15 through September 6, 2026, across the entire black bear hunt area. The general season opens on a zone-by-zone basis and shares the same statewide quota.
| Season | 2026 Dates | Where It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | August 15 to September 6 | Entire black bear hunt area |
| General | Opens by zone; see CDFW booklet | Bear zones that match deer zone boundaries |
| Season close | December 27, or earlier if quota is met | Statewide |
For a weekly harvest count, visit the CDFW bear page or call (888) 277-6398. Check it before every trip in the fall.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in California: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
California does not split bear hunting into separate muzzleloader and firearm seasons. There is an archery-only window at the start, then the general season, where legal firearms and archery equipment are both allowed.
That means a rifle hunter waits for the zone’s general opener, while a bowhunter can start on August 15. If you hold two tags, you can use one in each season, as long as the statewide quota stays open.
- Archery: August 15 to September 6, 2026, all bear zones
- General season: zone openers that follow the deer calendar, using legal firearms or archery gear
- No separate muzzleloader season for bear
If you are also planning a deer trip, the rifle deer season in California overlaps with parts of the general bear season.
Spring Bear Season in California
California has no spring bear season. All legal bear hunting happens in the late-summer and fall window described above.
If you want a spring hunt, you will need to look at other states or at other California species. For spring options at home, see the turkey hunting season in California.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in California
The general bear season is zone-based and follows deer zone boundaries. That is useful if you want to combine a bear tag with a deer hunt in the same unit.
CDFW’s 2025 Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan divides the state into nine Bear Conservation Regions where populations are monitored and managed independently. The plan does not change hunting rules by itself.
The April 2026 package changed hunt boundaries. The Commission redefined hunt area boundaries to include the entirety of Lassen and Modoc counties. CDFW’s environmental addendum for the change describes adding the Northeastern California Bear Conservation Region to the hunt area.
CDFW notes that Northern California counties provide some of the better bear hunting in the state.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in California
You need a valid California hunting license plus a bear tag. The tag is a separate purchase on top of the license, and there is no draw to get one.
Resident and nonresident tag prices for the 2026-27 license year have been reported at $63.17 and $399.68. Confirm the final fee on the CDFW license page when you buy.
Under the April 2026 amendments to Title 14 sections 365, 366 and 708.12, hunters can purchase up to two bear tags per license year, with an annual possession limit of two bears.
- Valid California hunting license, with hunter education completed if required for your age
- Black bear tag (up to two per license year)
- Skull presentation and premolar tooth extraction after a harvest
- Harvest report submitted after the season
Key Insight: The second tag raises your personal limit, not the statewide quota. The 1,700 cap still controls when the season ends.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in California
California bear tags are over-the-counter. There is no draw or lottery for a general bear tag, so you buy a tag with your license and hunt in the open zones.
The only limit on supply is the statewide harvest cap. If you are looking at tag draws for other California species, compare that process with the dove hunting season in California rules, which also run without a bear-style quota.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in California
Nonresidents can hunt bear in California with a nonresident hunting license and a bear tag. There is no nonresident draw or quota carve-out; you share the same statewide cap as residents.
The nonresident tag costs far more than the resident tag, with the 2026-27 fee reported at $399.68. Add the nonresident license fee and plan for a skull and tooth check with CDFW before you leave the area.
Because the season can close early, nonresidents should watch the harvest count line and have a backup plan if the quota is met. In recent years the cap has not been reached.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in California
The statewide quota is 1,700 bears per license year. The cap was last met in 2012.
Your personal limit is now two bears per license year, up from one. The Commission voted unanimously for the change on April 16, 2026, and the 1,700 bear quota stays the same.
Harvest has stayed under the cap. According to CDFW, fewer than 1,200 bears were taken last year. Agency scientists estimated the rule change could add 100 to 200 bears harvested annually.
| Limit | Figure |
|---|---|
| Statewide annual quota | 1,700 bears |
| Personal tags per license year | Two |
| Season close date | December 27, 2026, or when quota is met |
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in California
Baiting is not allowed. Legal bear hunting here is spot-and-stalk, stand hunting over natural food sources, or calling.
News coverage of the April 2026 vote repeats the same point: the only method allowed is spot and stalk, so hunters still cannot use bait or dogs. Do not place food, scent or attractants to draw a bear into range.
Natural food sources are fair game for scouting. Look at oak mast, berry patches and water in your zone, and set up on trails and openings that bears already use.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in California
Hounds are illegal for bear hunting. Using dogs to track, tree, bay or chase bears has been banned since 2013 under Proposition 96 and SB 1221.
CDFW’s own harvest report notes the ban took effect January 1, 2013 and applies to bear seasons from 2013 forward. Harvest and success rates have been lower since then, which is part of the reason the Commission added a second tag.
If you hunt with a dog for other game, leave it at home on a bear trip. Retrieval and tracking of a wounded bear still has to be done by you on foot.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in California
Archery equipment is legal throughout the season, and legal firearms are allowed during the general season. California also has its own rules on ammunition, which require nonlead ammunition for taking wildlife with a firearm.
