Resident small game in California includes various game birds (such as Chinese spotted doves, California quail, mountain quail, wild turkeys) and game mammals (including jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and tree squirrels). The regulations specify authorized methods of take and important restrictions for hunters.
(Reading Time: 11-13 Minutes)
Authorized Hunting MethodsAdditional Regulations
Firearms & Weapons Safety Regulations
Weapon Specifications & Restrictions
Special Considerations for Different Areas
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has established specific shooting hours for different upland game bird species to ensure safe and ethical hunting practices while maximizing hunter success and wildlife conservation goals. For most upland game birds, hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, allowing hunters to take advantage of prime feeding times when birds are most active, particularly during dawn feeding periods. This time frame provides sufficient light for target identification while maintaining hunter safety. Pheasant hunting has more restricted hours, running from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, which serves multiple purposes: it allows pheasants to complete their morning feeding routines, makes birds more likely to flush when hunted, and ensures optimal visibility for hunter safety in often challenging terrain and cover conditions. Spring wild turkey hunting has unique hours, from one-half hour before sunrise to 5:00 p.m., specifically designed around turkey behavior patterns.
This schedule coincides with peak gobbling activity in the early morning and allows hunters to pattern and call birds during their most active periods. The afternoon cutoff at 5:00 p.m. helps protect turkeys as they move toward their roosting sites and prevents disruption of roosting patterns. These carefully regulated shooting hours balance hunter opportunity with wildlife management needs while maintaining safety as a top priority across all hunting scenarios.
Authorized hunting methods include
Shotguns (10 gauge or smaller) with maximum three-shell capacity: Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and are subject to strict magazine capacity limitations. All shotguns must be incapable of holding more than three shells in total (magazine and chamber combined). If a plug is used to reduce capacity, it must be of one-piece construction and cannot be removed without disassembling the firearm. This ensures fair chase and prevents excessive firepower in the field.
Shot size restrictions: no shot larger than No. BB may be used or possessed, with a more restrictive No. 2 maximum shot size for wild turkey hunting. All shot must be loose in the shell, prohibiting solid slugs or specialty ammunition. This requirement balances hunting effectiveness with safety considerations.
Muzzle-loading shotguns: Muzzle-loading shotguns represent a traditional hunting method and remain legal for small game hunting. These firearms must also comply with general shot size restrictions.
Falconry: Falconry, an ancient hunting technique, is permitted under proper licensing. Falconers must possess appropriate permits and follow specific regulations regarding bird handling and hunting practices.
Bow and arrow (with specific requirements for turkey hunting arrows): Bow and arrow hunters must meet specific equipment requirements, particularly for turkey hunting. Arrows must be fitted with broad head blades that won't pass through a seven-eighths inch diameter hole. Mechanical/retractable broadheads are measured in their open position to ensure compliance.
Air rifles (compressed air/gas, any caliber pellet, except minimum 0.177 for turkey): Air rifles provide a lower-power option but must use compressed air or gas propulsion. While most small game can be hunted with any caliber pellet, turkey hunters must use pellets of at least 0.177 caliber to ensure ethical harvests.
Rifles and pistols (only for rabbits and squirrels, prohibited in Los Angeles County): Rifles and pistols are permitted only for rabbits and squirrels, with a notable geographic restriction prohibiting their use in Los Angeles County for safety reasons in this densely populated area.
Additional regulations include:
- Box traps allowed for rabbits in San Diego and Orange counties only
- Dogs may be used for taking and retrieving small game
- Electronic calling devices are prohibited for resident game birds
- Live decoys are prohibited
- Nonlead projectiles and ammunition required
- Crossbows permitted with specific exceptions
Special provisions exist for archers:
- Cannot possess firearms during archery season
- Exceptions for active/retired peace officers with proper certification
- Concealed carry permit holders exempted from firearm restriction
For special upland game wild bird hunts, hunters must:
- Have valid California hunting license
- Purchase Upland Game Bird Validation (adults)
- Apply through random drawing process
- Select up to three choices per hunt date/area
Firearms and Weapons Safety Regulations
The regulations establish a comprehensive framework for the safe and responsible use of firearms during hunting activities, with particular emphasis on public safety, weapon specifications, and location-based restrictions. These rules are designed to protect both hunters and the general public while preserving the integrity of hunting as a regulated activity.
