State guide · CA · coming soon
Hunting outfitters and guides in California: coming soon
No outfitters or guides are listed in California yet. Listings are added only after a person confirms the license or permit with the agency that issues it.
Be the first listed in California
Sun Up Hunts is launching. We list a hunting outfitter or guide only after checking its license or permit with the issuing agency, so this page stays out of search results until California has at least 2 verified listings to compare. If you run an outfit in California, you can ask to be listed for free; there is also an optional upgraded listing, always labelled Sponsored, that is free for life for the first Founding outfitters.
What you can hunt in California
Looking for hunting outfitters in California? Start with what the state allows. Below are the game species the California Department of Fish and Wildlife lists hunting seasons for, grouped by type, from guided mule deer hunts in California to black bear and hog hunts. Species tagged "Draw/permit only" are allocated through a draw, lottery or limited permit rather than an over-the-counter license.
Big game
- Deer (mule deer, black-tailed deer)
- Black bear
- Wild pig
- Elk (Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, tule)Draw/permit only
- PronghornDraw/permit only
- Bighorn sheepDraw/permit only
Turkey
Waterfowl
Upland birds
Small game and furbearers
- Rabbits and hares
- Tree squirrels
- Coyote and nongame/furbearers
Not hunted here:Mountain lion and Bobcat.
Sources (checked Oct 2026): CDFW - Hunting; CDFW - Big Game Hunting Tags; CDFW - Wild Pig Hunting; CDFW - Upland Game Bird Hunting; CDFW - Mountain Lions in California (hunting); CDFW - Bobcat.
Seasons, draws and regulations change every year and can differ by unit or zone. Confirm seasons and regulations with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan or book a hunt. This list is a starting point, not legal advice.
Outfitter and guide licensing in California
Confirmed from primary sources
Licensing body: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- CDFW's Guide License page says a guide (a person engaged in the business of packing or guiding, or who for compensation assists another person in taking game) must first secure a guide license from the Department. Source (read October 23, 2026)
State wildlife agency: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (link checked October 23, 2026). California rules change: check with the agency before booking a hunt or operating as a guide.
Before you book any California hunt
- Ask for the outfitter's license, registration or permit number and confirm it with the agency before you pay a deposit.
- Get the hunt terms in a written contract: dates, guide-to-hunter ratio, services, what is and is not included, and the refund and cancellation terms.
- Ask which land the hunt is on (private, public, or both) and what permit or access arrangement covers it.
- Ask for recent client references you can phone, and what happens to your meat and trophy.
- Check the state's own hunter-license, tag, draw and hunter-education requirements well ahead of the application dates.
- Ask what happens if conditions or game numbers are poor: no outfitter can guarantee a harvest, and we do not list any that promise one.
Draws and lotteries: California draw and application deadlines, with a link to the agency's own page.
Bordering states and region
California is in the West region. Hunting outfitters in bordering states:
Browse all 50 states from the home page, or see guided hunts by species.
See also all 50 states and their wildlife agencies, how we verify and the paid-placement disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Are there outfitters listed in California yet?
Not yet. Sun Up Hunts is launching, and an outfitter or guide is added only after a person confirms its license or permit with the agency that issues it. When California has enough verified listings this page becomes a full comparison.
Who is the authority on hunting in California?
California Department of Fish and Wildlife sets seasons, licenses and rules. Confirm every requirement with the agency before you book or pay a deposit.
I run an outfit in California. How do I get listed?
Send a request through the contact form with the topic "Claim or add a listing". A free basic listing and the optional upgraded listing (free for life for the first 25 Founding outfitters) both go through the same license check. Founding outfitters pay nothing.