Fall Hunting Seasons and COVID-19

April 23, 2020

Question: I was happy to see that the 2020-21 hunting licenses and tags are now available for purchase! Is there any talk of canceling hunting opportunities, though? Would I get a refund if I was successful in the Big Game Drawing, but then couldn’t hunt? (Andy)

Answer: There are no plans to close fall hunting seasons or restrict opportunities at this time. Some properties managed by other government agencies are closed to hunting this spring. Big game seasons are still several months away, and we are hopeful that most or all restrictions related to COVID-19 will be lifted by then.

You can find the 2020 Big Game Hunting Digest on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website. The deadline to apply for the Big Game Drawing is June 2, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

We are also hopeful that all successful applicants will have the opportunity to hunt. That said, these are unprecedented times, and we can’t predict the future with certainty. We are closely monitoring direction from the Governor’s office as well as local health and safety orders, and at this time, we have made the decision to proceed with the Big Game Drawing. If a situation arises in which a successful applicant is unable to travel due to COVID-19, we will evaluate that request within the bounds of the law and make a case-by-case decision.