California
Big Game Hunting & Fishing
With over 40,000 acres of private land, droves of free-roaming pigs, and a lifetime of stories to share, Frontera prides itself on helping people forge heritage by creating memorable hunting experiences. As a family-operated business with multigenerational expertise in cattle and hunting, Frontera Hunting knows the indescribable value of preserving traditions and creating new ones.
Camp Five Outfitters is located on California’s beautiful Central Coast just north of Paso Robles, in the heart of California’s renowned wild pig country. Operating on 45,000 acres of private ranch lands, Camp Five Outfitters offers hunters 100% opportunity for wild pigs, deer, Tule elk, upland birds, dove, varmints and predators. With success rates running nearly 100%, Camp Five Outfitters is considered to be the premier hunting destination in California. In addition to superb hunting, Camp Five Outfitters provides personable, seasoned guides dedicated to insure your success as well as clean, comfortable lodging and outstanding home-cooked meals for those who want them! If you’d like to experience the best hunting California has to offer, join us at Camp Five Outfitters.
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Find top-rated California hunting and fishing guides and outfitters that specialize in trophy elk, mule deer, upland birds, and premier freshwater and saltwater fishing. Our vetted outfitters combine decades of local knowledge with up-to-date season and regulation expertise to put clients on more opportunities — whether you want a backcountry spot-and-stalk elk hunt in the Sierra Nevada or a guided trout float on a high-country stream.
Work with licensed, insured California hunting and fishing guides and outfitters who build custom packages around your goals, experience level, and timeline. From private-ranch hunts and public-land strategies to family-friendly fly-fishing lessons and full-day coastal charters for salmon and calico, our outfitters emphasize safety, conservation-minded practices, and proven field techniques that improve success and leave the habitat better than they found it.
The best California hunting and fishing guides and outfitters know local access points, migration patterns, tide and weather windows, and must-have gear for each species and region — Central Coast charters, Northern California river steelhead trips, and Sierra backcountry hunts included. Their on-the-ground scouting, pre-trip planning (licenses, tags, and logistics), and transparent pricing remove friction so hunters and anglers can focus on the experience and results.
Choose California hunting and fishing guides and outfitters with verified reviews, clear safety protocols, and a track record of successful seasons to make the most of limited tags and peak fishing windows. Contact us or request availability to compare guided hunt packages, fishing charters, and conservation-minded outfitters — lock in peak-season dates and get a tailored itinerary that targets the species and style of adventure you want.
California's diverse landscapes offer world-class guided experiences from the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific Coast
Home to world-class salmon and steelhead rivers including the Sacramento, Trinity, Klamath, and Smith. Northern California also offers guided blacktail deer hunts, black bear hunts in dense timber country, and exceptional waterfowl hunting in the Sacramento Valley's flooded rice fields.
Species: Salmon, Steelhead, Blacktail deer, Black bear, Waterfowl
The Sierra Nevada range is California's premier destination for mule deer, tule elk, and backcountry hunting. High-elevation trout fishing on alpine lakes and rivers draws fly anglers from across the country, with species including golden trout, rainbow, and brown trout at their finest.
Species: Mule deer, Tule elk, Trout, Black bear — Season: Summer–Fall
The California Delta is one of the best striped bass fisheries in the western United States. San Francisco Bay and surrounding waters offer guided duck and sea duck hunts, halibut fishing, and sturgeon trips. A diverse mix of freshwater and saltwater opportunities within reach of Northern and Central California.
Species: Striped bass, Halibut, Sturgeon, Sea ducks, Waterfowl
Stretching from Monterey to Santa Barbara, California's Central Coast is wild pig country. Private ranches spanning tens of thousands of acres offer year-round hog hunting with near 100% opportunity. Tule elk, turkey, quail, and dove hunting round out the options. Offshore charter fishing for rockfish, lingcod, and halibut is also excellent here.
Species: Wild hogs, Tule elk, Turkey, Rockfish — Season: Year-round
Southern California's Pacific coast is a top destination for offshore and nearshore saltwater fishing. Full-day and multi-day charters target yellowtail, calico bass, white seabass, albacore tuna, and bluefin tuna. Kelp beds and offshore banks produce some of the best light-tackle saltwater action in the state, especially summer through fall.
Species: Yellowtail, Tuna, Calico bass, White seabass — Season: Summer–Fall
California's inland valleys and rolling foothills offer guided upland bird hunting for pheasant, chukar, quail, and dove on private preserves and large ranches. Wild hog hunts are common throughout this region, and bass fishing on inland reservoirs provides excellent year-round freshwater angling.
Species: Pheasant, Quail, Wild hogs, Bass — Season: Year-round
Find the right California guide or outfitter for your target species — from trophy elk to coastal tuna
California's native tule elk is one of the most prized big game hunts in the western U.S. Tag-draw hunts are available through CDFW on public land, while select private ranches offer direct-book opportunities. Best hunted in the rut from August through October. Bulls can exceed 700 lbs with impressive antler mass.
Type: Big game — Season: Aug–Oct — Tag draw required
Mule deer inhabit the eastern Sierra and high desert, while blacktail deer are found throughout Northern California's coastal ranges and timber country. Both species are hunted August through October. Spot-and-stalk hunting is the most common technique, with private ranch hunts offering the best success rates.
Type: Big game — Season: Aug–Oct
Wild boar and feral hogs are California's most accessible guided hunt — available year-round on private land with no tag required in most situations. The Central Coast and foothills hold some of the highest hog densities in the state. Guided hog hunts are ideal for first-time hunters and those wanting action without the draw system.
Type: Big game — Season: Year-round — No tag required
Chinook (king) salmon runs on the Sacramento, Trinity, and Klamath rivers are legendary. Guided river trips typically run July through October, with peak action in late summer and early fall. Both drift boat and bank fishing techniques are used. Ocean salmon fishing off the coast is also available when season permits.
Type: Freshwater & Saltwater — Season: Jul–Oct
California steelhead fishing on the Trinity, Smith, and Klamath rivers is some of the best on the West Coast. Guided drift boat trips are the most popular format, typically running December through March when fish are most active. Both fly fishing and conventional gear techniques are offered depending on your guide.
Type: Freshwater — Season: Dec–Mar
California's Pacific Flyway hosts millions of ducks and geese each fall and winter. The Sacramento Valley's flooded rice fields are world-renowned for pintail, teal, mallard, widgeon, and specklebelly and snow goose hunting. Season runs October through January. Top clubs and guides book out fast — reserve well in advance for peak dates.
Type: Waterfowl — Season: Oct–Jan — Pacific Flyway
California offers guided upland hunting for pheasant, valley quail, mountain quail, chukar, dove, and turkey on private ranches and preserves statewide. Many operations use well-trained pointing and flushing dogs. Pheasant preserves often operate September through February, while dove season opens September 1.
Type: Upland — Species: Pheasant, Quail, Dove, Turkey
California's Sierra Nevada streams, alpine lakes, and tailwaters support excellent guided trout fishing for rainbow, brown, brook, and the rare golden trout. Fly fishing guides operate on the Upper Sacramento, Truckee, and Owens rivers among others. The best fishing is typically May through October after snowmelt stabilizes flows.
Type: Fly fishing — Season: May–Oct — Sierra Nevada
Everything you need to know about California hunting & fishing guides and outfitters
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