The Board: Crucial Dates & Deadlines
Welcome to your first official weekly briefing. The big application window is behind us, and we are officially moving into the anticipation phase of the 2026 season.
June 15, 2026 – Big Game Draw Results Go Live: Clear your calendar for next Monday. CDFW will release the official draw results for premium deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep tags through the online ALDS portal. We’ll drop a full breakdown on how to check your status and what your next steps are in next week's email.
Mandatory Reporting Reminder: If you held a spring turkey tag this year, make sure your harvest report is submitted via the CDFW portal to avoid automated financial penalties on your next license cycle.
From Field to Table: Hot-Weather Meat Care
With summer pig hunting open year-round across the state, many of us are spending our weekends tracking hogs through the baking foothills. But pulling the trigger in 90-degree weather means the real work starts immediately.
The 30-Minute Rule
Bacteria thrives in warm environments, and a heavy wild hog acts like an insulator. To keep your pork pristine, you need to skin and field dress the animal within 30 minutes of harvest.
The Backcountry Cooling Checklist
Get it off the ground: Hang the carcass in the shade immediately to maximize airflow.
Skin it completely: Leaving the hide on traps intense body heat. Get it off right away.
Use breathable game bags: Pack the quarters into high-quality, breathable game bags rather than plastic, which seals in moisture and ruins meat.
The ice chest transition: If you are packing the meat into an ice chest for the drive home, elevate the game bags on a grid or place a tarp over the ice. Letting your raw meat sit directly in pooling, melting ice water will ruin the flavor and texture of your harvest.
Waterfowl News:
The 100-Day Debate
While duck season feels miles away, the regulatory wheels are turning right now. The Pacific Flyway Council has authorized a liberal framework for the 2026–2027 season, but CDFW has officially submitted a proposal to the Fish and Game Commission to shorten the general duck and goose seasons from 107 days down to 100 days in the Balance of State, San Joaquin, and Southern California zones.
The state's goal is to reallocate those remaining 7 days to late-season falconry-only windows. Additionally, a downward adjustment to the white-fronted goose limit is under heavy review. The Commission will make its final binding vote during its summer sessions, and we will post the exact adopted calendar dates the second they are locked in.
Gear Check:
Mobile Hydration for High Heat
CamelBak Mule Hydration Pack (3L / 100 oz)
When you're putting miles on your boots during a blistering July scouting trip, carrying plastic water bottles in your hands or a clunky pack just doesn't cut it. To stay out in the field longer without overheating, a dedicated, high-capacity hydration pack is a complete game-changer.
The CamelBak Mule is perfectly sized for hot weather day hunts and scouting runs. It features a heavy-duty, 3-liter reservoir that delivers 20% more water per sip than standard bladders, allowing you to easily stay hydrated on the move. Built with an Air Director back panel, the pack actively channels airflow across your back to minimize sweat buildup in high temperatures. It offers just enough storage space to organize your binoculars, a lightweight knife, tags, and a first-aid kit without adding unnecessary bulk. Constructed from rugged, ripstop nylon, it’s tough enough to take a beating from low-hanging branches and thick brush while keeping your hands entirely free to glass the hillsides.
Dog of the Week
Meet "Boone"
Owner: NorCalHunt subscriber., Redding, CA
Boone is a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer who splits his time between pointing mountain quail in the high Sierra pines and retrieving greenheads out of the Sacramento Valley rice. When he isn't in the field, he lives for truck rides and guarding the garage while gear gets cleaned.
Want your dog featured? Hit reply to this email, send us a clean picture of your hunting partner, and give us a quick 2-3 sentence blurb about what they hunt and where they put in work!
Community: Help Us Build the Pack
We want to make sure this newsletter gives you the exact information you actually need for your specific square of California.
Drop us a quick reply to this email and tell us:
What zones do you hunt most?
What species are you targeting this fall?
(Replying also tells Gmail that we belong in your primary inbox, not your hidden promotions tab!)
If you have a hunting partner who spends their weekends in the foothills, the rice, or the riverbanks, forward this briefing to them and tell them to check out norcalhunt.com. Word of mouth from real hunters is how we grow.
Stay safe out there, get your gear cleaned, and we’ll see you in the field.
— The NorCal Hunt Team
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