California
(Note: This overview was extracted from the December 2007 issue of The Huntin' Fool)
California does not have an online application system. Applicants must apply on paper and are required to purchase a non-refundable hunting license to apply. Even though paper applications are required to apply, you may use a Visa, MasterCard, personal check, or money order and you will not have to front the entire tag fees only the $7.50 non-refundable application fee.
California does have a preference point system where each year an applicant is unsuccessful in drawing a tag, they will earn a preference point. Ninety percent of the deer tags in a given hunt will be issued to applicants with the most preference points. The remaining 10% of the tags will be issued on a random drawing. For sheep, elk, and antelope if one tag is issued for a hunt it will go on the random drawing. If two tags are issued one will go to max point holders and one will be issued on the random drawing. Hunts with four or more tags, 75% of the tags will be given to max preference point holders. The tricky part is that a total of “up to” ONE tag for sheep, elk, and antelope will be issued to non-residents for the entire state! Do not apply in California if you are a non-resident and are just starting to acquire points. It is not worth the money or the time to apply.
Non-residents who have been applying since they initiated the preference point system should continue to apply and gain preference points. In 2007, California issued 19 total Desert Bighorn draw tags in six different units across the state. Some excellent quality exists with a 180 class ram harvested a few months ago in the White Mountains unit! California does have a few good Mule deer units as well as some great Blacktail hunting on private land with over-the-counter tags. They also offer a variety of species of elk including Tule elk, Roosevelt elk, and Rocky Mountain elk with some excellent quality of each available. Tule elk are a species that are not offered anywhere else!