AmmoSight
Home → Hunting Laws → California

California Hunting Laws

California is the strictest ammunition state in the country: nonlead ammunition is required to take any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in the state, and suppressors cannot be owned at all.

Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.

At a glance

Wildlife agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Regulations year
2026
Coverage
Verified against primary sources
Verified rules on file
1
Rules pending review
5
Zones with special rules
0
Official regulations → Verify with California Department of Fish and Wildlife →

Check a cartridge in California

Results update as you choose. Checks state + federal rules on file — not legal advice; always confirm in the current regulations.

Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.

Sourced rules

Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.

All weapons

2 rules
Species Rule Citation Verified
All species Nonlead (certified ≤1% lead) ammunition is required to take ANY wildlife with ANY firearm anywhere in California.
"Effective July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California."
 FGC § 3004.5(b); CDFW nonlead page Aug 2026
All species Suppressor ownership is banned in California, so hunting with one is not possible. Cal. Penal Code § 33410 (ownership ban — primary cite pending verification) Aug 2026 needs review

Rifle

4 rules
Species Rule Citation Verified
White-tailed / Mule Deer Big game must be taken with centerfire ammunition; the exact 14 CCR § 353 text is pending verification. 14 CCR § 353 (pending primary verification) Aug 2026 needs review
Elk Big game must be taken with centerfire ammunition; the exact 14 CCR § 353 text is pending verification. 14 CCR § 353 (pending primary verification) Aug 2026 needs review
Pronghorn Big game must be taken with centerfire ammunition; the exact 14 CCR § 353 text is pending verification. 14 CCR § 353 (pending primary verification) Aug 2026 needs review
Black Bear Big game must be taken with centerfire ammunition; the exact 14 CCR § 353 text is pending verification. 14 CCR § 353 (pending primary verification) Aug 2026 needs review

Federal rules that apply in every state

These federal requirements apply in California on top of state law.

Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species. 50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist. 50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules. 50 CFR § 32.2(k)

Sources

California Fish & Game Code § 3004.5 (AB 711) California Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
CDFW — Nonlead Ammunition in California California Department of Fish and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026

Sources & methodology

Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.

Legal disclaimer — please read

This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.

  • Confirm every rule in the current official California hunting regulations before your hunt.
  • Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
  • When in doubt, contact California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly.

The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.