California Fishing and Hunting License: Combo Options Explained

No Simple Annual Combo

CDFW lists sport fishing licenses and hunting licenses as separate items. A single standard “resident fishing + hunting combo” fee is not shown like some other states use.

You Can Buy Both

You can purchase fishing and hunting licenses through CDFW’s online license system, by phone, at authorized license agents or at select CDFW license sales offices.

One App Can Display Many Items

The CDFW License App can display many sport fishing and hunting items, but physical tags and physical report cards may still be required.

Lifetime Fishing Privilege Package

Costs $478.75 and includes lifetime Second-Rod Validation, Ocean Enhancement Validation, North Coast Salmon Report Card and Steelhead Report Card. Some items remain tied to their own validity periods.

Lifetime Bird Hunting Privilege Package

Costs $411.50 and gives lifetime hunting licensees Upland Game Bird and California Duck Validations each year for life.

Lifetime Big Game Hunting Privilege Package

Costs $863.25 and gives lifetime hunting licensees a First Deer Tag Application and Wild Pig Validation each year for life. Redemption age rules still apply.

GO ID Links Your Record

Your GO ID is the CDFW customer number used for license purchases. If you previously held a fishing license, your GO ID is printed on the license.

Accepted Hunter Education Proof

CDFW accepts a California Hunter Education Certificate, certain prior California hunting licenses, approved certificates from other states or provinces, and some recent hunting licenses from other jurisdictions.

Recently Completed Class

If you completed a California hunter education class, CDFW says your certificate number is generally added to your customer record within 48 hours after instructor entry.

Sport Fishing

Resident and nonresident sport fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Sport fishing validations can also run 365 days from purchase.

Hunting

CDFW’s hunting items page lists hunting license-year dates from July 1 through June 30. Do not assume it matches your fishing-license date.

Cards and Tags

Fishing report cards, hunting tags, drawing applications and validations can have separate rules, seasons, reporting deadlines or physical possession requirements.

Items the App Can Help Display

• 365-day sport fishing licenses.
• Short-term sport fishing licenses.
• Sport fishing validations such as Second-Rod, Ocean Enhancement and Crab Trap.
• Annual hunting licenses.
• One-day and two-day nonresident hunting licenses.
• HIP, California Duck and Upland Game Bird validations.

Items That Still Need Care

• Hunting tags are not included in the app as valid field tags.
• Physical hunting tags continue to be required when hunting under a hunting tag.
• Fishing report card proof in the app does not replace required physical report cards.
• Pictures or screenshots of licenses are not valid proof.
• If your phone is dead, broken or not refreshed, you can still be in violation.

Watch Two Calendars

Your fishing license may run 365 days from purchase, while hunting items follow the hunting license year or season-specific deadlines. Put both in your calendar.

Fix Hunter Ed Early

If your hunter education proof is not on your CDFW customer record, buying a hunting item can stop at checkout. Do not wait until tag deadline week.

Keep Physical Cards and Tags

App display is helpful, but fishing report cards and hunting tags can still require physical possession. Treat physical items like your car keys.

Wildlife Area Passes Are Separate

Type A and Type B state-operated hunting area access can require passes or reservations. Your hunting license alone may not get you into every managed area.

Ocean + Hunting Weekends Need Extra Checks

A weekend with ocean fishing and bird hunting can need Ocean Enhancement, report cards, HIP, state duck validation, federal duck stamp and area reservations.

Use Local Agents for Urgent Items

Bait shops, sporting goods stores and license agents can help when you need printed items fast. Call first because item availability and hours vary.

2026 Free Fishing Days

CDFW lists California Free Fishing Days for 2026 as Saturday, July 4, and Saturday, September 5. On those days, people can fish without a sport fishing license, but all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

• Bag limits still apply.
• Size limits still apply.
• Gear restrictions still apply.
• Report cards are still required for steelhead, sturgeon and salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River systems.

2026-27 Free Hunting Days

CDFW lists 2026-27 Free Hunting Days as Saturday, November 21, 2026, and Saturday, April 10, 2027. Participants must meet requirements such as hunter education, Free Hunt Days Registration and accompaniment by a licensed hunter age 21 or older.

• California residents only.
• Only one license year of participation.
• Required tags, report cards, federal entitlements and entry permits still apply.
• Free Hunting Days do not allow draw or lottery applications.

Main CDFW License Contacts

• CDFW Headquarters: 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
• Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.
• License and Revenue Branch: (916) 928-5805.
• Email: LRB@wildlife.ca.gov.
• Telephone license sales: (800) 565-1458.
• Online license/app support: (916) 928-2537, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Hunter Education Program: (916) 653-1235.
• CalTIP violation reporting: 1-888-334-2258.

When to Call Before You Drive

• You are buying a lifetime license for the first time.
• You need to add hunter education proof to a customer record.
• You lost a physical hunting tag or special report card.
• You are applying for reduced-fee or free license eligibility.
• Your CDFW License App does not show your active item.
• You need to verify office hours or item availability.

Identity, Residency and License Check

• Are you a California resident or nonresident?
• Are you age 16 or older for fishing-license purposes?
• Are you buying a resident, nonresident, junior or short-term hunting item?
• Is hunter education proof already on your CDFW customer record?
• Do you have your GO ID from a prior fishing or hunting license?
• Are you considering lifetime licenses only if you are a California resident?

Species, Area and Proof Check

• Will you fish inland, ocean, bay, public pier, river, lake or reservoir?
• Do you need Second-Rod, Ocean Enhancement, Crab Trap or a fishing report card?
• Will you hunt upland birds, waterfowl, wild pig, deer or other big game?
• Do you need HIP, California Duck Validation, Upland Game Bird Validation or Federal Duck Stamp?
• Do you need a Type A or Type B wildlife area pass or reservation?
• Have you refreshed the CDFW License App and packed physical tags/report cards when required?

Buying Mistakes

• Assuming California sells one simple annual fishing and hunting combo license.
• Buying fishing first and assuming that qualifies you for hunting.
• Waiting too long to add hunter education proof to your customer record.
• Forgetting that fishing and hunting license dates may not match.
• Buying base licenses but missing tags, stamps, validations, passes or report cards.
• Using unofficial checkout pages instead of CDFW’s official system.

Field-Day Mistakes

• Using screenshots instead of the CDFW License App.
• Not carrying physical hunting tags when required.
• Not carrying physical fishing report cards when required.
• Assuming app proof replaces every tag, stamp or card.
• Not checking emergency closures, low-flow closures, refuge rules or marine protected areas.
• Missing harvest reporting deadlines for fishing report cards or hunting tags.