Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Info > California Report > California Deer > California Deer Hunting D Zones (D3 -D10)

California Deer Hunting D Zones (D3 -D10)

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season:

D3- D5 Zone Rifle is Sept 28 - Nov 3 , 2002.

D3  Zone Bow is Aug. Aug 17 - Sept 8, 2002. G12 is Sept 21- Sept 29, 2002.

J8 Junior is Dec 7- Dec 31, 2002.

J16 Junior is Sept 28 -Nov 3, 2002.

G7 (Beale Either Sex Military only) is Aug 17 - Nov 3, 2002. Hunt can be rescheduled by the Commanding Officer with Department concurrence between the season opener and December 31. Please contact Beale AFB recreation manager for more info.

Tag Availability: 

D3, D4 and D5 zones are combined for the 2002 season on one tag. D3 -D5 zone  has 33,000 tags for 2002, 2001 had 33,000 tags. 8,847 tags were sold in 1999 for D3 zone.

J8 has 20 tags for 2002, 2001 had 12 tags and filled in the Premium tag drawing. There were 12 J8 tags in 1999. Tagholders shall be accompanied by an adult chaperon 18 years of age or older while hunting.

G12 has 30 tags and filled in the Premium tag drawing. There were 30 G12 tags in 1999.

J16 has 75 tags for 2002. Tagholders shall be accompanied by an adult chaperon 18 years of age or older while hunting.

G7 has 20 tags. This hunt is open only to military members. Special Conditions: 1) Only shotguns with single slugs or muzzleloading rifles, crossbows, and archery equipment may be used. 2) In the event the Commanding Officer cancels the hunt, G-7 tagholders will only have the option of exchanging the unused tag for any remaining deer tag or receiving a refund.

Bag and Possession Limit: 

D3 - One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

G12, G7, J8 and J16 Either Sex. Antlerless Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, antlerless deer are defined as female deer, fawns of either sex other than spotted fawns, and male deer with an unbranched antler on one or both sides which is not more than three inches in length. Either-Sex Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, either-sex deer are defined as antlerless deer as described above, or legal bucks that have two or more points in the upper two-thirds of either antler. Spike bucks may not be taken.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2001 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 10%. J8 is 29%. G12 was 27%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 12%. J8 is 25%. G12 was 43%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 9%. J8 is 33%. G12 was 27%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D3 zone  is 9.8%, with an estimated 867 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is 27:100. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is 13,300.

D3 Zone Boundary:  In those portions of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba counties within a line beginning at the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 162 at Willows; east on Highway 162 to Highway 70 at Oroville; northeast on Highway 70 to Highway 89; south on Highway 89 to the new Gold Lake Road (near Graeagle); south on the new Gold Lake Road to Highway 49 at Bassetts; east on Highway 49 to Yuba Pass; south on the Yuba Pass-Webber Lake Road (main haul road) through Bonta Saddle to the Jackson Meadows Highway (Fiberboard Road); west on the Jackson Meadows Highway for two miles to the White Rock Lake Road; south on the White Rock Lake Road to the new road to White Rock Lake (below Bear Valley); south and east on the new White Rock Lake Road to the Pacific Crest Trail (one mile west of White Rock Lake in Section 21, T18N, R14E, M.D.B.M.); south and east on the Pacific Crest Trail to Interstate 80 near the Castle Peak-Boreal Ridge Summit; west on Interstate 80 to Highway 20; west on Highway 20 to the Bear River in Bear Valley; west along the Bear River to Highway 65 near Wheatland; north on Highway 65 to Highway 70; north on Highway 70 to Highway 20 in Marysville; west on Highway 20 to Interstate 5 at Williams; north on Interstate 5 to the point of beginning.

J16 Junior Hunt Boundary: Excluding Glenn County, in those portions of Butte, Colusa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba Counties within the area described as zone D-3 above.

G7 Beale AFB Hunt Boundary: That portion of Yuba County lying within the exterior boundaries of Beale Air Force Base.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

PUBLIC LAND

Most of the public land is in the eastern portion of this zone. Deer occur throughout the zone until early to mid-season. Most of the public land is administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Headquarters offices are as follows:

Plumas National Forest   159 Lawrence Street / P.O. Box 11500 , Quincy, CA 95971. (530) 283-2050

Tahoe National Forest  631 Coyote St., Nevada City CA 95959. 530-265-4531. (tdd) 530-478-6118

CDF California Dept. of Forestry  You can check on current fire conditions here. Stop in and talk to the guys since they live and work in the forests.

916-358-2877.

From about mid-October, any significant winter storm will cause migratory deer at high elevations in the eastern portion of the zone to move down onto private lands in the west. You must have written permission from the landowner to hunt on private lands. There are some public lands owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the western portion of the zone, but access is extremely limited. Hunting is allowed on Spenceville and Daugherty Hill wildlife areas, administered by the Department of Fish and Game. For information and regulations, please see the current issue of CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING ON STATE AND FEDERAL AREAS.

ACCESS

Major highways include Highway 70 on the north, Highway 80 on the south, Highway 20 and Highway 49. Access to the Bullards Bar Reservoir area is via Highway 49 or, from Marysville, via Highway 20 to Marysville Road.

MAPS

USFS maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the offices listed above. The maps are generally about $4.00 or $7.00 for waterproof maps. U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps can usually be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  Maps of Fish and Game wildlife areas may be obtained by calling (916) 358-2877. If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur anytime during the deer season and be severe. Be prepared with flashlights, food, water, shovels and tire chains.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several USFS campgrounds within the hunt zone and these are shown on USFS maps. Informal camping is allowed on both USFS and BLM lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any USFS, BLM or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply and it is best to contact the local USFS, BLM or CDF office for the latest information.

Please do not camp at springs or watering holes. They can be critically important to wildlife. Remaining at such water sources can be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of human and vehicle traffic and look for well-used deer trails. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety purposes, do not se your rifle scope to look for deer.

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date from year to year. However, some places where deer generally occur include:

Butte County:  Feather Falls area. Fields Ridge southeast of Feather Falls has the best prospects. Other possibilities near Feather Falls are Sunset Hill, Camp 18 and Watkins Ridge. This is largely winter range. Hunting is best in the last two weeks of the season.  Merrimac and Coyote Gap near Brush Creek. This is largely winter range. Hunting is best in the last two weeks of the season. Mooreville Ridge Road/Sly Creek Reservoir. Access is from La Porte Road to Mooreville Ridge Road. Migratory deer are generally present in mid-October. Camping is available at the Lewis Flat campgrounds.

