California Elk — Central Coast
Central Coast Tule Elk Hunt
California Central Coast covers 1,418,847 acres and lies 43 miles south of Salinas and 86 miles south of San Jose. 33% of it is public land, mostly national forest (22%) and BLM (3%). The 2025 draw put up 10 tags here for 83 first-choice applicants.
Your chance of drawing here
Every elk license type on offer in Central Coast, with the prior-draw chance for a first-choice nonresident applicant. Type your points in to see your own number.
Chances are from the 2025 draw (the most recent) for a first-choice nonresident. "Points needed" = the cut in the last draw.
Simple view Odds at every point level-
2% Point builder
-
<1% Point builder
-
3% Point builder
-
<1% Point builder
| Hunt | Your odds (0 pts) | Points needed | Tags / applicants | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 375 ↗ Central Coast - General Methods - Antlerless Rifle | 2% Point builder | — | 10 / 83 | Oct 4 – Dec 2, 2025 |
| 376 ↗ Central Coast - General Methods - Bull Rifle | <1% Point builder | — | 10 / 526 | Oct 4 – Dec 2, 2025 |
| 382 ↗ Central Coast - Archery - Antlerless Archery | 3% Point builder | — | 5 / 30 | Sep 1–30, 2025 |
| 383 ↗ Central Coast - Archery - Bull Archery | <1% Point builder | — | 5 / 154 | Sep 1–30, 2025 |
What these columns mean
- Your odds —
- the share of applicants at your point level who drew this tag in the 2025 draw. Not a forecast: quotas and demand move every year.
- The badge —
- plain language for that number. Likely draw 75% or better · Real chance 40%+ · Long shot 15%+ · Point builder below that, so you are applying mainly to bank a point · Undersubscribed means fewer first-choice applicants than tags, so everyone who applied drew.
- Points needed —
- the lowest point total that still got a tag in the 2025 draw, and how that cut has moved since the earliest draw we hold.
- Tags / applicants —
- tags on offer and first-choice applicants for them, as the agency published them. Under five tags we print counts instead of a percentage, because one applicant either way swings it.
What it costs to apply (2025 nonresident fees)
| License | Up front | Gone if you miss | If you draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per application | $227.94 | $227.94 | $2,053.79 |
Application window: opens Apr 15, closes Jun 2, 2027 (expected). Full fee breakdown.
The country
Boundaries are drawn for orientation only — the written boundary description in the regulations governs.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest 314,484 ac · 22%
- BLM 42,349 ac · 3%
- County or city land 41,683 ac · 3%
- Other public 36,249 ac · 3%
- State land 31,830 ac · 2%
- Tribal 1,190 ac · 0%
- National Wildlife Refuge 381 ac · 0%
- Department of Defense 229 ac · 0%
- Private or other non-public land 950,449 ac · 67%
Source: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a -- Holdings by Agency Classification
Boundary: Elk Hunt Zones [ds786]