Elk hunts through SHARE (CDFW)

[KonoctisWigwam]

@Eastenerwesterner I see there are some Elk hunts through share, and there's a lot of in Humbolt by where your place is.

I'm trying to get a bull tag for Magruder Ranch in Mendocino. The last day to get a tag is July 24th.

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/SHARE/Elk

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

@Eastenerwesterner

I got a bull Elk tag this morning. I got my confirmation by email, also.

This is the email that was sent to me after contacting Victoria Barr.

----------------------------- email from Victoria Barr ------------------------------
Hi Alan,

Hunters can apply for access through a licensed sales agent (Big 5, etc.), over the phone at 800-565-1458 (toll free) and through our online licensing system, the same system you buy your hunting license and tags through. https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales

Step by step instructions:
1) Go to the link above and go to Online License System, log in
2) Click- Purchase License
3) 2026 hunting (under Menu on the left side)
4) Scroll down to Drawings- SHARE hunts are there
5) Click on SHARE Big Game Hunts, SHARE Bird Hunts, SHARE Elk hunts or SHARE PLM elk hunts (junior only hunts)
5) Click Add to Cart- this will give you a choice of ranches
6) Choose a ranch- this will give you a calendar of dates that are available to apply for
7) Select each date you want to apply for (each selection will cost $15.12)
8) Check out

Information on the SHARE elk hunts can be found on the SHARE webpage at: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/SHARE


Good luck,

Victoria Barr (she/her)
SHARE and PLM Coordinator
Wildlife Branch
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244
916-203-0567
--------------------------------------End of Email-------------------------------------

There's a lot of tags in Humbolt, up by your property. The tag is only $15.12, and they give you a 5 day window to hunt for the tag you select. Darn good deal, IMO.

See https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/SHARE/Elk

Alan (The Other Alan)

EDIT: I see a couple listed in Del Norte, is that the county your property is in? The second listing has a massive amount of tags, but limited to dates. Still, that should be a shoe-in for your place in Oreck.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

My hunting partner and his buddy both busted my dreams. These are evidently draws, that need to be drawn before they get issued. Each of the entries say "after you get drawn".

My hunting partner's buddy laughed, saying there's no such thing as a $15.12 tag in California. Only if you get drawn. Not sure how good the odds are, but my hunting buddy said that thousands of hunters typically apply...

They're educating me...

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

I have advised you in the past. Get a guide
They may be able to help you through the process.
Guides helped my buddy in Utah with an over the counter license.

I see tons of Elk in Humboldt and Del Norte county. But IDK where you can hunt them
It’s a hard to get tag, It’s pretty much a once in a lifetime hunt.

Make it as successful as you can.

This comes from a person that is a landowner and can get permission from neighbors that would cover 500a if they ever open up my zone.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

Get a guide

Yeah, I keep struggling with this, but it's probably money well spent. There seem to be 2 draws, the first is $8/each and gets a point for the next year if you don't win, and the later ones are $15.12, and you get no points.

Getting a guide is probably good advice.

 

[Kewl Evil Genius]

Looking at the 2025 stats ... looks like the odds are better than winning the lottery.

Does seem like a "once in a lifetime event"

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

Looking at the 2025 stats ... looks like the odds are better than winning the lottery.

Does seem like a "once in a lifetime event"

I can't deny that statement!

The odds do look better than the lotto, I'll give you that...not very inspiring though...

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

All 3 of the Del Norte county ones are near my place. I have seen elk (or sign when I looked at an acreage).
I have seen elk on a large dairy farm surrounding a friend’s place. Having dinner, look out the window and seeing elk is pretty cool.
I have heard bugling on the dairy farm behind my place. Where I consistently see elk is at the Rez/state federal lands.
These are all flat land areas on the share program there. So you need good stalking skills and good distance shooting skills.
Humboldt county areas are drivable distance. I usually see the elk there near lagoons along the 101.

My hope once I sell the ranch (that the area hasn’t been open in 8 years for Tule) is to buy some hill property with any extra proceeds up north. Park a shed on it for an off grid retreat.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

Are those all Tule Elk in the Del Norte area?

Not sure if Roosevelt is more desirable or not, but they are slightly bigger.

I'm not very hopeful to be drawn, and I don't get any extra points for this private land culling...

All 3 of the Del Norte county ones are near my place. I have seen elk (or sign when I looked at an acreage).
I have seen elk on a large dairy farm surrounding a friend’s place. Having dinner, look out the window and seeing elk is pretty cool.

I bet!

Humboldt county areas are drivable distance. I usually see the elk there near lagoons along the 101.

Yeah, they like water for sure...and in California it gets humid/sticky lately, today is a good example in Lake. I've been to the courthouse twice to file papers for divorce. It's pretty muggy today.

My hope once I sell the ranch (that the area hasn’t been open in 8 years for Tule) is to buy some hill property with any extra proceeds up north. Park a shed on it for an off grid retreat.

There's some great hunting land around CA. I love this state, I hope they don't force me to leave.

So far, it doesn't seem like they'll tax the retired, but the state seems to be rolling a lot of extra taxes into the home tax.

My hope once I sell the ranch (that the area hasn’t been open in 8 years for Tule) is to buy some hill property with any extra proceeds up north. Park a shed on it for an off grid retreat.

There's some great hunting land around CA. I love this state, I hope they don't force me to leave.

For distance, would 300 yards be ok up there? They seem to like water. I was in a diner getting breakfast, and a guy was saying that the road up to Lake Pilsbury is pretty bad, as are most roads in the area.

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

Roosevelt up north. 300 should be good. Hunting on the Share properties would be hunting in a cow pasture in Del Norte.

Tule midstate, usually near resivoirs like San Louis and San Antonio. Lots of ponds on the SF watershed property between Livermore and Mt Hamilton. I have a key to the gates because it’s a secondary wildfire evac route.

I am at 1800ft, so I don’t get the humidity. It’s at 18% right now.