Yuba County: Challenge/Peterson Ridge Road/Pike County Peak Lookout area -- several thousand acres of USFS and private timber company land east of Oregon Hill Road and west of Bullards Bar Reservoir. Migratory deer are generally present in mid-October. Strawberry Valley/La Porte Road/Slate Creek area -- several thousand acres of USFS and private timber company land south of La Porte Road and north of Bullards Bar Reservoir. Migratory deer are generally present in mid-October.  Pendola Road/Garden Valley Road/McClain Road area north of Bullards Bar Reservoir -- thousands of acres of USFS land mixed with a few private ranches. Access is from Highway 49 near Camptonville. Migratory deer are generally present in mid-October.  Bullards Bar Reservoir. Boats can be launched from ramps located along Marysville Road. Best areas to hunt are the black oak groves along the north arm of the lake. Migratory deer are generally present in mid-October. Spenceville Wildlife Area. Access from Wheatland is via Spenceville Road to Camp Far West Road to Long Ravine Road. Access from Marysville/Grass Valley is via Highway 20 to Smartville Road. Resident deer are present throughout the year.  Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area. Access from Marysville/Grass Valley is via Highway 20 to Marysville Road to the parking lot on Dolan Harding Road. Camping is nearby at the Collins Lake Recreation Area, although no guns are allowed in the recreation area. Resident deer are present throughout the year. Migratory deer generally do not arrive until late October.

Nevada County: The areas around Bowman Lake, Grouse Ridge and Red Mountain. Migratory deer can still be found at these high elevations early to mid-season.

Sierra County: Haypress Meadows -- Jackson Meadows Reservoir. Access is via the Jackson Meadows Highway from Highway 89. Camping facilities are available at Jackson Meadows. Best hunting in this area is early in the season.  Lakes Basin -- Sierra Buttes. Access is via the Gold Lake Road from Highways 89 and 49. Camping is available in the Gold Lake area and in campgrounds on Highway 49. In good years, hunting success is favorable throughout the season. Late in the season, deer migrate to the west down Pig and Hog Canyons.

Plumas County:  La Porte -- Little Grass Valley Reservoir. Access is via the La Porte Road from Marysville. Camping is available in the USFS campgrounds at Little Grass Valley. Hunting has been very poor for several years but Camel Peak, Stag Point and Onion Valley are historically better areas.  Bucks Lake. Access is via the Quincy-Oroville Highway. Camping and commercial facilities are available in Bucks Lake. Even in poor years, the area between Bucks Lake and the Middle Fork of the Feather River has been fair to good. Bear Creek and Willow Creek are normally good areas to consider.  Eureka Ridge. Access is from Highway 70 at Sloat and Highway 89 at Graeagle. Unimproved camping is available at Poplar Valley and at commercial facilities in the Sloat and Graeagle areas. The area has been poor for the past several years but has historically been good. White Cap and Big Hill are good bets.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season:

D3- D5 Zone Rifle is Sept 28 - Nov 3 , 2002.

D3 Bow is Aug. Aug 17 - Sept 8, 2002.

G19 hunt is Sept 28 - Dec 31, 2002.

J17 Junior is Sept 28 - Nov 3, 2002.

Tag Availability: 

D3, D4 and D5 zones are combined for the 2002 season on one tag. D3 -D5 zone  has 33,000 tags for 2002, 2001 had 33,000 tags. D4 zone  had 3,400 tags in 1999. 2,901 tags were sold in 1998.

G19 has 25 tags and filled in the Premium tag drawing 6/11/00. In 1999 there were 25 G19 tags.

J17 has 25 tags for 2002. Tagholders shall be accompanied by an adult chaperon 18 years of age or older while hunting.

Bag and Possession Limit: 

D3-D5 - One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

G19 and J17 Either Sex. Antlerless Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, antlerless deer are defined as female deer, fawns of either sex other than spotted fawns, and male deer with an unbranched antler on one or both sides which is not more than three inches in length. Either-Sex Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, either-sex deer are defined as antlerless deer as described above, or legal bucks that have two or more points in the upper two-thirds of either antler. Spike bucks may not be taken.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2001 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 10%. G19 was 8%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 9%. G19 was 12%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 9%. G19 was 20%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D4 zone  is 7.6%, with an estimated 221 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is unknown. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is unknown.

D4 Zone Boundary:  In those portions of Colusa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties within a line beginning at the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 20 at Williams; east on Highway 20 to Highway 70 in Marysville; south on Highway 70 to Highway 65; south on Highway 65 to the Bear River (south of Wheatland); east along the Bear River to Highway 20; east on Highway 20 to Interstate 80; east on Interstate 80 to the Pacific Crest Trail near the Castle Peak-Boreal Ridge Summit; south on the Pacific Crest Trail to Miller Creek and the common boundary between the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests (in the northeast one-quarter of Section 29, T14N, R16E, M.D.B.M.); west along Miller Creek to the Rubicon River; west along the Rubicon River through Hell Hole Reservoir to the Middle Fork of the American River; west along the Middle Fork of the American River to the American River; west along the American River to Interstate 5; north on Interstate 5 to the point of beginning.

G19 (Sutter-Yuba Wildlife Area Either Sex) Zone Boundary. Several hundred acres of riparian habitat has been added for the 2000 season.

J17 Hunt Area Boundary: In those portions of Colusa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties within the area described as zone D-4 above.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

PUBLIC LAND

Most of the public land is in the eastern portion of this zone in Placer County. Deer in this portion of the zone are migratory. They reside during the early to mid part of the season within lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Headquarters offices are as follows:

Tahoe National Forest  631 Coyote St., Nevada City CA 95959. 530-265-4531. (tdd) 530-478-6118

Eldorado National Forest  100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667. (530) 622-5061, (tdd) 530-642-5122, (tty) 1-800-735-2929, FAX 530-621-5297. Office Hours: 7:30a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday - Friday

From about mid-October, any significant winter storm will cause migratory deer at high elevations in the eastern portion of the zone to move down onto private lands in the west. You must have written permission from the landowner to hunt on private lands. From Foresthill most of the land is private, although there are some public lands owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Iowa Hill Area.

Resident deer may be found in the eastern portion of the zone but, again, most of the land is private. Hunting is allowed on the Feather River Wildlife Area, administered by the California Department of Fish and Game. For information and regulations, please see the current issue of CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING ON STATE AND FEDERAL AREAS.

ACCESS

Major access to this zone is along Highway 80 via Foresthill.

MAPS

USFS maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the offices listed above. Price is generally about $4.00 or $7.00 for waterproof maps. U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps can usually be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  Maps of Fish and Game wildlife areas may be obtained by calling (916) 355-7010.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur anytime during the deer season and be severe. Be prepared with flashlights, food, water, shovels and tire chains.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several USFS campgrounds within the hunt zone and these are shown on USFS maps. Informal camping is allowed on both USFS and BLM lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any USFS, BLM or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply and it is best to contact the local USFS, BLM or CDF office for the latest information.

CDF California Dept. of Forestry

Please do not camp at springs or watering holes. They can be critically important to wildlife. Remaining at such water sources can be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of human and vehicle traffic and look for well-used deer trails. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety purposes, do not use your rifle scope to look for deer.

