I’ve held a CA hunting license for six or seven years as I’ve gone duck hunting every year a few times with family. As of a few weeks ago, I moved here and am now a resident.

I am wondering if my goid will change when I get my license next year.

My assumption is no, as it’s not a new account it’s just a new residency status.

I want to order a little stamp thing to tag my ducks out of laziness and don’t want to get one for this year and then order a new one next year.

CDFW removed the online-only HunterEdu option sometime around Oct/Nov 2024. Now, you have to take either an in-person class or hybrid (half online half in-person) class.

However, CDFW still accept Hunter education certification from other state, and other state still issue Hunter education for online class, and some state allow everyone regardless of residency to take it.

So, the steps are:

1. Go to North Carolina WRC (Go Outdoors North Carolina) and register a customer ID

2. Go to take NRA Hunter Education for North Carolina. It is free and available to everyone. Just search it and register an account.

3. After completing the course, put in your NC WRC customer ID

4. Go to North Carolina WRC (Go Outdoors North Carolina) to download your Hunter edu certification

5a. Go to CDFW website, create new / log into your customer profile, and choose "file upload". Upload your hunter edu from NC. Around 2 weeks you will receive an email from CDFW saying your hunter edu credential is approved

5b. Or, if you don't want to wait, print out your NC Hunter Edu to anywhere outlets that sells fishing/hunting license. The agent should be able to upload your credential and issue hunting license for you on the spot.

Onx says deer hunting area. Ive never seen anyone my entire life look like they are hunting here. But says over 1000 acres. Anyone have any idea on it?

Read something a while back that if you pass the Texas hunters ed course that gives you your full online hunters education course. Correct me if I’m mistaken.

I’m hoping there are some local rangers or knowledgeable folks that can help me out. I’m trying to figure out if hunting deer is allowed in this area. I’ve seen hunters around here while working from above, which got me curious.

I’ve searched online but haven’t been able to find a map that goes this far south. I have the hunting map for the Otay Lakes/Mountain area, but nothing that covers this spot.

Since the land is owned by the City of San Diego, any info, links, or maps would be a huge help. I called the city and left a voicemail. Haven’t heard back. Hope everyone had a great deer season!

The timing of dove hunting season, typically starting in early September, is based on biological, ecological, and cultural factors:

Migration Patterns: Doves, particularly mourning doves, are migratory birds. By early September, many doves are beginning their migration south for the winter. Setting the season early allows hunters to take advantage of the large populations before significant migration occurs.

Breeding and Nesting: By early September, most doves have completed their breeding season. Starting the season at this time ensures that hunting does not significantly interfere with nesting or rearing young.

Abundance of Doves: Dove populations are generally at their peak in early September, as juveniles from the summer broods have joined the population. This timing increases hunting opportunities without overly depleting the population.

Behavioral Factors: Doves are active and feed heavily during late summer and early fall, making them easier to locate and hunt. Fields with harvested grains, such as sunflowers, millet, or corn, attract doves during this time.

Weather Conditions: Early September offers favorable weather for hunters in many regions, as temperatures are typically cooler than midsummer but still pleasant compared to late fall or winter.

Tradition and Hunter Participation: Opening the season in early September aligns with long-standing traditions in many areas and coincides with the start of other hunting seasons, fostering greater participation.

Wildlife management agencies carefully consider these factors to ensure sustainable dove populations while providing recreational opportunities for hunters. Seasons and regulations are often adjusted based on dove population surveys and conservation goals.

What is meant by occupied area? Does this include trails? I want to try my luck at Los Padres National Forest but need some clarification.

No discharging of a firearm within 150 yards of a dwelling or other building, campground, recreation site or other occupied area.

Does anyone set some geese decoys with your ducks and how do you approach doing this

That being said it was 4 hours of hiking nasty terrain only to snag this guy on my way back to my vehicle after giving up hope for the day. 🤘

Any tips on solo hunting (without a dog) quails, these guys had me running in circles in the Mojave 😂.

So my buddy is trying to come hunting with me; when I did my hunter's safety course a year ago, it was just an online thing you could do to get your cert and be done with it. Now its saying he requires a follow up class.... BUT the follow-up available classes are like 4 months out from the current date (typical California); he's a junior hunter; is there any way around this so he could hunt with me this season?

I'll be in San Diego for a few months for business reasons. Where is there a good place to hunt hog in San Diego and surrounding counties?

As mentioned in the title I am looking at exploring at creating a California focused hunting brand. I feel California is generally left out of the conversation when hunting. Many places outside of California talks down about California hunting. Very little hunting personalities come to California.

Personally I love hunting in California (maybe it’s Stockholm syndrome). I’ll give it to them California extremely challenging and riddled with additional challenges (leaving the politics out of it). I also find California to be one of the most beautiful places to hunt from stark deserts to thick forests.

The goal would be to create high quality American made products that focus on hunters in California and ideally some of the unique challenges they face

I am to gin up inspiration and am curious. What are some products you wish you had specifically for hunting in California? Is there something that you feel needs to be made?

Not asking for anyone’s spots but just a general area where I can find some. I’m from Michigan and moved to California for work but I got my friends from back home wanting to come out here for some hogs. I got no clue where to start besides on x. Do I have few options for hogs? In Michigan I only ever did waterfowl and deer.

So I just started pretty much at the opening for upland. I'm targeting quail I've been to a few spots no luck so far. I'm gonna head up to some BLM land near maricopa has anyone had luck out there?

Hello, I am very new to this so please any information is much appreciated !!! I will be going rabbit hunting and I know all I need is my regular annual hunting license. I heard the area we are going to might have some quail so I purchased the upland game bird validation and answered the big 5 guys questions and I also got the HIP validation. My question being is that is there anything else I need to do on my part ? let’s say I do get myself a quail or pheasant am I good to take them home as long as I have these licenses and validations or I need to tag the birds and report them like deer. I am confused on that last part because when I type this into google I’m being told I need to tag and report these upland game birds? For rabbits you just shoot them and take them home and all is done but does the same apply for these birds as long as I have HIP and upland game bird validation ? Apologies for the long post I just want to make sure I do everything properly!! Thank you !

I've always had a black bear tag just on me just in case I came across a shooter while out there looking for deer, but have never gone out specifically targeting them. With deer season petering out and my freezer only half full, I'm considering going on a bear hunt. I'm curious to know who here has harvested a bear, and if they were out looking for bear or just stumbled across one. Let's hear your bear stories, homies!

Am I allowed to open carry my handgun while hunting?

Anyone know how the reservation works at los banos? I got #2 I think that matters at Los banos but I know some places it doesn’t. Just seeing if I have to be there the night before or something

Do the bears up near Shasta Lake hibernate? Thinking of taking a trip up I-5 in early December if they’re still active.

Hello all, any recommendations for a spot for a single day hunt in stanislaus area? Fiancée giving me a single day and we are in groveland

Got a couple questions before my first duck hunt:

1. What choke is recommended?
2. How many rounds can I bring to my blind?

Thanks!

Howdy, I've been hunting seriously for about four year and have not gotten my first deer yet. Last year was able to get a Black Bear that was exciting. When you aren't able to get a buck in CA do you have a state to hunt? I'm not looking for big bucks, just want to drive, get an over the counter and just be able to kill my first deer. Thank you