License/item |
Resident |
Nonresident |
Hunting license |
$61.82 |
$216.00 |
Application fee (antelope, elk, bighorn sheep) |
$8.13 |
$8.13 |
License/item | Resident | Nonresident |
Hunting license | $61.82 | $216.00 |
Application fee (antelope, elk, bighorn sheep) | $8.13 | $8.13 |
You can purchase preference points in California until June 2, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PT in the big game main draw. Purchasing these points will help you in the following years' draw.
Note: There is no separate points-only period in California.
To purchase points in California, you must have a valid hunting license, and if you don't, you will be required to purchase one when buying your points.
To purchase hunting items online, you must have an added to your customer record. If you complete the , your certificate number will automatically be added to your customer record within 48 hours after completion of the course. If you are unable to wait 48 hours, you may provide your proof of hunter education to an authorized in your area.
To submit another form of hunter education, log in to your customer record and select Upload File from the menu (requires creating a password if not done previously) or email us at LRB@wildlife.ca.gov and request a secure upload link to provide your proof of hunter education. Please allow up to five (5) business days for us to process your request. After your proof of hunter education has been added, you will be able to purchase hunting items during the current and future license years.
When applying in California, there is a preference point-only option. For more information, see preference point codes.
Below are the California preference point-only codes that you can use when purchasing your points.
Again, all applicants are required to purchase an annual hunting license prior to applying for any big game hunt. Once you have purchased your license, you will also have to pay an application fee of $8.13 for elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep for both residents and nonresidents. You are required to submit the full cost of the deer tag at the time of application.
Below are the fees for purchasing preference points.
Throughout GOHUNT Insider, we have research tools that will enable you to find the perfect hunt quickly and easily. Whether you’re looking for your first Western hunt or want to see the best way to use your points, Insider is your ticket to unlocking the West.
Each research tool on GOHUNT will allow you to find a hunting opportunity. Combining Draw Odds with Filtering, plus our Application Strategy articles and GOHUNT Maps, those tools are everything you need to gain an edge and become more successful.
Application strategy articles are your go-to source of information before you apply. Every year, we publish new application strategy articles for every state and species. These articles are packed with in-depth information and lots of data presented to showcase what's new in the state, as well as how you can best use your points to pick up a tag.
A GOHUNT membership makes it easy to find hunting opportunities by state, species, probability of draw odds success, and much more! Whether you have 0 points, max points, or any number of points, GOHUNT gives you the information you need to plan a successful hunt. In addition to our research tools, all Insiders have access to our GOHUNT mobile app where you can plan a hunt on GOHUNT Maps, as well as research tools on the app to help you find hunting opportunities. GOHUNT Maps is also available on the web. GOHUNT Insider is the only complete and total package set of tools to help you find the hunt you want this upcoming year or to help plan for hunts in the future.
If you're unfamiliar with GOHUNT, you can learn more about it below.
The steps for purchasing points in California are fairly simple. You can easily follow along on how to purchase preference points by checking out the text and screenshots of the process below.
Navigate to California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s homepage and then click on "Licensing" and then tap on "Purchase a License / Register for GO ID."
Now, it will take you to the CDFW's Online License Sales and Services page. You will need to log in to your account by clicking on the "Customer Login / Register" section.
Before you can log in, you will need to search for an existing account by entering in your date of birth and your last name, then click on "Next."
If no existing record is located, the "Create New Customer Record" button will be enabled.
Now, you'll be jumped to the bottom of the page where existing customers will need to select a form of identity type to look up the account. Acceptable Identity Type: State ID (Driver's License or Identification Card), Passport, Military ID, Green Card, Foreign Government ID. After you enter that information, click "Next."
And if you haven't applied to California before, to create a customer record and obtain a GO ID (permanent CDFW customer number), select one of the Acceptable Identity Types (listed below) from the Identity Type dropdown enter the corresponding identity number for the individual requiring a new customer record.
Now you need to enter in your account password and click "Submit." If you forgot your password, you'll be able to click, "Forgot Password" to retrieve it.
Once you've finally landed on your account page, click on "Purchase Licenses."
Now, you must add an "Annual Hunting License," which is $172.00 for a nonresident, to your cart. So click "Add."
Deer: PD
Elk: 499
Bighorn sheep: 599
Antelope: 799