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date from year to year. However, some places where deer generally occur include:

Sutter and Yuba Counties: Feather River Wildlife Area. The area consists of 2,329 acres of river bottom forest in 5 separate parcels on either side of the Feather River. The area is located about 10 miles south of Marysville/Yuba City. Access is from Highway 70 or Highway 99. Resident deer are present throughout the year. Only shotguns and archery equipment may be used.

Placer County: The areas around Greyhorse Valley, Onion Creek, Granite Chief Wilderness and Emigrant Gap. Migratory deer are still present at these higher elevations early to mid-season.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season:

D3- D5 Rifle is Sept 28 - Nov 3 , 2002.

D3  Bow is Aug. Aug 17 - Sept 8, 2002.

J18 Junior is Sept 28 - Nov 3, 2002.

Tag Availability: 

D3, D4 and D5 zones are combined for the 2002 season on one tag. D3 -D5 zone  has 33,000 tags for 2002, 2001 had 33,000 tags. D5 zone  had 3,400 tags in 1999. 2,901 tags were sold in 1998.

J18 has 75 tags for 2002.

Bag and Possession Limit: 

D5 - One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

J18 Either Sex. Antlerless Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, antlerless deer are defined as female deer, fawns of either sex other than spotted fawns, and male deer with an unbranched antler on one or both sides which is not more than three inches in length. Either-Sex Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations, either-sex deer are defined as antlerless deer as described above, or legal bucks that have two or more points in the upper two-thirds of either antler. Spike bucks may not be taken.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 2001 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 10%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 12%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D3-5 zone is 9%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D5 zone  is 7.6%, with an estimated 221 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is unknown. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is unknown.

D5 Zone Boundary:  In the counties of Amador and Calaveras and those portions of Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties within a line beginning at the junction of Interstate 5 and the American River in Sacramento; east along the American River to the Middle Fork of the American River; northeast along the Middle Fork of the American River to the Rubicon River; east along the Rubicon River through Hell Hole Reservoir to its confluence with Miller Creek; east along Miller Creek to its junction with the new (marked) USFS Pacific Crest Trail; north on the Pacific Crest Trail one-quarter mile to a junction with the McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road (Miller Lake Road); east along the McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road to McKinney Creek (NE 1/4, section 23, T14N, R16E, M.D.B.M.); east along McKinney Creek to the west shoreline of Lake Tahoe near Chambers Lodge; south along the shore of Lake Tahoe to the California-Nevada state line; southeast along the California-Nevada state line to Highway 50; southwest on Highway 50 to the Pacific Crest Trail at Echo Summit; south along the Pacific Crest Trail to the township line between Townships 7 and 8 North near Wolf Creek Pass; due west on that township line to the road connecting Lower and Upper Highland Lakes at Lower Highland Lake; west along that road to Highland Creek; southwest along Highland Creek to the North Fork of the Stanislaus River; west along the North Fork of the Stanislaus River to the Stanislaus River; west along the Stanislaus River to Highway 99; north along Highway 99 to Interstate 80; west on Interstate 80 to Interstate 5; north on Interstate 5 to the point of beginning.

J18 Junior Hunt Area: Excluding Tuolumne County, in those portions of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento,San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties within the area described as zone D-5 above.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

PUBLIC LAND

Most of the public land is in the eastern portion of this zone. Deer in this portion of the zone are migratory. They reside during the early to mid part of the season within lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Headquarters offices are as follows:

Eldorado National Forest  100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667. (530) 622-5061, (tdd) 530-642-5122, (tty) 1-800-735-2929, FAX 530-621-5297. Office Hours: 7:30a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday - Friday

Stanislaus National Forest- Calaveras Ranger District  5519 Highway 4, Hathaway Pines, CA (between Murphys and Arnold in Calaveras County), (209) 765-1381

From about mid-October, any significant winter storm will cause migratory deer at high elevations in the eastern portion of the zone to move down onto private lands in the west. You must have written permission from the landowner to hunt on private lands.

Resident deer occur in the lower elevation private lands and often occur as scattered populations.

ACCESS

Major access to this zone is along Highways 50, 88 and 4. Access to public lands in this zone is very good. On opening weekend of the season, all areas that have deer will have hunters. Due to the number of roads, there are very few areas where you can get away from people. Less accessible areas may have fewer hunters and thus provide better hunting.

MAPS

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the offices listed above. Price is about $4.00 or $7.00 for waterproof maps. U.S. Geological Survey, (USGS), topographic maps can usually be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur anytime during the deer season and hunters should always be prepared for this possibility.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several USFS campgrounds within the hunt zone and these are shown on USFS maps. Informal camping is allowed on USFS lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any USFS, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply and it is best to contact the local USFS, BLM or CDF office for the latest information.

BLM Folsom Field Office  63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. Phone: (916) 985-4474. Fax: (916) 985-3259. Field Manager: Deane Swickard

CDF California Dept. of Forestry

Please do not camp at springs or watering holes. They can be critically important to wildlife. Remaining at such water sources can be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of human and vehicle traffic and look for well-used deer trails. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety purposes, do not use your rifle scope to look for deer.

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date from year to year. However, some places where deer generally occur include:

El Dorado County:  the area around Bunker Hill and McKinstry Peak;  Van Vleck, Upper Bassi and Tells Peak;  the Slick Rock, Wrights Lake and Lyons Creek area west to Ice House Reservoir;  on the south side of Highway 50, the Cody Meadows area, Leek Springs Lookout and upper end of Alder Ridge.

Alpine County:  the area around Blue Lakes, Mount Reba and Bear Valley on the north side of Highway 4;  all the tall peaks south of Highway 4 and around Highland Lake and Pacific Valley;  the Carson Iceberg and Mokulumne wilderness areas, which offer some opportunity for pack-in hunting.

Amador County:  the area around Silver Lake and east of Bear River Reservoir;  Mount Plasse, Onion Valley, Foster Meadows and southwest of Caples Lake.

Calaveras County: the east portion of the County around Black Springs/Cabbage Patch, Mattley Meadows and Bear Trap Basin; at mid-elevation on a combination of USFS and private timber lands at Hermit Springs Upper Bailey Ridge and Cuneo Camp.

Deer move into the intermediate range and winter range areas following October storms. Intermediate range areas are generally between 4000 - 5500 feet. It is normal to have storms after October 20 that cause deer movements. Some of the winter range areas include:  Peavine Ridge on the north side of Highway 50 (El Dorado County);  the Alder Creek area on the south side of Highway 50 (El Dorado County;  along the north/south road between Iron Mountain Road and Highway 88 (El Dorado County and Amador County);  Blue Mountain, lower Bailey Ridge, Summit Level Ridge and in the Westpoint/Bald Mountain area on the western edge of USFS lands (Calaveras County).

Georgia-Pacific controls large blocks of land in the intermediate and winter range areas and much of it is behind locked gates. Foot access is allowed by permit.

