Sportsman’s Illustrated

01 / Season structure

When and how.

ArcheryB-4 archery season

Jul 25, 2026 to Aug 16, 2026

ArcheryB-1, B-2, B-3 and B-5 archery seasons

Aug 15, 2026 to Sep 6, 2026

ArcheryB-6 archery season

Aug 15, 2026 to Sep 6, 2026

General methodsB-4 general season

Aug 22, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026

General methodsB-1, B-2, B-3 and B-5 general seasons

Sep 19, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026

General methodsB-6 general season

Sep 19, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026

Do not stop at the dates.

Confirm tag availability, current regulations, boundaries, legal methods, ammunition rules, closures, and access before you act. The agency source and your issued tag control.

02 / Sportsman’s Illustrated notes

What to solve before opening day.

Access

A hunt boundary does not establish legal access. Confirm ownership, entry, closures, road conditions, and property-specific rules with the current land manager.

Plan

Check live tag availability first. Then choose a small, reachable area and verify that the tag, season segment, and legal method all match.

Complexity

A relatively direct tag and season structure. Access and current conditions still require real homework.

03 / Regulatory record

Read the official material.

These sources establish the hunt record above. They can be updated after our verification date.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife2026 Big Game Hunting DigestOpen official source ↗California Department of Fish and WildlifeApproved 2026 Deer Seasons by ZoneOpen official source ↗California Department of Fish and WildlifeCalifornia Deer HuntingOpen official source ↗California Department of Fish and WildlifeBig Game Hunting TagsOpen official source ↗