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
One of the most critical safety measures is the mandatory reporting system. Any hunter who kills or wounds a human being or domestic animal belonging to another person while hunting must submit a detailed written report to the Department within 48 hours of the incident. This requirement extends to witnesses of such incidents as well. This reporting system serves multiple purposes: it ensures proper documentation of accidents, enables prompt investigation when necessary, and helps authorities maintain accurate safety records that can inform future policy decisions.
Weapon Specifications & Restrictions
The regulations include detailed specifications for permissible hunting weapons, establishing both technical and practical limitations. Hunters are prohibited from using shotguns larger than 10 gauge, reflecting a balance between hunting effectiveness and safety concerns. The regulations specifically ban several types of weapons that are deemed unnecessarily dangerous or inappropriate for hunting, including machine guns, silencers, and firearms with shortened barrels (shotguns under 18 inches and rifles under 16 inches in barrel length).
For shotguns, there are additional specific restrictions designed to promote ethical hunting practices and public safety. No shotgun used for hunting may be capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. When hunting migratory game birds, there are precise limitations on shot size - no larger than No. BB in lead or No. T in steel. The regulations also specify that shot must be loose in the shell when taking resident small game and migratory game birds, a requirement that helps ensure predictable and appropriate ammunition performance.
Geographic and Location-Based Restrictions
The regulations establish clear boundaries regarding where firearms can be used for hunting. A critical safety measure is the establishment of a 150-yard "safety zone" around occupied structures. Within this zone, it is unlawful to hunt or discharge any firearm or deadly weapon while hunting. This restriction applies to occupied dwelling houses, residences, and any barns or outbuildings used in connection with these structures. The safety zone requirement helps prevent accidents and reduces conflicts between hunters and residents.
Special restrictions apply to various protected areas. Hunting is prohibited in National Parks and Monuments, State of California Beaches and Parks, and State Game Refuges. Even shooting into these areas with weapons capable of taking any bird is forbidden. When traveling through game refuges on public highways or thoroughfares, firearms must be properly secured - either taken apart or encased and unloaded, while bows must be unstrung.
Vehicle-Related Firearms Restrictions
The regulations place significant restrictions on the use of firearms in conjunction with vehicles. It is expressly forbidden to shoot at any game bird or mammal from a powerboat, sailboat, motor vehicle, or aircraft while under power or still in motion. There is a narrow exception for watercraft: shooting is permitted only when the vessel's motor is completely shut off, all movement from power has ceased, and the vessel is either drifting, beached, moored, at anchor, or being manually propelled by paddle, oar, or pole.
For ATVs specifically, the regulations prohibit carrying loaded firearms while on public roads or ways open to the public. This restriction extends to shooting at game from ATVs, reflecting both safety concerns and ethical hunting considerations. The prohibition of shooting from public roads or highways (whether paved or unpaved) further reinforces the emphasis on safe hunting practices.
Special Considerations for Different Areas
The regulations acknowledge that different locations may require different levels of restriction. National Parks and Monuments, for instance, have their own specific regulations regarding weapon possession, game handling, and the use of hunting dogs. The regulations advise hunters to consult with federal officials before entering these areas, recognizing the complex interplay between state and federal jurisdiction over hunting activities.
Enforcement and Compliance
These firearm and weapon regulations are strictly enforced, with violations potentially resulting in significant penalties. The comprehensive nature of these rules reflects the serious responsibility that comes with hunting and firearm use. Hunters are expected to know and comply with all applicable regulations, maintaining both the safety and integrity of hunting activities.
