Introduce a Friend to Hunting on Free Hunting Days

This license year, California is offering the first ever Free Hunting Days. On November 25, 2023 and April 13, 2024 those interested in trying hunting for the first time can participate in Free Hunting Days without having to purchase a hunting license.

As a California hunting license holder, you can mentor and introduce someone new to hunting! This introduction will provide you and your new hunting partner with lifelong memories and help secure the future of hunting. Mentoring on Free Hunting Days also gives you an opportunity to enhance perceptions of hunting by communicating the important contributions hunters make towards conservation and wildlife management. Learn more about Hunters as Conservationists.

The person hunting on a Free Hunting Day without a California hunting license must meet all requirements established in Fish and Game Code § 3040, including:

• Proof of completion of a hunter education course.
• Possession of a valid Free Hunt Days Registration.
• Possession of any required tags or report cards, federal entitlements, and entry permits.
• Must be accompanied by a hunter who:
  • Holds a valid California hunting license,
  • Is at least 21 years of age, and
  • Only accompanies one free hunting day participant in the field at a time.

To review all the requirements and learn more information, please visit: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Hunting/Free-Hunting-Days.*Free Hunting Day participants are subject to all limitations, restrictions, conditions, statutes, rules and regulations, except the required possession of a valid hunting license, upland game bird hunting validation and state duck hunting validation.

Have questions? Contact: R3StatewideProgram@wildlife.ca.gov