Methods are limited to spot-and-stalk, stand hunting over natural foods and calling. Bait, hounds and other aids are out.
- Pick a zone and confirm its general season opener in the CDFW booklet.
- Choose archery for the August 15 start or a legal firearm for the general season.
- Use nonlead ammunition if you hunt with a firearm.
- Hunt on foot using spot-and-stalk, stands or calling.
Small-game hunters can compare these rules with the gear limits in the rabbit hunting season in California article.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in California
Only black bears can be hunted. The 2026 CDFW summary covers black bears, and the state treats them as a game mammal managed under a harvest cap.
California’s grizzly bear is extinct in the state and is not a hunting target. Do not shoot any bear you cannot clearly identify.
The CDFW summary also states that it is illegal to sell black bear parts. You may keep the skin, as Fish and Game Code Section 4757 requires anyone taking a black bear to retain the skin.
Waste of meat is also against the law. CDFW’s summary says California law prohibits the waste of meat.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in California
California does not run a separate youth-only bear season. Junior license holders hunt in the same archery and general seasons as adults, with the same tag and quota rules.
Hunter education rules apply to young hunters, and a licensed adult must follow state supervision rules for minors. CDFW also runs advanced hunter education clinics each year, including bear-focused sessions.
If you are mentoring a new hunter, a bear trip is a poor first outing. Start with smaller game such as the species in the quail hunting season in California guide.
Where to Hunt Bear in California: Public and Private Land
The best bear hunting is concentrated in the northern part of the state. Public land, including national forest ground in the Sierra, Cascades and North Coast ranges, is the main access for most hunters.
The new Lassen and Modoc boundaries add eastern areas that were closed before. The changes open or expand hunting access in eastern portions of Lassen and Modoc counties.
On private land, get written or clear verbal permission before you hunt. Check zone boundaries on the CDFW map so your tag and location match.
- National forest land in northern zones: broad access, long drives, high bear sign in oak and berry country
- Eastern Lassen and Modoc counties: newly opened under the 2026 package
- Private ranch land: permission required, often the best access to mast areas
Best Time to Hunt Bear in California
Early season gives you the most predictable bear movement. The archery window starting August 15 lines up with late-summer feeding, when bears work berries, acorns and water sources.
General season hunters in cooler zones often do better as bears put on fat in the fall. Weather and food crops change by zone, so scout before you commit to a date.
Because the quota has rarely been reached, you are unlikely to lose late-season days to an early closure. That said, watch the harvest count if you plan a December hunt.
Pro Tip: Combine a bear tag with a deer hunt in the same zone. Both seasons use matching zone boundaries, so one trip can cover two species.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in California
California has no Sunday ban on bear hunting. If the season is open and your zone is open, you can hunt on a Sunday.
Legal shooting hours for big game run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Check the current CDFW booklet to confirm the hours for your date.
California does not require blaze orange for bear hunting under the standard rules. Wear it anyway if other seasons are open in your area, since bear and deer seasons often overlap.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in California
Tag the bear immediately and follow the countersigning steps on the tag before you move the animal. CDFW’s summary says black bear tags must be countersigned prior to transporting the bear.
You must present the skull to CDFW for tooth extraction. CDFW requires a premolar tooth to be extracted from every black bear taken during the hunting season. The tooth gives biologists age data used in population models.
You also report your hunt. CDFW’s harvest report explains that the tag reporting system lets the Department monitor bear population and hunter patterns through a self-administered questionnaire.
- Tag and countersign the bear before transport.
- Keep the skin, as required by Fish and Game Code Section 4757.
- Present the skull to CDFW for premolar tooth extraction.
- Submit your harvest report online or by mail, even if you did not take a bear.
Bear Hunting Season in California 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Bear Season Open in California in 2026?
The archery season opens August 15, 2026. The general season opens by zone, and the whole season closes December 27, 2026, or earlier if 1,700 bears are taken.
How Many Bears Can You Take in California?
You can buy up to two bear tags per license year and keep two bears. The statewide quota stays at 1,700.
Can You Use Dogs or Bait to Hunt Bear in California?
No. Both hounds and bait are illegal. Hunting is limited to spot-and-stalk, stands over natural food and calling.
Do You Need to Draw a Bear Tag in California?
No. Bear tags are sold over the counter with a hunting license.
Is There a Spring Bear Season in California?
No. California has no spring bear hunt.
What Do You Have to Do After Harvesting a Bear?
Countersign the tag, keep the skin, present the skull for tooth extraction and file your harvest report. For official updates, visit the CDFW bear plan announcement and the CDFW bear page.
For a broader look at the 2026 rule change, see this MeatEater report on the two-tag limit and the ABC10 coverage of the Commission vote. You can also read the CDFW black bear regulation summary for tagging and tooth rules.