Be aware of the state game refuge on the south side of Highway 88 in Amador County in Fish and Game District 1J. Hunting is prohibited in a state game refuge.

STATUS

All deer herds are static to declining. Short term declines are due to five years of drought resulting in less forage. Long term declines are due to land management practices that produce poor deer habitat. Fawn survival the last several years has been low and thus fewer available bucks are entering the population. Buck/doe rations are in the low 20's.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL

This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season: 

D6 Zone Rifle is Sept 21- Nov 3, 2002.

D6 Bow is Aug 17 - Sept 8, 2002.

A21  Bow is Nov 9- Nov 22, 2002.

G37 is Nov 23 - Dec 1, 2002.

J15 Junior is Nov 22 - Dec 1, 2002.

Tag Availability: 

D6 zone  has 10,000 tags for 2002 and the tags sold out 9/4/01. 2001 had 10,000 tags and the tags sold out 9/5/00. 10,000  D6 tags were sold in 1999 and the tag quota filled 9/2/99.

A21 bow has 25 tags, the same as in 1999, and filled in the Premium Tag Draw 6/11/00.

G37 has 25 tags, the same as in 2000 and 1999, and filled in the Premium Tag Draw 6/11/00.

J15 junior has 10 tags and the tags filled 6/11/00 in the premium tag draw.

Bag and Possession Limit:  One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:  

D6 zone  is 12%.

A21 hunt is 12%.

G37 hunt  is 72%.

J15 hunt is 60%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:  The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D6 zone  is 12%. The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for the A21 hunt is 12%. The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for G37 hunt  is 72%. The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for J15 hunt is 60%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:  The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D6 zone  is 9%. The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for the A21 hunt  is 8%. The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for G37 hunt  is 60%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:  The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D6 zone  is 9.2%, with an estimated 924 deer harvested. The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for the A21 hunt  is 0.0%, with an estimated 0 deer harvested. The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for G37 hunt  is 84.0%, with an estimated 21 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is 43:100. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is 20,500. J15 is a new hunt for 2000.

D6 Zone Boundary: In those portions of Alpine, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 99 and the Stanislaus River at Ripon; east along the Stanislaus River and following the North Fork of the Stanislaus River to Highland Creek; east up Highland Creek to the road connecting Lower and Upper Highland Lakes at Upper Highland Lake; east along that road to the township line between Townships 7 and 8 North; east on that township line to the Sierra crest near Wolf Creek Pass; south along the Sierra crest to the Yosemite National Park boundary near Rodger Peak; along the eastern Yosemite National Park boundary to Highway 41; south along Highway 41 to the Madera-Mariposa county line south of Westfall Station; along the Madera-Mariposa and the Madera-Merced county lines to Highway 99; north along Highway 99 to the point of beginning.

A21 Zone Boundary:  In that portion of hunt Zone D-6 in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties lying within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 140 and Bull Creek Road at Briceburg; north on Bull Creek Road (U.S. Forest Service Road 2S05) to Greeley Hill Road; west on Greeley Hill Road to Smith Station Road (County Route J20); north on Smith Station Road to Highway 120 (near Burch Meadow); east on Highway 120 to the Yosemite National Park Boundary (near Big Oak-Flat Ranger Station); southeast along the Yosemite National Park Boundary to Highway 140; west on Highway 140 to the Yosemite National Park Boundary; northwest along the Yosemite National Park Boundary to Highway 140 (at Redbud Campground); west on Highway 140 to the point of beginning.

G37 Zone Boundary:  In that portion of hunt Zone D-6 in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties lying within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 140 and Bull Creek Road at Briceburg; north on Bull Creek Road (U.S. Forest Service Road 2S05) to Greeley Hill Road; west on Greeley Hill Road to Smith Station Road (County Route J20); north on Smith Station Road to Highway 120 (near Burch Meadow); east on Highway 120 to the Yosemite National Park Boundary (near Big Oak-Flat Ranger Station); southeast along the Yosemite National Park Boundary to Highway 140; west on Highway 140 to the Yosemite National Park Boundary; northwest along the Yosemite National Park Boundary to Highway 140 (at Redbud Campground); west on Highway 140 to the point of beginning.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

DEER POPULATION STATUS

All deer herds in Zone D6 are static or declining. Short term declines are generally related to weather events that affect forage production, such as late springs and poor acorn mast crops. Long term declines are due to land management practices that have precluded fire and thus resulted in long-term changes toward more mature and less diverse habitats, and practices that have not accommodated deer needs and thus have resulted in reduction of both habitat quantity and quality and the inevitable decline in deer numbers.

Overall, fawn survival for D6 has been low the last several years, therefore, fewer bucks are entering the population.

Herd composition counts for the D6 zone indicated the overall buck to doe ratio was 43 bucks for every 100 does observed, with a sample size of 669 adults in the fall of 1998. During these counts, the number of bucks per 100 does ranged from a low of 20 bucks per 100 does in the Stanislaus herd to a high of 65 bucks per 100 does in the Yosemite herd.

PRIVATE LAND

You must have written permission from a landowner to hunt on posted private land. Resident deer do occur on the lower elevation private lands. Those animals often occur in scattered populations.

Sierra Pacific Industries owns large blocks of land within the Stanislaus National Forest. Some of this land is behind locked gates and some is not. This lumber firm does allow public hunting on their property. Please remember you are their guest, carry out all refuse, be fire safe and respect their property.

PUBLIC LAND

A substantial portion of the D6 Zone is composed of public lands, including lands on the Calaveras, Summit, Mi-Wok and Groveland Ranger Districts of the Stanislaus National Forest; lands on the Mariposa/Minerets Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest; and lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Of the public lands within the D6 boundaries, only those within Yosemite National Park and those included in Legislative Refuge 1-R (within the Calaveras Ranger District) are off-limits to hunters.

Following is a listing of useful informational sources :

Stanislaus N.F. (Supervisor's Office)   19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 532-3671
Stanislaus National Forest- Calaveras Ranger District  5519 Highway 4, Hathaway Pines, CA (between Murphys and Arnold in Calaveras County), (209) 765-1381
Stanislaus National Forest - Summit Ranger District   #1 Pinecrest Lake Road; Pinecrest, CA 95364 (209) 965-3434
Stanislaus National Forest - Mi_Wok Ranger District  P.O. Box 100; Mi-Wuk, CA (209) 586-3234
Stanislaus National Forest - Groveland Range District  24525 Old Highway 120; Groveland, CA 95321 (209) 962-7825

Sierra National Forest  (Supervisor's Office) 1600 Tollhouse Road; Clovis, CA 93611-0532 (559) 297-0706
Mariposa/Mineretes Ranger District P.O. Box 10; North Fork, CA 93643 (559) 877-2218

BLM; California State Office 2800 Cottage Way; Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 978-4400
BLM Folsom Field Office  63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. Phone: (916) 985-4474. Fax: (916) 985-3259. Field Manager: Deane Swickard
BLM; Sonora Field Office 19526 Hillsdale Drive; Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 532-8507
BLM; Mariposa Field Office Hwy. 49/Hwy. 140; Mariposa, CA 95338 (209) 966-3193

California Department of Forestry (CDF) 1235 East Shaw Avenue; Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 222-3714
CDF; Sonora District Office #2 South Forest Road; Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 532-7424
CDF; Mariposa District Office 5366 Highway 49; Mariposa, CA 95338 (209) 966-3622
CDF California Dept. of Forestry

[Many of the above phone numbers will be answered by an automated attendant. To receive assistance it may be helpful to push the "0" on the keypad when an automated attendant comes online.]

