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Season November 14 to December 27

California Pheasant Season 2026

California's pheasant season runs November 14 to December 27, 2026.

Nov 14
Opening day
Saturday
Dec 27
Last day
Sunday, 2026
3 roosters a day
Daily limit
9 in possession
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Dates and limits

California pheasant season dates and bag limit

California's pheasant season opens Saturday, November 14, 2026, and closes December 27, 2026. The daily limit is 3 roosters and 9 in possession. Only roosters may be taken.

  1. CaliforniaNov 14
    Season, Nov 14 to Dec 27; Falconry, Aug 15 to Feb 28; Archery only, Oct 10 to Nov 1; Archery only, Dec 28 to Jan 24
General season Limited huntsCalifornia, Nov 14 to Dec 27
General season
Saturday, November 14, 2026 to December 27, 2026
Daily limit
3 roosters a day
Possession
9 in possession
Which birds
Roosters only
  • FalconryAug 15 to Feb 28falconry only; either sex
  • Archery OnlyOct 10 to Nov 1archery only, first split; up to 1 hen in the daily bag
  • General / StatewideNov 14 to Dec 27statewide; males only
  • Archery OnlyDec 28 to Jan 24archery only, second split after the general season; up to 1 hen in the daily bag

California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, read October 8, 2026.

Wild and released birds

California pheasant stocking

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife releases pheasants. Release timing: Period 1 (Oct. 17 - Nov. 14), Period 2 (Nov. 14 - Nov. 22), Period 3 (Dec 5 - Feb. 20).

Family hunts are available to anyone who possesses a hunting license and any required tag(s) or validation(s) for a special hunt opportunity. All hunters must possess a draw issued permit.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
License

What it takes to hunt pheasants in California

Residents
Resident Hunting License $64.54 plus Upland Game Bird Validation $25.41 (Junior Hunting License $17.02, no validation needed)
Nonresidents
Nonresident Hunting License $225.46 or Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License $64.54, plus Upland Game Bird Validation $25.41
Stamp or permit
Upland Game Bird Validation $25.41

Every California license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the California hunting license page.

California pheasant questions

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Pheasant season in other states

Pheasant openers in every stateThe whole season on one calendar, with each agency's outlook.California small game seasonsQuail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates in California.California hunting licenseWhat a California license costs and who needs one.California waterfowl seasonsDuck and goose dates in California, by zone.California duck migrationWhere the ducks are in California this week.California CWD testingDeer sampling rules in California.
A brown speckled hen pheasant walking through rows of young green wheat with old stubble between them
A hen in a South Dakota wheat field. Hens carry next year’s birds, so the bag in the wild bird states is written for roosters only, and the brown bird that gets up beside a rooster is the one to let fly. “NRCSSD03010 - South Dakota (6147)(NRCS Photo Gallery)”, Dennis Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Public domain

California read October 8, 2026 from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.