California Deer Season & Hog Hunting 2025: What to Expect

Q: What other wildlife might hunters encounter during deer season?

Black bears → Populations strong in the Sierra Nevada and North Coast. Bear season often overlaps deer season. Mountain lions → Protected, cannot be hunted, but often encountered in deer country. Coyotes & bobcats → Abundant and open to hunting in most counties.

Q: Which hog traps work best in California’s terrain?

Boar Blanket — Ideal for rugged foothills and brushy canyons where mobility matters. HogEye Camera Systems — Less practical in remote mountains with weak signal. Steel Cages — Common in agriculture-heavy Central Valley, but noisy and hard to move.

California deer season looks a little different from the rest of the South and Midwest. Here, hunters aren’t just chasing mule deer or blacktail — they’re also crossing paths with wild boars, black bears, and mountain lions.

In 2025, feral hogs remain one of the biggest threats to habitat and hunter success. Populations are heaviest along the Central Coast, Sierra Nevada foothills, and Northern counties, where agricultural land, oak savannahs, and brushy canyons give them year-round food and cover.

For California hunters, balancing deer opportunities with hog pressure — while staying mindful of bears and other predators — is the name of the game.

California Deer Season & Hog Hunting FAQs

Do I need a license to hunt hogs in California?
Yes. Unlike most Southern states, feral hogs in California are considered a game mammal. Hunters must purchase a hunting license and a pig tag for each hog taken. California DFW Hunting Regulations

Is there a bag limit on hogs?
Yes. One pig tag per hog harvested. No season closure — hogs may be taken year-round, but every hog requires a tag.

Can I trap hogs in California?
Yes, but trapping requires a depredation permit through CDFW. Traps must meet design and humane standards.

What other wildlife might hunters encounter during deer season?

Black bears → Populations strong in the Sierra Nevada and North Coast. Bear season often overlaps deer season.
Mountain lions → Protected, cannot be hunted, but often encountered in deer country.
Coyotes & bobcats → Abundant and open to hunting in most counties.

Which hog traps work best in California’s terrain?

Boar Blanket — Ideal for rugged foothills and brushy canyons where mobility matters.
HogEye Camera Systems — Less practical in remote mountains with weak signal.
Steel Cages — Common in agriculture-heavy Central Valley, but noisy and hard to move.

California Deer Season 2025 Dates

(Always confirm with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife )

California deer seasons vary widely by zone. Example highlights for 2025:

Archery (A Zone): July 12 – Aug 4, 2025
General Rifle (A Zone): Aug 9 – Sept 21, 2025
B Zones (North Coast): Sept 13 – Oct 19, 2025
D Zones (Sierra Nevada foothills): Sept 21 – Oct 27, 2025
X Zones (Eastern Sierra mule deer): Sept 28 – Oct 20, 2025

(Zones are complex — check CDFW zone maps and regs before planning hunts.)

How Wild Boars Impact California Deer Season Hunts

Central Coast

Counties like Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara see heavy hog pressure.
Boars raid vineyards, alfalfa fields, and oak mast crops, competing directly with deer.

Sierra Foothills

Hogs root in oak savannahs and chaparral.
Deer hunters here often find hog sign around water sources — deer shift to higher elevations to avoid them.

Northern Counties

Hybrid hogs dominate forested foothills, competing with both deer and black bear for acorns and food plots.

Hunting Regulations 2025

Deer

License + deer tags required.
Zone-specific quotas and drawing systems apply.
Bear tags available; season may overlap in many areas.

Hogs

License + pig tag required for every hog taken (California DFW).
Year-round hunting, no season closure.
Depredation permits required for trapping.

Hunting Season Preparation

Strategies for Deer + Hog Pressure

Hunt hogs opportunistically while scouting deer — pig tags allow combo hunts.
Separate deer feeding plots from hog baiting/trapping areas.
Condition hogs on corn rows and bait before deploying traps.

Gear That Works in California

Boar Blanket Hog Trap — proven in rugged, uneven, off-grid terrain.
HogEye Systems — less suited for mountain canyons, better for ranchland.
Cages — noisy, but usable on flat Central Valley ag fields.

Compare trap options in Cage vs Net Hog Traps.

The Predator Factor: Bears, Lions, and Coyotes

Unlike most states, California deer hunters face a predator-rich environment:

Black Bears → Legal to hunt with tags; strong overlap in D and X zones.
Mountain Lions → Protected, cannot be hunted, but may stalk hunters or prey near camp.
Coyotes → Opportunistic predators; no closed season.
Bobcats → Regulated seasons; also compete with deer for prey.

This predator mix makes balancing deer and hogs even tougher — every acre is under pressure.

Economic & Hunting Impacts

Vineyards & crops: Wineries in Napa and Paso Robles lose millions annually to hog rooting.
Food plots: Deer-focused plantings destroyed by boar rooting within nights.
Hunter success: Reduced deer sightings in hog-heavy oak savannah zones.

Read proven success stories in the Boar Blanket Case Study and review Feral Hog Trapping Costs.

Conclusion: What Hunters Should Expect in 2025

California’s deer season offers incredible diversity — but hunters must factor hogs into the equation. Add black bears, lions, and coyotes, and it’s one of the most complex hunting environments in the U.S.

For rugged, off-grid land → Boar Blanket is the best balance of mobility and effectiveness.
For larger ranches with infrastructure → HogEye systems may work.
For ag operations → Cage traps remain common but lack stealth.

To protect deer opportunities and land value, start your hog plan before deer season kicks off.See how whole-sounder control works in How Whole Sounder Trapping Works.