hunting license help

So i have the chance to start pheasant hunting but need license. Question is do i have to take hunting/gun saftey course and attend that 4 hour class?

You WISH it were a 4 hour class.  But, yes.  Unless you have previously held a hunting license in California, you will need to take a certified hunter safety course.  It is a 10  hour minimum course and broken up over 2 to 4 days, weekends usually.  Here in El Dorado County, there is a one day class that starts at 7am and runs to 5pm without a lunch break.  You eat what you bring while the material is presented. 

From www.dfg.com

In a continued effort to reduce firearm accidents, the State of California requires all first time resident hunters, regardless of age, to complete hunter education training or pass a comprehensive equivalency test before purchasing a hunting license.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts training throughout the state. Each year approximately 30,000 students complete the state’s ten-hour minimum hunter education course. Statistics show hunter education training is a success.

there is an online version that has a 4 hr follow up in person class. That is the one I did.

The one I did was 10 hour day but the instructor was nice enough to buy everyone subway for lunch. And also if you do get your license I think you need to get your game bird stamp. I don't remember if the stamp is included now or not since they changed the style of license.

there is an online version that has a 4 hr follow up in person class. That is the one I did.

This is the one im in the process of doing

If you once had a hunting license before but lost it, can you apply for a new one without having the previous license to show? I had taken the hunter safety course when I was in Boy Scout but they do not keep records that far back or if they ever did keep records.

If the place that did your hunter safety course lost there records I'm pretty sure you have to do it again unless you went ahead and purchased a license. I there was a guy in my hunter safety class that had taken the class before but never bought his license, the guy that did his class was no longer around and he had to retake the class. I did the online then a 4hr class last December.

And also if you do get your license I think you need to get your game bird stamp. I don't remember if the stamp is included now or not since they changed the style of license.

Just like fishing you need to get stamps for different species. Upland game, state and federal duck, deer, pig, antelope, elk, and more.  Your license will let you hunt small duper bearing game without additional stamps, squirrel, rabbit etc. just for ducks and upland last year was about $85. Then add deer, pig tags........

If you once had a hunting license before but lost it, can you apply for a new one without having the previous license to show? I had taken the hunter safety course when I was in Boy Scout but they do not keep records that far back or if they ever did keep records.

Only if your previous license was issued under the current ALDS system.

I would recommend going to WalMart and see if you can buy a license.  IF you are in the system, it will pop up.  The person helping you at Walmart will ask for your driver license and scan it in the DFW computer. 

I last had a hunting license in 2005, and I don't remember that it was ALDS.  I got a license just last year, 2013, and went all those years without a license.  Walmart showed I was in the DFW system and I didn't have to take the course. 

That's why I recommend you first go and check to see if you are in their system.  You just might be pleasantly surprised!! 

If you once had a hunting license before but lost it, can you apply for a new one without having the previous license to show? I had taken the hunter safety course when I was in Boy Scout but they do not keep records that far back or if they ever did keep records.

I had a license back in the mid 70's that I was able to find and got a new license by showing the old one even though I had not had a license for all those years. 

I had to retake the course because they couldn't find any record of mine from 17 years ago. And big surprise, not less than a week after taking the all day course I found my old one.