Is a Hunting License Required When Simply Observing the Hunt?

October 9, 2008

Question:I have been invited to accompany my grandson (and a guide) on a wild boar or deer hunting trip in California. I would like to go on this hunt with him, and if I were to go simply as an observer (not as a hunter myself) do I need a California hunting license? And what if I carry my .45 revolver, strictly as a backup weapon; do I need such a license? (H. Janin V., France)

Answer: According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Capt. Phil Nelms (ret.), a hunting license is not required to accompany a person into the field as an observer. However, if you are carrying a weapon capable of taking game (e.g, a .45 revolver) and you are with someone who is hunting, it can be assumed you are hunting and a license is required. Leaving the weapon behind while your grandson is hunting is the best way to reduce the risk of being prosecuted for hunting without a license.