How to apply in California

First-time applicants applying for a hunting license through California’s ALDS must present one of the following as evidence of hunter education when applying for a California hunting license:

A certificate of successful completion of a California-approved hunter education course from any state or province; or A current hunting license or a hunting license issued in either of the two previous years from any state or province.

You will need to purchase a California hunting license and the appropriate Big Game Drawing Tag Applications:

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age or older on or before July 1, 2026, and possess a valid 2026-27 California hunting license

Elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep – earn one preference point for each species you apply for and was not drawn for the tag.

For quotas of one, the tag shall be awarded using a Draw-By-Choice drawing. For quotas of two, one tag shall be awarded using a Preference Point drawing, and one tag shall be awarded using a Draw-By-Choice drawing.

For quotas of four or more, seventy-five percent (75%) of the quota shall be awarded using a Preference Point drawing.

Under a Modified Preference Point System drawing, tag quotas for each hunt are split into two portions: one portion awarded by preference point drawings; the other portion awarded in draw-by-choice drawings.

You also lose all accumulated preference points for any species if you do not participate in the drawing for that species for five (5) consecutive years.

To earn a preference point for deer the code is PD, elk is 499, pronghorn is 799 and bighorn sheep is 599.

Deer – earn one preference point if you apply for the premium deer tag drawing but are not drawn for your first choice premium tag.

Ten percent (10%) of the individual zone or hunt tag quota shall be awarded using a Draw-by-Choice drawing.

Ninety percent (90%) of the individual zone or hunt tag quota shall be awarded using a Preference Point drawing.

For zones or hunts with quotas less than 10 tags, one tag shall be awarded using a Draw-by-Choice drawing.

599 0 0 Preference Point Only - Bighorn Sheep

To apply for a deer preference point, you must tell the license sales clerk that you want to apply for the code PD (Point Deer).

499 Preference Point Only - Elk

799 Preference Point Only - Pronghorn

Quota 1: draw-by-choice; quota 2: 1 preference point + 1 draw-by-choice; quota 3: 2 preference point + 1 draw-by-choice; quota 4 or more: 75% preference point, remainder draw-by-choice

Apprentice deer hunts: 50% preference point drawing, 50% draw-by-choice

Premium deer: 90% of each zone/hunt quota by preference point drawing, 10% by draw-by-choice; quotas under 10 tags: 1 tag by draw-by-choice

Not more than 10 percent of the bighorn sheep tags awarded to nonresidents each year

Only one nonresident may be drawn for an elk or pronghorn tag annually

The preference point value for party applications entered in the Big Game Drawing is determined by averaging all party members' preference points for each species (total preference points of the party divided by the number of party members). Preference point averages are not rounded up or down

Determine the preference point value for party applications by averaging all party members’ preference points (total preference points of the party divided by the number of party members).

Preference point averages are not rounded up or down.

Hunters cannot apply as a party for bighorn sheep.

The maximum number of party members for deer is six (6).

For elk and pronghorn, only residents may apply as a party of two.

Nonresidents cannot apply as a party for elk or pronghorn tags.

once in a lifetime: applicants must not have drawn a California bighorn sheep tag in any prior year

online lookup (licenses.wildlife.ca.gov/InternetSales, 'View My Draw Application/Preference Points') or by phone from California license sales offices; successful elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep applicants and alternates are notified by mail

Unclaimed tags after the July 15 payment deadline (5:00 p.m.) are awarded from the hunt's alternate list, individually, in the order drawn

Leftover premium deer tags are issued first-come, first-served online, at California license sales offices and license agents, starting July 2 at 8:00 a.m.

Elk, Pronghorn Antelope and Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawing Applications $8.38 per application