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California is the #1 state with the fewest registered hunters
With a 3 million year record of it, it’s safe to say hunting is one of the oldest forms of human activity. Stacker compiled a complete list of the states with the most registered hunters using 2020 data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. States are ranked by percent of residents with hunting licenses. Population data is from the Census as of 2018.
There are 15.2 million hunting license holders in the United States. Over the centuries, hunting has largely evolved from necessity to sport—although many hunters in the U.S. do process hunted animals for food. As hunting gained popularity as a leisure activity, ecosystems suffered and led to various regulations in order to help preserve and conserve wildlife resources. In the United States, each state has set dates for hunting seasons, thresholds for how many tags or wild game stamps are allowed, and specific areas that are off-limits to hunting in order to help preserve habitats and animal populations.
In the past several decades, the number of people with hunting licenses in the United States has been on a sharp decline. This can be attributed to a few factors, namely the rise in the urbanization of the United States, the development of farmland, a lack of free time among hunters, and limited access to hunting land, writes the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Licenses dropped from a peak of roughly 17 million in the 1980s to 15 million in 2019, according to The Seattle Times.
California by the numbers
– Percent of residents with paid hunting licenses: 0.7%
– Total paid hunting license holders: 267,170
– Total hunting license, tags, permits and stamps: 991,897
– Gross cost of all hunting licenses: $21,107,452
Over the past 50 years, the number of hunting licenses in California has been on a rapid decline, falling 70% from more than 760,000 in the 1970s to under 268,000 in 2020—even as the state’s population has skyrocketed, according to The Mercury News. Urbanization and strict gun laws, in addition to a drop in overall interest, are why California has the fewest number of hunting licenses in the nation.
The drop-off in revenue from hunting licenses is starting to pose a problem for conservation groups. Thanks to the 1937 Pittman-Robertson Act, an 11% excise tax was placed on the sale of firearms, which was then used for conservation. Not only that, but the profits from hunting licenses themselves also go directly to funding for conservation.
There was a slight uptick in the number of hunters earlier in 2020 as some U.S. meat processors stopped operating because of COVID-19. People also had a lot more time on their hands, according to Reuters. Indiana, for example, saw a 28% jump in turkey license sales during the first week of the season. Whether these results will be sustained remains to be seen.
So which states are holding steady with hunting traditions? Take a look to see which states made the top and bottom of the list.
States with the most registered hunters
#1. South Dakota: 24.1% of residents with paid hunting licenses
#2. Wyoming: 22.7% of residents with paid hunting licenses
#3. Montana: 21.1% of residents with paid hunting licenses
States with the least registered hunters
#1. California: 0.7% of residents with paid hunting licenses
#2. Rhode Island: 0.7% of residents with paid hunting licenses
#3. Hawaii: 0.7% of residents with paid hunting licenses
FAQs
California by the numbers
Which state has the fewest hunters? ›
Conversely, the states with fewest number of licenses issued in 2021 per 100 residents are mostly in the Northeast: Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Delaware. These states are also the most densely-populated in the United States.
How many registered hunters are in California? ›
While hunting is a way of life for many Americans in all 50 states, in some parts of the country, it is far more popular than others. In California, 278,210 paid hunting licenses were issued in 2021. Adjusting for population, this comes out to 0.7 for every 100 people, the fewest among states.
Is California a good hunting state? ›
California is known for having the earliest deer seasons in the nation, along with opportunities to harvest Pronghorn antelope; Nelson Bighorn sheep; Tule, Roosevelt, and Rocky Mountain elk; black bear, wild pigs, and many other furbearers, upland birds, and waterfowl.
What state has the most gun hunters? ›
Nevertheless, all of those who hunt protected species in the country are required to hold a hunting license. In 2023, the U.S. state with the highest number of hunting licenses, tags, permits, and stamps issued was Wisconsin, with over 4.5 million.
What is the #1 hunting state? ›
Alaska has large areas of public land that are open to hunting, managed by the state and federal governments. Most national parks are closed to hunting, although national preserve areas may be hunted.
What state has the least hunting pressure? ›
Hunting Pressure:
Iowa has some of the lowest hunting pressure in the country, making it a haven for those seeking trophy-class whitetails.
How many deers are in California? ›
Estimates of 460,420 in 2021, 458,000 deer in 2020; 459,450 in 2019; and, 470,000 in 2018. A population estimate from the state of 532,621 in 2017, 621,082 in 2016 and 649,338 in 2015. Down from a peak of about 2 million around 1960.
How long does a CA hunting license last? ›
California Hunting License
Fees for hunting licenses also vary. Hunting licenses are valid as of July 1st of each year and expire on June 30th the following year. Lifetime licenses are available for California residents. Contact the California Department of Fish & Wildlife for more information on hunting licenses.
How much is a hunting Licence in CA? ›
Hunting Licenses
| Title | Fee |
|---|
| Resident Hunting License | $58.58 |
| Nonresident Hunting License | $204.69 |
| Junior Hunting License | $15.38 |
| One-Day Nonresident Hunting License | $28.08 |
4 more rowsPRIVATE LAND
Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner.
Can hunting survive in California? ›
California hunters have dropped from a high of about 764,000 in 1970 to somewhere around 286,000 in 2022. And the number of hunters had been incrementally dropping, down to a low of 258,316. Until 2020, that is, when more people started hunting through the coronavirus pandemic.
Can you hunt CA state land? ›
Unless specifically prohibited, public lands managed by BLM are open to hunting under California Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunting Regulations. A California hunting license is required to hunt within the State of California.
What state has the fewest hunters? ›
Urbanization and strict gun laws, in addition to a drop in overall interest, are why California has the fewest number of hunting licenses in the nation.
What state is known for guns? ›
What State Has the Most Guns. It is estimated that Texas has more guns than any other state, with 1,005,555 guns and just over 29 million residents.
Which state has the least farming? ›
Surprisingly, the largest state (Alaska) has even fewer farms than the smallest state (Rhode Island): 1,050 versus 1,100. Rounding out the top five in farm net income per state are Nebraska with $4.1 billion, Iowa with $3.2 billion, and Washington with about $3 billion.
What state has the highest hunter density? ›
Pennsylvania has the highest number of deer hunters per square mile at 14.4, followed by New York (12.0), Wisconsin (11.4), New Jersey (10.5) and Michigan (9.5).