WILDERNESS Wilderness lands have been established within two portions of the Stanislaus National Forests' summer range. The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness lies north of Highway 108 and the Emigrant Wilderness is south of the Highway 108 corridor. These wilderness areas are accessible by hiking and by pack stock. Pack stock can be rented or pack trips can be arranged by contacting the following Packers:

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station  (209) 965-3900
Aspen Meadows Pack Station  (209) 965-3402 [Summer] (209) 984-5727 [Winter]
Levitt Meadows Pack Station
 (619) 932-7002 [Toiyabe N.F-- Mono Co.]

WILDERNESS USE PERMITS

Public use of the wilderness is regulated by permit. Wilderness permits may be obtained by contacting the Stanislaus National Forest, Summit Ranger District office.

ACCESS

Major access to this zone is along Highways 4, 108, 120, and 140. Access to most of these public lands is very good. Most of the areas accessed by roads are popular with hunters opening weekend. Due to the concentration of hunters near these access roads, it is difficult to find solitude on the opening weekend; however, after the opener, hunting pressure drops off significantly in this zone until storms occur in mid to late October.

LEGISLATIVE REFUGE

1-R Hunters should be aware of State Game Refuge 1-R, located between the North and Middle Forks of the Stanislaus River. This area is well defined on the Stanislaus National Forest map and is also well posted. Hunting is prohibited in a state game refuge. The following excerpt from the Fish and Game Code describes how to legally transport a firearm and archery equipment through a state game refuge: Nothing in [the Fish and Game] Code prohibits the possession of firearms or bows and arrows by persons when traveling through any game refuges when the firearms are taken apart or encased and unloaded and the bows are unstrung. When the traveling is done on a route other than a public highway or other public thoroughfare or right of way, notice shall be given to the department at least twenty-four (24) hours before such traveling. The notice shall give the name and address of the person intending to travel through the refuge, the name of the refuge, the approximate route, and the approximate time when such person intends to travel through the refuge. (F&G Code 10506)

MAPS

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM ) maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the offices listed above -- the price is about $4.00, per map. Additionally, U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps can usually be obtained from stores that sell drafting and backpacking supplies. Other kinds of maps may be obtained from sporting goods suppliers or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur anytime during the deer season and hunters should always be prepared for this possibility. Hunters should carry an adequate supply of fuel and water.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several Forest Service campgrounds within the hunt zone. The developed campsites are shown on the Forest Service maps. Informal camping is allowed on Forest Service lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply, and it is always best to contact the local Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or California Department of Forestry office for the latest information.

Please do not camp near springs or watering holes -- they may be critical to wildlife survival. Camping near water sources may preclude use by wildlife and may be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

SEASONAL DEER HABITS

The deer that occupy the higher elevations of this zone are migratory. They reside on their summer ranges until they are stimulated to migrate downslope to their wintering habitats. Habitat quality and quantity, temperature, day length and weather conditions all play a part in determining when these deer will complete their fall migrations. Generally, from mid-October, or later, any significant winter storm has the potential to cause some migratory deer to move from summer range to lower elevations. If those storms are mild, some deer may delay in intermediate habitat, seeking acorns, leaf mast and other available fall forage. If severe enough, a single storm may result in the migration of a large percentage of the animals from the higher elevations, downslope to winter range habitat.

 Tip#1: When these deer migrate, they frequently follow ridge tops and stream corridors. When driving along forest roads, look for freshly made trailing off cut banks, adjacent to the roads.
 Tip #2: Deer are capable of sensing significant impending storms. They frequently migrate just prior to those storms, perhaps due to substantial changes in atmospheric pressure.
 Tip #3: Most of the areas considered summer range, particularly those areas between 5,000 and 8,000 feet, are also good areas to hunt during early migrations.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of heavy human use and vehicle traffic and look for recently used deer trails and bedding areas. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety's sake, never use your rifle scope to look for deer. While use of Hunter Orange is not required, its use provides better hunter recognition and its use is encouraged.

WHERE SHOULD I HUNT?

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date; however, some places where deer are known to occur include:

SUMMER RANGE

Summer range habitat for the migrant herds may be found anywhere from 5,000 feet to the Sierra Crest within the D-6 zone.

Alpine County area (most of these locations are within the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness): Arnot Cr., Iceberg Pk., Airola Pk. and Disaster Pk., and Paradise Valley;  Clark Fork drainage;  The Dardanelles Basin, including The Dardanelles and Dardanelles Cone; Jenkins, Hiram and Champion Canyons; Fence and Drew Cr. areas; Stanislaus and Sonora Peaks.

Tuolumne County areas within the Emigrant Wilderness: Kennedy Lake., Grouse Can., Grizzly Mdw. and other areas adjacent to the Sierra Crest;  Willow runs and Huckleberry Oak brushfields associated with most high mountain peaks; Buck Lakes, Emigrant Lakes, Whitesides Mdw., Horse Mdw., Spring Mdw., Louse Can., Brown Bear Pass, Lunch Mdw., Cooper Mdw.

Tuolumne County areas outside the Emigrant Wilderness: Red, Bald and Night Cap Peaks; Clark Fork Meadow. Complex of Meadows from Niagara Creek to Silver Mine Creek, Eagle Pk., Big & Little Rattlesnake Crs., Liberty Hill, Peyton Saddle, Bummers Flat, Wheats Mdw.;  Herring Cr./Hammil Can./Pinecrest Pk.; Niagara Cr., Mill Cr., Cascade Cr., Lily Cr., Fraser Flat and the Strawberry Fuelbreak; Bourland Mdw, Fahey Mdw., Dodge Ridge, Bell Mdw., Crabtree Camp, Mud Lake; Wrights Creek Burn (near Long Barn) and the Granite Creek fire (near Cherry Lake); Camp Clavey, Wolfin Mdw., Big & Little Reynolds Crs., Jawbone Pass, Hells Mtn.; Crocker Ridge.

Mariposa County: Hazel Green Ranch, Twin Bridges, Buena Vista, Little Nellie Falls; Iron and Chowchilla Mountains.

