Rifle · California
Rifle hunts are the most common outfitted deer format. Compare how the outfit sets expectations on shot distance, stand or blind setups and group size.
| Species | Guided | Fully outfitted | Semi-guided | Drop camp | Listings | Sponsored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | 3 | 5 | – | – | 8 | – |
| Wild hog | 4 | 4 | – | – | 8 | – |
| Elk | 3 | 4 | – | – | 7 | – |
| Turkey | 2 | 4 | – | – | 6 | – |
| Dove | 1 | 2 | – | – | 3 | – |
| Exotics and high fence | 2 | 1 | – | – | 3 | – |
| Upland birds | 1 | 2 | – | – | 3 | – |
| Black bear | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | – |
| Predators | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – |
| Waterfowl | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| Total (a listing counts in each row it matches) | 18 | 25 | – | – | 43 | – |
More on California: guided hunts in California and its outfitter licensing rules.
Filter the 9 outfitters below. Pick one option in each group; if nothing shows, no listing matches all of them.
Horseback-access guide service (since 1989 per its site) for blacktail deer and black bear in the backcountry of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Backcountry Guided Hunts website
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Central Coast outfit running guided wild pig, buffalo, tule elk and blacktail hunts from a ranch headquarters in Shandon.
Bitterwater Outfitters website
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
San Miguel outfitter with lodging, guiding wild pig, wild turkey, blacktail deer and tule elk hunts on private Central Coast land.
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Santa Maria-based outfitter (guiding since 1995 per its site) offering tule elk on Peachtree Ranch with landowner tags, plus black bear, blacktail,…
Central Coast Outfitters website
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
San Ardo outfit running one- and two-day guided wild pig hunts year-round on private Central Coast ranches, plus tule elk, aoudad, blacktail deer…
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Paso Robles outfitter offering two-day guided rifle and archery wild pig hunts, tule elk, blacktail deer, Rio Grande turkey, upland bird and…
Lost Valley Outfitters website
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Soares family outfit based in Hanford guiding blacktail, tule elk, wild pig, turkey, buffalo and exotic ram hunts on private ranches in the Coast…
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Bradley-based outfitter guiding blacktail, wild pig, tule elk, predator, upland bird, Rio Grande turkey, dove and band-tailed pigeon hunts on…
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
Northern California guide service offering duck, goose and duck-goose combo hunts plus turkey and wild pig hunts.
West Coast Guide Service website
License not checked: California requires a guide license, and its public guide list shows no license numbers. Confirm with the outfitter.
| Outfitter | Service level | Species | Hunt types | License on file | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backcountry Guided Hunts | Fully outfitted | Black bear, Mule deer | Rifle, Archery | Not checked | |
| Bitterwater Outfitters | Guided | Wild hog, Elk, Exotics and high fence, Mule deer | Rifle, Archery | Not checked | |
| Camp Five Outfitters | Fully outfitted | Wild hog, Turkey, Elk, Mule deer | Rifle, Archery | Not checked | |
| Central Coast Outfitters | Fully outfitted | Elk, Black bear, Wild hog, Upland birds, Turkey, Mule… | Rifle, Archery, Wingshooting | Not checked | |
| Frontera Hunting | Guided | Wild hog, Elk, Mule deer, Exotics and high fence, Dove | Rifle | Not checked | |
| Lost Valley Outfitters | Guided | Wild hog, Elk, Turkey, Upland birds, Mule deer, Predators | Rifle, Archery, Wingshooting | Not checked | |
| Oak Ridge Outfitters | Fully outfitted | Elk, Wild hog, Turkey, Mule deer, Exotics and high fence | Rifle, Archery | Not checked | |
| Oak Stone Outfitters | Fully outfitted | Wild hog, Elk, Upland birds, Turkey, Mule deer, Predators,… | Rifle, Archery, Wingshooting | Not checked | |
| West Coast Guide Service | Guided | Waterfowl, Turkey, Wild hog | Wingshooting, Rifle | Not checked |
Backcountry Guided Hunts, Bitterwater Outfitters, Camp Five Outfitters, Central Coast Outfitters, Frontera Hunting, Lost Valley Outfitters, Oak Ridge Outfitters, Oak Stone Outfitters, and West Coast Guide Service.
Seasons, permits and equipment rules for rifle hunting are set by California Department of Fish and Wildlife and change each year. We do not repeat them here; check https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting.
