Free Hunting Day Provides New Opportunities for Californians

Parallel with the National Wild Turkey Federation's outreach events, the Free Hunting Days underscores a shared commitment to preserving our hunting heritage and fostering a community of passionate hunters. By providing free hunting days, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife aims to not only introduce newcomers to the world of hunting but also to retain and reactivate those who may have temporarily stepped away from the activity.

The NWTF’s education and outreach programs began with the creation of the JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen programs, and outreach efforts continue to evolve today. The NWTF has expanded programming to include Mentored Hunts, Field to Fork and Learn to Hunt Clinics to ensure the NWTF’s education and outreach programs collectively make the greatest impact on hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation.

Each year NWTF chapters across the nation provide opportunities to explore the outdoors through local hands-on events and hunts, designed to pass on safe, ethical hunting traditions and teach conservation principles.

One outreach event, hosted by the NWTF San Diego Chapter, has provided southern Californians with the opportunity to learn about hunter's safety, turkey hunting and participate in a draw for turkey hunts at the Santa Ysabel Preserve. Ken Wells, a fortunate recipient of a tag for this hunt, reflects on the impact of both the event and the hunt itself.

“This event really is what got me into turkey hunting. It was a really cool opportunity, not just to learn about turkey hunting but to also actually experience it and open the door for that,” Wells shared.

When expressing his thoughts regarding the Free Hunting Days and NWTF outreach initiatives, Wells emphasized, "Especially in a region like California, where hunting opportunities are more difficult, these sorts of events make it extremely accessible and it gives a great educational opportunity for anyone who has not been turkey hunting and wants to experience it.”

To participate in the California Free Hunting Days, participants must meet the requirements established in Fish and Game Code § 3040. These requirements include:

• Proof of completion of a hunter education course.
• Possession of a valid Free Hunt Days registration.
• Possession of any required tags or report cards, federal entitlements and entry permits.

Participants must be accompanied by a hunter who holds a valid California hunting license, is at least 21 years of age and that hunter only accompanies one free hunting day participant in the field at a time.

Free Hunt Days Registration is available to claim through CDFW sales offices, license agents, telephone sales services and online license sales.

Hunters participating in the free hunting day can take resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, nongame mammals and wild pigs with a wild pig tag. Participants are also subject to all limitations, restrictions, conditions, statutes, rules and regulations, except the required possession of a valid hunting license, upland game bird hunting validation and state duck hunting validation.

The next free hunting day will be Saturday, April 13, 2024.

For more information or questions about the Free Hunting Days, contact the Recruit, Retain, Reactivate Team at R3StatewideProgram@wildlife.ca.gov.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.

2023 is the NWTF's 50^th Anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization's mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50^th Anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF's people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.