Q: Who is eligible to use the Online Registration system?
A: Anyone who is 18 years of age and holds a currently valid hunting license may apply for lotteries to select participants for hunts offered in the Online Registration system. Hunters who are under the age of 18 must have a parent or responsible adult register for their own account and apply on the minor's behalf.

Q: Which hunts can I use the Online Registration system to register for?
A: Upland Game Bird Hunts (Dove, Quail, Chukar, Pheasant, Wild Turkey), as well as certain Deer, Pig, and Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese) hunts are offered through the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system.

Q: Which hunts are not handled by the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system?
A: Hunts which are currently administered by the Department of Fish and Game License and Revenue Branch are not handled by the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system. These include most big game hunts (bear, elk, most deer hunts, etc.) and waterfowl or upland game hunts which occur on California State Wildlife Areas or Federal Refuges.

Q: What is required to use the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system?
A: You must register for a Department of Fish and Game Web User Account in order to use the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system. A DFG Web User Account may be registered for here. Follow the instructions to create a new account. You must be at least 18 years of age to create a DFG Web User Account. Once your account is activated, you will be able to access the DFG Special Hunts Online Registration system here.

Q: What information must I provide to apply for a DFG Web User Account?
A: All users are required to provide their first and last name, mailing address (including city, state, and zip code) and a unique email address. A phone number is optional but desirable, in the event that the Department needs to notify you quickly of an impending change regarding a hunt you have applied for, selected to participate in a hunt from a waiting list, or any problem with your application.

Q: I created a self-registered DFG web account but forgot my password. When I tried to reset it, I could not complete the process. What should I do?
A: There was a problem with the web account system which was preventing users who had been locked out, due to repeated incorrect password submission, from resetting their password. This problem has been fixed.

If you need to reset your password, click the "MyAccount" tab above, then click the "Forgot Password" link, and follow the instructions.

Q: Can I apply for my whole hunting party using the Online Registration system?
A: Yes, providing that your hunting party size is not greater than the maximum hunting party size specified for the hunt. If your party is larger than the maximum hunt party size specified, you will have to split your party and have another party member apply on a separate application.

Q: May my whole family use one email address?
A: Each adult hunt party leader who wishes to apply as a hunting party leader for a hunt lottery must have their own unique email address. This is important when a family wishes to submit more than one registration for a particular hunt, where the maximum hunting party size will not allow all family members to apply using one application as one hunting party:

SCENARIO 1: A family of four (father, mother, and two children 18 and 19 years old), wishes to apply for the lottery for a hunt where the maximum hunting party size is two hunters. Each hunt party leader would have to create their own individual DFG Web User accounts, each with a unique email address, in order for all to register.

SCENARIO 2: A family of four including two children under the age of 18 wishes to apply for the above described hunt. One adult could apply on behalf of one child as the junior hunt party leader, and include the other child as a hunt party member on that application, and that same adult could apply on a second application, including their spouse as a hunting party member. In this instance only one DFG Web User Account would be required for both applications, so one email address would suffice.

It should be noted, however, that in Scenario 2, if, subsequently, the adult listed as the hunting party member on the second application wanted to apply as a hunt party leader for any other hunts, they would require their own DFG Web User Account, and would need a second email address in order to obtain it.

Q: How many times may I submit an application for any particular hunt?
A: All hunters may only be included on one application for any particular hunt, either as a hunt party leader, or as a hunting party member. Applications where an applicant on one application has already applied as an applicant on another application, or an applicant is included as a hunting party member on an already submitted application, or a hunting party member is already included in a submitted application for the same hunt, will be rejected.

Q: What do I do if I am a hunter under 18 years of age?
A: A parent or responsible adult must create a DFG Web User Account and apply on your behalf. They need not have a hunting license in order to apply on your behalf. They must, however, have a unique email address, in order to create a DFG Web User account.

Q: Can I apply for my whole hunting party using the Online Registration system?
A: Yes, providing that your hunting party size is not greater than the maximum hunting party size specified for the hunt. If your party is larger than the maximum hunt party size specified, you will have to split your party and have another party member apply on a separate registration.

Q, What is meant by “Maximum hunt party size”?
A.The maximum hunt party size is the maximum number of persons allowed, for the specified hunt, to hunt in a single group with the applicant, or to hunt together as a group in a single hunting blind. By choosing a specific maximum hunt party size when selecting hunts for the system to display, the system will display only those hunts with the maximum hunt party size you chose. You may always apply with fewer hunters in your party than the maximum hunt party size to apply for a hunt, but you may not have more hunters in your party than the maximum.

Q: How will I be notified if I am selected to participate in a hunt?
A: When applying for a hunt lottery you will be asked to specify a notification method, either by email to your email address, or by US Post, to your mailing address.

Q: Are there waiting lists for the hunts? How will I know if I am on one?
A: All hunts have an ample waiting list randomly drawn at the time of the lottery, to allow for the refilling of slots vacated due to cancellation, illness, etc.. You will not be notified that you are on a waiting list. You will only be notified that you have been selected from the waiting list to participate.

Q: How are the lotteries run?
A: A computer-generated random sequence is assigned to all applicants for a hunt. This number based upon a rapidly changing value based upon the current time, to assure the "randomness" of the lottery.

Q: I have been selected to participate in a hunt, but I will not be able to attend. What do I need to do?
A: Each hunt has a contact number for information, etc., posted with it. Please contact the hunt leader at that number and let them know that you are not able to attend the hunt. In this manner, the leader may contact the next available person on the hunt waiting list to allow them to take your place.

Q: Can I change my application once I have submitted it?
A: No, an application may not be changed once it has been submitted. If you have made a mistake, please contact hunt leader at the number posted with the hunt. They may need to arrange to delete your application so that you may reapply for the hunts you desire, with the corrected information.

Q: I made a mistake on my application. How do I fix it?
A: Contact the hunt leader at the number posted with the hunt. They may need to arrange to delete your application so that you may reapply for the hunts you desire, with the corrected information.

Q: I forgot to include a person in my hunting party. What do I do?
A: As stated just above, contact the hunt leader at the number posted with the hunt. They may need to arrange to delete your application so that you may reapply for the hunts you desire, with the corrected information, including your hunting party members' information.

Q: I am a new hunter, and I was given a Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number when I completed my Hunter's Safety classes. Can I use it when I apply for a hunt?
A: If a hunt accepts a Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number, it will be requested in the application after you have selected the hunts lotteries you wish to apply for.

Q: How does having a Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number help me?
A: Drawing priority will be given one time to newly certified hunters when they submit their Hunter Education Certificate number on the application for any Apprentice Pen-raised Pheasant hunt.

Q: Which hunts may I use my Priority Stamp number or Hunter's Education Certificate number to register for?
A: Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate numbers are used in conjunction with Apprentice Pen-raised Pheasant hunts.

Q: Is my Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number always valid?
A: Your Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number remains valid until the point where you have been selected to participate in a hunt for which you used your Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number to apply. At that point, your Priority Stamp or Hunter's Education Certificate number is invalidated for future use.