INTERMEDIATE RANGE

Deer usually move into and through the intermediate range with the advent of October storms. Intermediate range areas are generally between 4000 - 5500 feet. Frequently, areas within intermediate range have all the habitat components (food, water and cover) necessary to provide summer habitat for some deer, while acting as transitional range for numerous other animals.

Many of the areas previously listed as summer range, such as Peyton Saddle & Bummers Flat (near Refuge 1-R), Wrights Creek Burn (near Long Barn), Granite Creek Burn (near Cherry Lake), Crocker Ridge and Buena Vista (near Yosemite N.P.), and Chowchilla and Iron Mountain (near Mariposa) are examples.

WINTER RANGE

Within the D-6 zone, areas between 2,000 feet and 4,300 feet frequently are utilized as winter range for migrant deer. Typically, wintering habitat is characterized by warm southern openings (including lava cap areas), stands of mature oak, stands of brush (particularly areas vegetated with different age classes and species of brush), stands of large conifers (to escape from storms and cold wind), and available water. In general, the more diverse the habitat composition, the better the winter range.

Tuolumne County: Schoettgen Pass, Ruby Fire area , Mount Knight, and Grant Ridge, Bald Mtn.; Marble Mtn., Duckwall Mtn., Walton Cabin Spr., Paper Cabin Ridge; Jawbone Ridge, Plum Flat, Woods Ridge, North Mountain; Middle Fork, Drew Mdw., Gravel Range, Sawmill Mtn., Spinning Wheel area; Packard Canyon, Big Creek Basin and Pilot Ridge.

Mariposa County: Moss Canyon, Anderson Flat, Soapstone Ridge, Scott Ridge, Wagner Valley; Devil Gulch, Ferguson Ridge, Footman Ridge and Sweetwater Ridge.

WHERE CAN I TAKE MY DEER FOR PROCESSING?

In Tuolumne County, you can take your animal to:

Rawhide Meat Processing, 18719 Omega Mine Rd. (off Rawhide Rd.); Jamestown, CA (209) 984-5814

SPECIAL HUNTS

In addition to the regular D6 season, the area hosts two post-season hunts. The A21 Anderson Flat Archery Buck Hunt and the G37 Anderson Flat Buck Hunt. These hunts take place along the migration corridor utilized by a portion of the deer population that occupies summer range within Yosemite National Park. The number of permits for each hunt has been held at 25 and the area within the hunt boundaries is large, so there is plenty of room for hunters to seek solitude. The emphasis of these hunts is on having a quality experience.

Frequently (about four out of every five years), these deer are not forced to migrate to areas outside the Parks boundary until after the regular buck season is over. The result is a population of deer with a far higher buck to doe ratio than that which occurs anywhere else in zone D6. Nonetheless, hunter success still depends on the whims of nature. If significant storms do not occur during the hunt period, few deer will be found and hunting will be difficult; however, if a major event does occur, you need only to be in the right place at the right time.

During the 1998, A21 Anderson Flat Archery Buck Hunt, no deer were reportedly taken. Eighty four percent of the participants in the 1998, G37 Anderson Flat Buck Hunt were estimated to have been successful.

FIELD REPORTS

I have quite extensive knowledge of the D6 zone, as family members have been hunting there since the 1920's! In years past, they have killed some tremendous blacktails. Back then, they hiked in 13 miles with nothing but bread and whiskey as the old timers say, and carried the deer out on their backs. Now that the logging roads have cut the travel miles at least in half, the hunting has suffered as accessibility has increased. I would be punished severely by the powers that be and their ghosts if I gave up our spots, but here's what works. Get as far back and high up as you can, (Carson-Iceberg Wilderness) and on opening morning be sitting up there at first light. We kill at least one buck every year as the late-comers push deer up to us. Make sure you stay on the west side of Kibbie Ridge, I know of more than one hunter who wandered into Yosemite and no longer owns his rifle. I've also heard of locals directing out of town hunters into the park and trying to collect Cal-Tip money as a reward! Know where you are at all times. While you're in the Cherry Lake area, be sure to check out the Jawbone area- good hunting there as well. Safe hunting, Mike

Bell Mountain is west of Emigrant Wilderness. I have packed in to the wilderness during bow and rifle. The areas on top seem to have a good number of deer. The last trip in, three years ago, seemed to hold more hunters than deer although I missed a dandy!  I have a friend that hunts with a bow around Twain Heart and always gets his deer. The further he gets away from the residential areas the less deer he sees. Could this be because of the lions? Are the deer are more protected close in to towns? Just trying to figure why the deer hunting has gone down hill so much. Second Shot

Second Shot, I live in Twain Harte, and I think you may be right. I have some nice bucks in my yard, but I won't shoot in a residential area. Last year there was a BIG 4x4 below my deck after I got skunked in B-5. He was 15 yds. (much to my wife's amusement!) and I don't think I could have missed, but the idea of him piling up in my neighbors yard didn't appeal to me. There are WAY too many lions around and I'm pretty sure that is why the deer are staying near the populated areas. But just because there are homes, that doesn't mean the cats stay away completely. I had one across the street from my house last year, and there are always a lot of missing dog and cat posters around! Stumpkiller.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season:

D7 Rifle is Sept. 21 - Nov 3 , 2002.

D7 Bow is Aug. 17 - Sept. 8, 2002.

Tag Availability:  D7 zone has 9,000 tags and the tags sold out 9/4/01. 2001 had 9,000 tags. The quota filled 9/6/00 and 9/10/99.

Bag and Possession Limit:  One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2001 estimated hunter success rate for D7 zone  is 10%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D7 zone  is 11%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D7 zone  is 9%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest:   The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D7 zone  is 8.0%, with an estimated 716 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is unknown. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is unknown.

D7 Zone Boundary:  In those portions of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Tulare counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 99 and the Madera-Merced county line; northeast along the Madera-Merced and Madera-Mariposa county lines to Highway 41 south of Westfall Station; north along Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park boundary; east along the park boundary to the Mono-Madera county line near Rodger Peak; south along the Inyo National Forest boundary (crest of the Ritter Range) to the junction of the Inyo National Forest boundary and Ashley Creek; east to Ashley Lake; northeast along Ashley Creek to the junction of King Creek; southeast along King Creek to its junction with the middle fork of the San Joaquin River; south and west along the middle fork of the San Joaquin River to the junction of the Inyo National Forest boundary; east along Fish Creek to its confluence with Deer Creek; north and east along Deer Creek to the upper crossing of the Deer Creek trail; north and east along the Deer Creek trail to the Inyo National Forest Boundary (the Sierra Crest); south along the Sierra crest and the Inyo National Forest boundary to Bishop Pass; west along the Dusy Basin Trail to the Middle Fork of the Kings River; southwest and downstream along the Middle Fork of the Kings River to the junction of the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Kings River; southwest along the Kings River through Pine Flat Reservoir, Piedra and Reedley to Highway 99; north along Highway 99 to the point of beginning.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

PUBLIC LAND

The D7 zone is composed of approximately 60 percent public land and 40 percent private land. The Sierra National Forest comprises a majority of the public land which is generally at higher elevations, above the foothills and characterized by conifer trees, meadows and mountains. A majority of the deer on public land in D7 migrate. They winter at lower elevations in the chaparral and oak woodlands and return to the higher mountain areas in the spring.

