Hunting Tags Now Available For Catalina Deer Eradication Program
Hunters who want to participate in the highly controversial saga of removing non-native deer from Catalina Island can now apply for tags in incoming hunting opportunities. Here’s more from KTLA TV in Los Angeles:
The hunting tags for the season, which will run from Oct. 24 through Dec. 18, are free, but eligibility is limited to Catalina Island residents, according to the Catalina Island Conservancy.
“For those who have hunted the island for generations, we know the importance of this final season,” said David Solomon, interim president and CEO of the Conservancy. “We hope it’s a meaningful conclusion for the local hunters who have been part of this tradition.”
The controversial plan was approved in February by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will use meat harvested from the animals for its California Condor Recovery Program.
Here’s some additional information from the Catalina Conservancy, which has been criticized for initial plans to utlilize helicopters to eradicate the deer, but that plan was scaled down due to intense pushback from various sources:
The Catalina Island Conservancy’s hunting program is part of a Private Lands Management (PLM) agreement approved by the California Fish and Game Commission.
The 2026 Catalina Island hunting season will be open exclusively to Island residents with hunting permitted from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Friday, Dec. 18, 2026. Private land ownership allows the Conservancy to set parameters based on conservation needs and safety, while working in consultation with community and agency partners.
Must be a full-time resident of Catalina Island
Hunting Zones by Date
The following Catalina Island hunting zones will rotate throughout the 2026 hunting season. Hunters must follow the maps closely to ensure they are in the correct zone on the correct day. Several areas of the Island are permanently closed to hunting.
Oct, 24-30
Oct. 31-Nov. 8
Nov. 12-Dec. 18
