If I Own The Land, Do I Need to Be Drawn to Hunt It?

July 29, 2010

Question: I was looking into buying some land in California to use for hunting, but someone told me that even if you owned the land, you would still have to be drawn to hunt it. Were they correct or full of it? In Texas and in most other states, you can hunt on your own land. (Mitch, Southern California)

Answer: Yes, it’s true. The wildlife belongs to the State of California and not to the landowner who owns the land they may be residing on or passing through.  Under the provisions of a Private Lands Management program (PLM), however, landowners can improve their property to benefit wildlife, and in return receive additional tags that they may sell or use themselves. These tags may also allow them additional hunting rights that begin before or run after the regular hunting seasons and that allow additional cows, spikes or bucks to be taken.

To learn more about the PLM program, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/plm.html.