Maps and information about campgrounds are available from the Forest Service. Headquarters offices are as follows:

Sierra National Forest  (Supervisor's Office) 1600 Tollhouse Road; Clovis, CA 93611-0532. (559) 297-0706

Minarets and Mariposa Ranger Districts - 57003 Road 225, P.O. Box 10, North Fork, CA 93643. (559) 877-2218

Pineridge Ranger District - 29688 Auberry Rd., P.O. Box 559, Prather, CA 93651. (559) 855-5360

Kings River Ranger District - 34849 Maxon Rd., Sanger, CA 93657. (559) 855-8321

BLM Folsom Field Office  63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. Phone: (916) 985-4474. Fax: (916) 985-3259. Field Manager: Deane Swickard

CDF California Dept. of Forestry

Other seasonal offices to obtain permits and maps are at Dinkey Creek and Clover Meadow Ranger Stations and Eastwood Visitor Center.

PRIVATE LAND

The land in the foothills or lower elevations are generally held in private ownership. Please be aware that there are many private inholdings within Forest Service lands. Check with the local jurisdictions to determine if there are any hunting restrictions. To hunt on private lands you must have written permission from the landowner.

ACCESS

Major roads in this zone are: Madera County - State Highways 41, 140, County road 200 (National Scenic Byways Route) and Primary Forest routes 7, 10, 81; Fresno County - State Highway 168, Watts Valley Road, Maxon Road, Trimmer Springs Road and Forest routes 40 and 80; Mariposa County - State highways 140, 41 and 49.

MAPS

Forest maps and forest wilderness maps may be obtained for about $4.00 from one of the offices listed above. U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) maps may be obtained at map, drafting/engineering or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur at any time during the season and hunters should be prepared for this possibility.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several Forest Service campgrounds within the hunt zone. The developed campsites are shown on the Forest Service maps. Informal camping is allowed on Forest Service lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply, and it is always best to contact the local Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or California Department of Forestry office for the latest information. To obtain wilderness permits contact the USFS office listed above.

Please do not camp at springs or watering holes. They can be critically important to wildlife. Remaining at such water holes can be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of heavy human use and vehicle traffic and look for recently used deer trails and bedding areas. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety's sake, never use your rifle scope to look for deer . While use of Hunter Orange is not required, its use provides better hunter recognition and is encouraged.

From about mid-October, any significant winter storms will cause migratory deer at high elevations in the eastern portion of the zone to move down onto private lands in the west.

Scout as often as possible before the season starts. Start looking in areas which have been burned in the last five to ten years or where the oak acorns are ripe and abundant. Although meadows provide good forage for deer, especially does and fawns, bucks should utilize areas with better cover during hunting season: rougher terrain (ridges, etc.), denser vegetation, etc. After heavy snow storms, deer will rapidly move toward the winter range or hold in transitional areas. Look in areas with shrubs or preferred browse plants at intermediate elevations.

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date; however, some places where deer are known to occur include:

Madera County: Fresno Dome, Granite Mountain, Sivels Mountain, Raymond Mountain, Whiskey Ridge, 77 Corral, Lion Point, Jackass Meadow, Crook Mountain and Long Ridge.

Fresno County:

SUMMER RANGE

Summer range habitat for the migrant herds may be found anywhere from 5,000 feet to the Sierra Crest within the D-7 zone.

Kaiser Wilderness and east to Mt. Givens. Tamarack Ridge, Kaiser Diggings, Mt. Tom and Hoffman Meadow. The following areas are near Wishon and Courtright Reservoirs: Woodchuck Country, Spanish Mountain, Hoffman Mountain and Hall Mountain. These areas can be crowded with hunters, especially on opening weekend. The area near Edison Lake has not produced many deer in recent years; therefore, your best bet is to hunt in the vicinity of Kaiser Wilderness, Mt. Givens and Tamarack Ridge.

INTERMEDIATE RANGE

Following winter storms, deer will begin to migrate through the following locations: west of the Kaiser Wilderness in the vicinity of Daulton Creek, Stump Springs Road and Mushroom Rock.

WINTER RANGE

Deer may be found at the following locations once significant amounts of snow have accumulated at higher elevations: Patterson Mountain, Fence Meadow, Secata Ridge and Rodgers Ridge.

STATUS Population trends for the deer herds are generally static and below the population goals specified in the Deer Herd Plans. Fire suppression over the last several decades and other land management practices have not been favorable to maintaining sufficient high quality deer habitat. Several decades of fire suppression have increased the likelihood of catastrophic fires. Prescribed burning is helpful in reestablishing deer forage and browse and at reducing the fuel loading and likelihood of a catastrophic fire. Each year the USFS and the California Department of Forestry burn approximately 6,000-12,000 acres with prescribed burns in D7. This acreage falls short of the number of acres that is believed to have burned historically in California. Prescribed burns are expensive; it is costly to burn a sufficient number of acres each year.

FIELD REPORTS

My Dad and I found a place on Hoffman with a lot of deer beds, heavily used game trails, and many droppings however we have only seen a few does in the spot. We can't decide if we should stick with this spot or if we should try a totally new spot. We tried there this weekend and saw only 3 does. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Brian

If your talking about Hoffman Peak behind Lake Wishon, then I can tell you that it gets a lot of pressure. I was there last year and there were many many hunters. Mostly road hunters, but ran into other back off the road, haven't been back. Anonymous.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season: 

D8 Rifle is Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2002.

D7 Bow is Aug. 17 - Sept. 8, 2002.

G6 Kern River hunt is Dec. 7- Dec. 15, 2002.

Tag Availability: 

D8 zone  has 8,000 tags and the tags did not sell out in 2001 and 2000.

G6 has 50 tags for 2002, the same as in 2001, 2000 and 1999, and filled in the Premium Tag draw.

Bag and Possession Limit:  One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: 

D8 zone  is 8%.

G6 was 54%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D8 zone  is 10%. G6 was 44%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D8 zone  is 7%. G6 was 32%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D8 zone  is 8.2%, with an estimated 504 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is 25:100. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is 20,500.

