California Hunting & Fishing

California's sheer size and geographic range make it one of the most varied hunting and fishing states in the country, from the Pacific surf to the alpine Sierra Nevada and the high desert of the east. Hunting guides in California pursue blacktail and mule deer, Tule elk, wild pigs that are huntable year-round, and waterfowl in the Central Valley, a critical wintering ground on the Pacific Flyway. The state's tag system varies by zone, so outfitters help hunters navigate a notably complex regulatory landscape.

Fishing charters in California are world famous. Saltwater operations out of San Diego and the Channel Islands chase yellowtail, tuna, and rockfish, while the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and northern rivers hold salmon, sturgeon, and striped bass. High in the Sierra, guided trips target wild trout in granite-rimmed lakes. Few states pack this much diversity into one license.