Dept. Fish & Game

Please note: There is a misprint in the 2008 Hunter's Digest. The deadline of August 11th is only for the Dove Hunts. For all other hunts, please see the corresponding application below for the deadline to apply.

These special hunts are provided by the California Department of Fish and Game's Game Bird Heritage Program, in cooperation with many volunteer organizations. Your purchase of an Upland Game Bird Stamp supports these special hunts and other programs that provide additional Upland Game Bird hunting opportunities. The stamp is required for all upland game bird hunters except those with Junior Hunting Licenses.

Drawing Priority Stamp

California Department of Fish and Game's Hunter Education and Game Bird Heritage Programs are working together to give priority to first time hunters for admittance to one of the apprentice pheasant hunts for beginners.

Upon successful completion of the mandatory hunter education course, every new hunter will be given a Drawing Priority Stamp. To get into a hunt place the stamp in the appropriate box on the hunt application and submit it to the designated address on the application, or enter the stamp number into the appropriate box if applying on-line. New hunters with drawing priority stamps who apply by the deadline will be automatically placed in a hunt before the random drawing takes place.

The Game Bird Heritage Special Hunts Program includes apprentice hunts with pen raised pheasants that provide beginning hunters with a controlled, educational and safe environment to learn hunting skills and further develop hunter safety and a sense of hunter ethics and wildlife management. Events include gun safety review, easy to hunt topography, a high ratio of volunteers to hunters, experienced dog handlers and clay shooting among other educational activities.

Apprentice Hunts (Eligible for the Drawing Priority Stamp)

Public Hunts (NOT Eligible for the Drawing Priority Stamp)