License Statistics

License sales data is organized by license type and year. Data available includes license fees, quantity issued and revenue totals.

  • Sport Fishing
    Sport fishing licenses are valid January 1 through December 31. Validations and report cards are required for certain species or areas.
  • Hunting
    Hunting licenses are valid July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Validations and harvest tags are required for many species.
  • Commercial Fish Businesses
    Commercial fish business licenses are valid from January 1 through December 31.
  • Commercial Fishing
    Commercial fishing licenses, permits and registrations are valid from April 1 through March 31.
  • Special Licenses and Permits
    Special permits, licenses, registrations, and stamps are valid at different times throughout the year. These licenses are issued only at the License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento and are required for the taking, buying, selling, breeding, viewing, possessing, studying, and collecting of certain animals. Special permits are required for biological supply houses, falconers, fallow deer farmers, domesticated game breeders, guides, hunting clubs, native reptile propagators, restricted species permittees, scientific collectors, and trappers.

CDFW's License and Revenue Branch is responsible for the issuance and revenue collection of approximately 400 types of licenses and permits related to recreational hunting and fishing, commercial fishing and special permits. The Department enlists approximately 1,300 retail license agents and online license sales to issue sport fishing and hunting license through the Automated License Data System (ALDS). License Agents vary in size from "mom and pop" stores in rural areas to large big box stores in urban areas. License Agents issue licenses to the public through Internet Point of Sale (IPOS) terminals.

License sales statistics by area are available upon request for sport fishing and hunting items. Contact the Department's License and Revenue Branch for more information.