California’s 2026 pheasant season opens November 14, offering hunters opportunities to pursue wild birds, participate in state-organized planted pheasant hunts, or hunt at private game bird clubs. Although wild pheasant populations have declined substantially, California’s public release program provides additional hunting opportunities across the state, with scheduled hunts extending into February 2027.
California’s 2026–2027 Pheasant Season
California’s general pheasant season runs from November 14 through December 27, 2026. Hunters may harvest two male pheasants daily during the opening weekend, November 14–15, with the daily limit increasing to three males beginning November 16. The possession limit is three times the applicable daily bag limit.
Separate archery-only seasons run October 10–November 1, 2026, and December 28, 2026–January 24, 2027. Falconry opportunities extend through February 28, 2027. These seasons operate under different bag limits and rules concerning female pheasants.
Public Pheasant Releases: Where and When?
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates a planted pheasant hunting program at wildlife areas and other designated hunting locations. Pen-raised pheasants are released for organized hunting events, providing opportunities for junior hunters, families, veterans, and individuals relatively new to hunting.
Unlike ordinary public-land hunting, most of these organized hunts require hunters to obtain permits through an advance drawing. Some locations accommodate only a handful of participants, while larger events can accommodate dozens.
The 2026 schedule includes hunts both before and after the general season opener. Several locations offer additional opportunities in late November, December, and January, and the final scheduled event takes place in February 2027.
Scheduled public planted pheasant hunts
The following table highlights selected locations across California, including opportunities remaining after opening weekend.
Wildlife area or location         Scheduled 2026–27 hunts         Contact
Ash Creek, Lassen/Modoc         Nov. 7–8         (530) 294-5824
Honey Lake, Lassen         Nov. 7–8 (530)         254-6644
Merced, Merced         Nov. 7–8; Dec. 5–6         (559) 243-4009
Mendota, Fresno         Nov. 14, 21                (559) 243-4009
Grizzly Island, Solano         Nov. 21         (707) 425-3828
Napa-Sonoma Marshes         Nov. 21         (707) 944-5567
Yolo Bypass / Yolo Basin         Nov. 21–22         (530) 757-2461
Hensley Lake, Madera         Nov. 21–22         (559) 243-4009
O’Neill Forebay, Merced         Nov. 21–22         (209) 826-0463
Shasta Valley, Siskiyou         Nov. 21         (530) 459-3926
San Jacinto, Riverside         Nov. 8; Dec. 13; Jan. 10         (951) 928-0580
Danny Robinson Memorial, Riverside         Dec. 5         (909) 354-0939
Ray Azbill Memorial, San Luis Obispo         Jan. 30–31         (209) 564-0231
Santa Margarita Pink Hunting Clinic, San Luis Obispo         Feb. 20         (209) 564-0231
Source: CDFW 2026 Planted Pheasant Hunt Schedule. Dates represent organized special hunts, not unrestricted public hunting days. Individual events have different eligibility requirements.
The schedule demonstrates that planted pheasant hunting is not limited to opening weekend. For example, Merced has additional family, junior, and new-hunter hunts scheduled for December 5–6, while San Jacinto has events on December 13 and January 10.
The January and February events are special organized opportunities and should not be confused with an extension of the general pheasant hunting season.
How Many Pheasants Are Released?
CDFW publishes the number of hunters accommodated at each organized event, but its public schedule does not specify the number of pheasants released at each wildlife area.
The number of participants varies considerably. For example, Grizzly Island has three November 21 sessions accommodating 15 junior hunters, 15 veterans, and 40 family-hunt participants. Merced’s December 5–6 events accommodate 25 hunters per session, while San Jacinto’s December 13 family hunt accommodates 80 hunters.
These figures represent available hunter spaces, not the number of birds stocked. Hunters interested in the actual release quantities, release timing, or whether additional birds will be stocked during the season should contact the wildlife area managers using the telephone numbers above.
