Information on California Junior Deer Hunting Licenses
California is generally perceived as the state of movie studios, music moguls and beautiful beaches and people. The state, however, also serves as the home to hunters and vast stretches of game-rich land. As in most other states, hunters of all ages are required to purchase licenses and other certification depending on the type of game they plan on hunting.
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Identification and Cost
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According to the California Department of Fish and Game website, a Junior Hunting License allows both residents and non-residents of California under the age of 16 to "hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill" birds or mammals during the designated hunting season. This license allows junior hunters to pursue and kill deer with an accompanying deer tag. Licenses may be purchased annually or as a lifetime package.
License Requirements and Time Frame
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All applicants for California hunting licenses, regardless of age or residency, are required to present at least one of the following: a previously issued California hunting license, a post-2000 California two day non-resident hunting license, a hunting license from any state, South Africa, or Europe, or a validated California hunting education certificate or approved hunting education course from any state. The hunting season in California begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. Licenses may be purchased either before or after hunting season commences from Department of Fish and Game License Agents or License Sales Offices.
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Warning
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In the state of California, additional certification is required to hunt deer in the form of deer tags. Resident and non-resident junior hunters over the age of 12 are permitted to hunt up to two deer with the purchase of deer tags. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website, applications for first and second deer tags must accompany three desired hunting locations. Deer tags must be purchased prior to the hunting excursion and take up to 15 days to arrive via the mail.
Costs
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The cost of a Junior Hunting License for the 2010-2011 hunting season is $10.75 and is non-refundable. Licenses that are purchased from license agents also incur a 5 percent fee. Hunters may also purchase lifetime hunting licenses. The cost for a lifetime license for ages 0 to 9 is $463.25 and $761.25 for ages 10 to 39. The purchase of this lifetime license requires certification from a hunting education course and does not include deer tags. Resident deer tags cost $27.85 for the first deer and $34.65 for the second deer. Non-resident deer tags cost $244.90 for each the first and second deer.
Additional Considerations and Exemptions for Junior Hunters
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Although the California Department of Fish and Wildlife lists no minimum age for junior hunters, hunters must be at least 12 years old to qualify for a deer tag. Also, many junior hunters need to partake in hunter education in order to meet license application requirements. It is widely accepted that children enrolled in hunter education classes should be a least 10 years of age and able to read, write and understand the rules of hunting. Junior Hunters in California are exempt from purchasing permits and passes that allow for hunting on state-owned land.
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References
- Photo Credit Deer image by Pinhole from Fotolia.com
