California’s 2022 General Deer Season Set To Begin
[Photo from CDFW]
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) general deer season is set to open in many parts of the state Saturday, September 17. Deer season is already underway in California’s A and B4 zones along the coast. Hunters are advised to visit CDFW’s Emergency Closures web page for information and resources before heading to their favorite hunting spots.
The majority of California’s general deer hunting zones – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, D6 and D7 – open Saturday, September 17, along with premium hunting zones C1, C2, C3, C4, X9a, X9b and X12 in portions of Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Mono and Inyo counties and surrounding areas. Several other general deer hunting zones – D3, D4, D5, D8, D9 and D10 – open the following week, on Saturday, September 24, as does premium hunting zones X8 and X10 in portions of Alpine and Tulare counties and surrounding areas.
To improve the accuracy of deer population estimates and monitoring, CDFW is transitioning to updated approaches that employ recent innovations in population modeling. These models allow scientists to combine data from a variety of sources to generate estimates of population processes. Over the last few years, CDFW has employed numerous methods for collecting the data for each of the parameters needed to fit its models. One of the primary methods is to walk along transects, pick up deer scat, send samples to a lab to sequence the DNA for identifying individual deer, and then estimate total population size based on the frequency that collectors re-encounter scat from the same individual over space and time.
Hunters are reminded that deer tag reporting is mandatory – even for hunters who are unsuccessful or those who did not have a chance to hunt at all. CDFW has produced a video on how to properly complete, attach and report your deer tag (Video).
As a friendly reminder, California has phased out the use of lead ammunition for hunting. Nonlead ammunition is required for all wildlife harvest with a firearm. Additional deer hunting information, including hunt zone descriptions, maps and special hunts, is available at CDFW’s deer hunting web page.
CDFW also encourages hunters to participate in the state’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance program. Stop by a CWD sampling station after harvesting deer or elk in California to have samples taken for testing or ask your local meat processor or taxidermist if they are participating in the program. While CWD doesn’t exist in California, robust surveillance allows for early detection and better options if it is detected. Please help to protect California’s deer and elk populations and hunting opportunities.
A list of CWD sampling stations can also be found on the CDFW website.
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Are we supposed to fill out a form every time we hit a deer on the roadway? Maybe pay a tax for hitting it? Tax may vary depending on deer age and gender, crack me up. And for those of you that think refineries are the nation’s fuel issues, NOT. THE MORE OIL WE DRILL, THE MORE REFINERIES GET OVERLOADED, WHICH BRINGS DOWN OIL PRICES. It’s simple supply and demand, I’ve heard this excuse from so many its pathetic , the oil our nation can’t refine goes to the world open market, and floods it .
Hunting deer with a car is illegal so I suppose if you have a deer tag and intentionally hit a deer you need to report it which will also be a confession to crime.
The rest of us have nothing to worry about.
How come unintentional roadkill isn’t reported, but unused tags need to be ? No pay in tracking roadkill I guess. As far as hitting a deer intentionally or hunting with a car, no jail, slap on the wrist like everything else . No punishment for crime anymore, where you been anny.
They don’t track unused tags as much as they track YOU, makes it easier on them to go after law abiding armed citizens.
They don’t track unused tags so much as they track you. Makes it easier to find and dis arm law abiding citizens
Some states such as Maine ask you to contact them if you kill an animal with your vehicle. My understanding is you must stay there until a Game Warden comes and checks the scene. If it is ok’d by the Warden, you may keep the deer or donate it to a food shelter. If donated, the Warden will load it up and deliver for no charge. Better than just throwing it in the brush to rot.
California is supposedly going to start that, we’ll see. Always takes so long g to enact like the date to date fishing license.
Well, SOMEBODY doesn’t understand oil.
Don’t forget to wear a mask while hunting because the deer have Covid
I hope that’s sarcasm
Seems I heard a news story about a year ago, from the North East U.S. I think, about deer with covid. I mean, it came from bats, and dogs and cats have been proven to get it, so why not another mammal? Question is, how?
Regarding the sarcasm, as long as you cook it to at least 135 degrees F you should be good.
Simple guys, just follow the rules and enjoy your hunting season. Wear some orange so other hunters can see you, don’t smoke (fire potential), and use the nonlead bullets. Please do your part reporting, turning in unused tags so the CDFW can track and keep an eye on how many deer are being harvested and those with chronic wasting disease. Beautiful buck in the picture Kym!
Where do you get non lead bullets (copper) if you don’t hand load? Serious question.
I’m hunting with an AR15 this year because I literally could not find any copper .30-30.
non lead bullets ( especially shotshells ) are a good idea . But without any support from the state It makes it difficult to find ammunition.
buying ammo in CA is already ridiculous. CDFW should partner with an ammo maker and come up with a line of CA Complaint hunting loads.
at this point though, fish cops are 100% a joke. The mission has completely shifted from wildlife conservation/ management. Habitat building, and fish hatcheries to being the henchman. enacting punitive administrative fees on pot growers.
Don’t hang me on this one, but I think Sierra and Hornady are offering .30 caliber nonlead bullets for reloading. Check with Natchez Shooter’s Supply, Mid-West Shooter’s Supply and others you can locate on the internet. You will also find non lead shotgun shells on these sites. I don’t think the CDFW will ever partner with ammo companies, but it would not bust their butts to list a few that make California compliant ammo. Hope this helps you some. Good luck and good hunting!
Federal, Nosler, Remington, Barnes, Buffalo Bore, and Double Tap offer Copper Bullet Cartridges in 30-30. Post Covid stuff… all sold out now. You’ve got to look well (like several months) in advance of the deer season to get any though.
Barnes and Hornady offer copper hand loading bullets. Have loaded both in .308 and 6.5 CM. As far as accuracy, better luck with the Hornady than the Barnes.
Again… as far as copper bullets… got to look well in advance of the season.
.30-30 copper has been near impossible to find for a couple years, but almost every other “standard” caliber has had copper available for a while. It’s not hard if you buy in advance- Most stores have plenty. The bullet companies are making it as fast as they can,- they want to sell ammo. California is a major market for ammo.
Hunter orange is usually treated with UV brighteners, and deer see UV light. Doesn’t take long for deer in a high pressure area to associate a bright beacon in the daytime with humans. I had one spot my hat and bolt at 400 yards in Colorado.
Some wardens in Kalifornia stretch the law with the copper bullet thing. If you have a gun in your rig during deer season, some (Ruth area) will use this as an excuse to search your vehicle for lead ammo, and confiscate it, even if you aren’t carrying it and want to use it for target practice. Don’t bring that opened fifth along to share with the boys at camp.
Only bring double-twisted moonshine whiskey to camp. For the record, folks I hunt with do not bring alcoholic beverages to any of our deer camps. It just leads to some serious problems. It is up to the Game Warden as to the ammo you are carrying in deer season with rifles. If it is lead, they know you will probably use it to harvest a deer. Just get nonlead ammo and they will not do anything to you unless your rifle is loaded on the road.