California Fish and Wildlife
How to Apply for Public Planted Pheasant Hunts
Most CDFW planted pheasant hunts are allocated through the state’s Special Hunts drawing system. Hunters can apply online, at CDFW license sales offices, through authorized license agents, or by calling (800) 565-1458.
The application process includes a nonrefundable $2.98 fee per application, and hunters may select up to three hunt choices in order of preference. Permits are issued through a random drawing. Depending on the event, applicants may be eligible to hunt individually or with other participants, subject to the specific hunt’s rules.
For the 2026 season, the application deadlines are:
- September 26 for the first hunt period, October 17–November 14.
- October 25 for the second hunt period, November 14–22.
- November 15 for the final hunt period, December 5–February 20.
As of November 5, hunters still have time to apply for the final period, which includes events at Merced, San Jacinto, and several Southern California locations. Some hunts are reserved for junior hunters, veterans, or new hunters, while family hunts are open to appropriately licensed hunters who obtain the required drawing permits.
CDFW considers someone a new hunter during the license year in which they first receive a California hunting license and the following four consecutive license years. Junior-only hunts require an adult chaperone, and some events allow hunters to bring trained dogs. Applications and the complete event schedule are available through the CDFW Special Hunts website.
Can Hunters Show Up Without a Reservation?
For organized planted pheasant hunts, hunters should generally expect to need an advance drawing permit. These events are not unrestricted first-come, first-served hunts, and arriving on the scheduled release date does not guarantee admission.
However, some wildlife areas may have procedures for filling unclaimed spots or cancellations. Hunters who missed the application deadline should contact the individual wildlife area to ask whether any standby or walk-in opportunities will be offered.
Regular public pheasant hunting is different. Where allowed, hunters may pursue wild pheasants throughout the general season without participating in a planted-hunt drawing. Access requirements vary by property, and some wildlife areas have restricted hunting days, entry permits, or other regulations.
Hunters may also encounter birds that survived earlier organized releases, provided the location is subsequently open to general pheasant hunting. Whether that opportunity exists at a particular site should be confirmed with the area manager.
Private Pheasant Hunting Clubs Offer Another Alternative
California also has licensed private game bird clubs that release pen-raised pheasants for paying customers. These facilities can provide a more predictable opportunity than hunting wild birds, particularly for hunters without access to productive private farmland.
Some clubs operate on a membership basis, while others sell individual hunts or bird packages. Depending on the facility, hunters may have access to guides, trained pointing or flushing dogs, and bird-cleaning services.
Licensed clubs operate under special regulations that differ from California’s general wild pheasant season. Their authorized operating periods may provide opportunities outside the November–December general season, although exact dates and availability depend on the club’s license and operating schedule. Birds harvested at licensed clubs are subject to identification and documentation requirements.
Hunters should contact clubs directly to confirm prices, reservation requirements, the number of birds included in a package, and whether hunting dogs are available.
What Hunters Need Before Heading Out
California pheasant hunters generally need a valid hunting license and an Upland Game Bird Validation, except where an exemption applies, such as for Junior Hunting License holders. Nonlead ammunition is mandatory when taking wildlife with firearms anywhere in California.
Hunters should also review rules governing access to state wildlife areas, dog use, shooting hours, and special hunt eligibility. Because organized pheasant releases may occur on dates or at locations with additional restrictions, obtaining a special hunt permit does not necessarily authorize unrestricted hunting elsewhere on the property.
Plan Your California Pheasant Hunt With Hunterizer
Whether you’re pursuing wild pheasants in the Central Valley, applying for a public planted pheasant hunt, or visiting a private game bird club, Hunterizer helps you prepare for California’s upland hunting opportunities. The app provides hunting season dates, bag and possession limits, legal hunting methods, license requirements, shooting hours, and maps of hunting zones and public lands. Hunters can check what species are legally huntable at a particular location and date, making it easier to plan trips throughout the season.
