The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is accepting applications for a rare spring elk hunting opportunity in Northern California, offering five bull elk tags through its Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program.
The inaugural spring hunts will take place in Del Norte County on 12 private ranches and farms totaling about 1,834 acres near Crescent City. The program is designed to reduce pressure from Roosevelt elk herds that have been causing crop and forage damage on agricultural lands.
Hunt Dates and Structure
Selected hunters will receive four consecutive days of access between April 1 and June 30, with hunt timing coordinated with landowners and program staff.
Terrain and conditions vary by property. While rifles are permitted where appropriate, hunters experienced with archery or muzzleloaders may have additional opportunities depending on site-specific restrictions.
How to Apply
Applications are now open and must be submitted through CDFW’s Online License Sales system.
Key application details:
– Application deadline: March 11, 2026
– Draw results available: March 13, 2026
– Application fee: $14.86 per hunt entry (non-refundable)
– Eligibility: Hunters must hold a valid 2025–26 hunting license and cannot have received an elk tag during the 2025–26 license year
Tags will be distributed through a random drawing, and preference points are not used or affected because SHARE opportunities are separate from California’s Big Game Drawing.
What the SHARE Program Is
CDFW’s SHARE program partners with private landowners to provide public hunting access on lands that are typically closed to recreation. These hunts expand opportunity while helping landowners address wildlife impacts.
Why a Spring Elk Hunt?
Spring elk hunts are uncommon in California and across most of the West. Traditional elk seasons occur in fall, but spring hunts may be authorized when elk concentrate on low-elevation agricultural lands after winter, increasing damage risk.
By removing select animals before the growing season, wildlife managers can:
– reduce crop and pasture losses,
– discourage herd concentration on irrigated lands,
– improve elk distribution across available habitat.
The Del Norte hunts are narrowly targeted and are not intended to reduce statewide elk numbers but to address localized conflicts.
How Rare Are Spring Elk Hunts?
California elk tags are among the hardest big game permits to obtain, and spring opportunities are especially rare. Most elk hunting in the state occurs in the fall through limited-entry drawings.
Other Western states occasionally authorize depredation or late-season elk removals where agricultural damage occurs, but California’s approach remains highly controlled and property-specific.
For hunters seeking a unique opportunity, the Del Norte SHARE elk hunts represent a rare chance to pursue Roosevelt elk while contributing to practical wildlife management. Hunters can apply through the CDFW licensing system and should monitor draw results and hunt packets through their online accounts.
As always, hunters can track tag opportunities, deadlines, and regulation updates through official CDFW announcements and season listings to stay prepared for future elk opportunities in California.
