RegulationsLicenses & TagsPublications & FormsHarvest Data Bear Hunting Regulations 2023 Seasons As of February 21, 2024, the 2023 black bear harvest total is: 1,175 A weekly bear harvest update is also available by calling (888) 277-6398 (toll-free). 2024 General Season General bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 deer hunting zones and extends through December 31, 2024. For those portions of zones X1, X2, X3a, X4, X6a, X6b, X7a, and X7b open to bear hunting, the general bear season begins October 12, 2024, and extends through December 31, 2024. General bear season closes on December 31, 2024, or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. This includes bears harvested during the archery season. 2024 Archery Season Archery bear season in all bear zones opens August 17, 2024, and runs through September 8, 2024. Bag and Possession Limit One adult bear per hunting license year. Cubs and females accompanied by cubs may not be taken. Additional Regulations - Bear Tag Flyer (PDF) Mammal Hunting Regulations for taking big and small game mammals, furbearers and nongame 2024 Big Game Hunting Digest includes: hunt seasons, tag quotas and drawing for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep; bear and wild pig hunting; other related hunting regulations 2023-2024 Mammal Hunting BOOKLET (PDF)(opens in new tab) (Compiled through June 2024) includes regulations for: hunting small and big game mammals; trapping furbearers (fox, badger, beaver and raccoon, etc.); hunting nongame animals (bobcat, coyote, weasel, etc.) Mammal Hunting Regulations (HTML)(opens in new tab) Black Bear Hunting Area Map click to open PDF version in new window License Requirements A CA hunting license and bear tag are required for hunting bear If a bear is taken, the bear tag must be validated by a CDFW employee before transporting the bear, except for the purpose of taking it to the nearest CDFW employee authorized to validate the bear tag. If CDFW offices are closed, the bear tag shall be validated within one business day of transporting the bear from the point where taken. The skull must be presented to CDFW within 10 days (see tag validation details (PDF)) Bear tags must be returned, regardless of success Purchase licenses and tags ONLINE or at a local AGENT. License and Tag Fees Valid JULY 1, 2023 through JUNE 30, 2024 Hunting Licenses Fee Description Resident Hunting License $58.58 Required for any resident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals Nonresident Hunting License $204.69 Required for any nonresident 16 years of age or older who takes birds or mammals. Junior Hunting License $15.38 Required for any resident or nonresident less than 16 years of age who takes birds or mammals. To qualify, hunter must be less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1). Tags Fee Description Resident Bear Tag $56.98 Resident and nonresident licensed hunters 12 years of age or older at the time of application may purchase one bear tag per license year. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Nonresident Bear Tag $361.90 Publications and Forms Big Game Hunting Digest Summary of upcoming hunting seasons, regulations, license and tag requirements Declaration for Entry for bringing harvested bear into California Harvest Data Black Bear Tooth Age Data Hunters are required to bring bears that have been killed to CDFW for tag validation as well the removal of a premolar tooth from the bear. The premolar tooth is used to determine a bear’s age and thus develop more precise harvest data information and how to manage sustainable and healthy bear populations in California. 2022 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF) 2021 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF) 2020 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF) 2019 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF) 2018 Black Bear Tooth Age Data (PDF) Annual Take Data Hunter harvest data, such as number, age structure, and sex ratio of black bears taken each year, helps the Department monitor and manage the bear population. Annually, the data are compared to previous years to determine trends that may require adjustments to the hunting program. In 1917, California black bears were classified as furbearers with no restrictions on how, when or number of animals taken. Since 1948, California black bears have been classified as game animals with an established hunting season. Annual Black Bear Take Reports 2020 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2019 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2018 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2017 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2016 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2015 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2014 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2013 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2012 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2011 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2010 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2009 Bear Take Report (PDF) 2008 Bear Take Report (PDF) Additional Reports California Black Bear Hunter Harvest (PDF) California Black Bear Hunter Harvest and Sex Graph (PDF) California Black Bear Hunter Harvest Age Composition (PDF) Percent Females in California Black Bear Harvest (PDF) Related Black Bear Conservation Human-Wildlife Conflict Program Bear Naked Truth Blog 1998 Black Bear Management Plan (PDF) Black Bear Policy in California: Public Safety, Depredation, Conflict, Animal Welfare - February 2022 (PDF)