D8 Zone Boundary:    In those portions of Fresno, Kern and Tulare counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 99 and the Kings River; upstream and northeast along the Kings River through Reedley, Piedra and Pine Flat Reservoir to the junction of the Middle and South Forks of the Kings River; northeast along the Middle Fork Kings River to the Dusy Basin Trail; east along this trail to the Kings Canyon National Park boundary at Bishop Pass; south along the Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park boundaries to the Main Kern River; southeast along the Main Kern River and the common boundary between the Inyo and Sequoia National Forests to the end of the Chimney Meadow-Blackrock Station Road (Forest Road 21S03) near Blackrock Mountain; southeast along the Chimney Meadow-Blackrock Station Road through Troy Meadows to the South Fork of the Kern River; south along the South Fork of the Kern River to the Doyle Ranch Road; south along the Doyle Ranch Road to Highway 178 in the town of Onyx; southwest along Highway 178 to Highway 99 at Bakersfield; north along Highway 99 to the point of beginning.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

PUBLIC LAND

A substantial portion of the D8 Zone is composed of public lands, including lands on the Sequoia National Forest; and lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The public lands within The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are located within the D8 boundaries, the parks are off limits to hunting. Maps and information about campgrounds are available from the Forest Service. Headquarters offices are as follows:

Sequoia National Forest, Supervisors Office  900 W. Grand Ave. Porterville, CA 93257. (559) 784-1500

Hume Lake Ranger District - 35860 E. Kings Canyon, Dunlap, CA 93621. (559) 338-2251

Sequoia National Forest - Cannell Meadow Ranger District - P.O. Box 6, Kernville, CA 93238. (760) 376-5646

Sequoia National Forest - Tule River and Hot Springs Ranger Districts - 32588 Highway 190, Springville, CA 93265. (559) 539-2607

Sequoia National Forest - Greenhorn Ranger District - P.O. Box 3810, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. (760) 379-5646

CDF California Dept. of Forestry

ACCESS

Most of the public land in the northern D8 zone is easily accessible. Major access routes to this Zone are Highways 180, 155, 190, and county road J-22. Hunters unfamiliar with this area should spend time scouting. On opening weekend of the season all areas that have deer will have hunters. Due to the number of roads, there are very few areas where you can get away from people. Less accessible areas may have fewer hunters and thus provide better hunting.

From about mid-October, any significant winter storms will cause migratory deer at high elevations in the eastern portion of the zone to move down onto private lands in the west. You must have written permission from the land owner to hunt on private land.

MAPS

Forest maps and forest wilderness maps may be obtained for about $4.00 from one of the offices listed above. U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) maps may be obtained at map, drafting/engineering or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Snow can occur at any time during the season and hunters should be prepared for this possibility.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

Please do not camp at springs or watering holes. They can be critically important to wildlife. Remaining at such water holes can be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of human and vehicle traffic and look for well used deer trails. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety purposes never use your rifle scope to look for deer.

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date from year to year. Hunter success in each area fluctuates from year to year. Disparity in hunter success for these herds is likely a result of the natural movements of deer that make them vulnerable to hunters during the season. For instance early winter weather might cause deer to move out of the high country during deer season. On the other hand a wet winter the previous year means better high country habitat during the fall, resulting in deer being less willing to leave their summer range.

Hume Herd

Located in the northern part of D8, the Hume deer herd spends summer and fall in the Sequoia National Forest between the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, south of the Kings River. Part of this herd also summers in the park's high country and are not available to hunters until they begin their migration.

Hunting is best at higher elevations. Most of the deer are taken east of Highway 180, and north of the Jennie Lakes Wilderness area. Hunters with access to horses might try a pack trip to the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. The Monarch Wilderness is mostly steep, rugged and brushy. While a few deer winter here after heavy snow fall pushes them out of the high country, very few deer are killed here.

Kaweah Herd

The Kaweah herd, located south of the Hume herd in the north-central part of D8, is migratory, spending most of the year in the Park, winter weather will push these deer to lower elevations. A few of these deer are taken on private property. A small portion of this herd is available on public land in the Eshom area.

Tule Herd

The Tule Herd is located in the central part of D8, south of the Kaweah herd and west of the Kern River herd. These deer spend the summer at higher elevations and then migrate to intermediate and winter range between 3000 and 4000 feet in late October after the first winter storms. Look for deer near Jordan Peak, Deep Meadow, Clicks Creek, Freeman Creek, Slate Mountain and Mule Peak.

Greenhorn Herd

This herd is located in the southern part of D8, in southern Tulare County and northern Kern County. These deer are also migratory; higher elevation sites such as Last Chance Meadow and Lion Ridge are good bets. Another area with good potential is the area around the 1990 Stormy Wildfire including Frog Meadow, Tobias Meadow, Tyler Meadow and Bull Run Basin. Other sites to try include Black Mountain, Sunday Peak, Shirley Meadow, Basket Meadow. Later in the season try near Pine Mountain, White River and the Sandy Creek Fire Road. Cedar and Alder Creek are low elevation sites near a recent control burn that might prove productive.

Kern River Herd

During the regular D8 hunt these deer can be found through out the east side of the zone, but tend toward the upper stringer meadows of Tulare County. Hunters may wish to investigate The Sherman Peak area, Cherry Hill Road or look north of Johnsondale.

G6 Special Rifle Buck Hunt. Hunting during the G6 special hunt tends to focus on the migration route along the Rincon Trail, especially in the Brush Creek area. Other areas of interest include Sand Hill Ridge, Burton Camp, north of Johnsondale, and Fairview Ridge.

G6  Zone Boundary:  In those portions of Kern and Tulare counties lying within a line beginning at the intersection of County Road 521 and County Road 495 at Kernville; south on County Road 495 to the intersection of Highway 155 at Wofford Heights; west on Highway 155 to the intersection of U.S. Forest Service Road 24S15 at Greenhorn Summit; north on U.S. Forest Service Road 24S15 to the intersection of U.S. Forest Service Road 23S16 (near Portuguese Pass); northeast on U.S. Forest Service Road 23S16 to County Road SM50; west on County Road SM50 to the intersection of the Western Divide Highway (County Road SM107); north on County Road SM107 to the junction of U.S. Forest Service Road 21S50 (near Quaking Aspen Campground); north on U.S. Forest Service Road 21S50 to the junction of U.S. Forest Service Road 20S79; northeast on U.S. Forest Service Road 20S79 to the junction of U.S. Forest Service Road 20S53; northeast on U.S. Forest Service Road 20S53 to the Golden Trout Wilderness boundary (at Lewis Camp Trail Head); east on the Golden Trout Wilderness Boundary to Rattlesnake Creek; southeast on Rattlesnake Creek to U.S. Forest Service Road 22S05; south on U.S. Forest Service Road 22S05 to the Dome Land Wilderness Boundary; southwest on the Dome Land Wilderness Boundary to the intersection of the South Fork of the Kern River; south along the South Fork of the Kern River to the intersection of County Road 521; west on County Road 521 to the point of beginning.

Foothill Herd

These deer do not migrate but inhabit the western Sierra Nevada foothills throughout D8. Most of the land occupied by these deer is privately owned and permission is required to enter. These resident deer most often occur in scattered localized populations.

STATUS

The sub-species of deer in D8 is California Mule Deer. These deer herds are stable to declining. Long term declines are due to land management practices that produce poor deer habitat. Fawn survival the last few years has been low and thus fewer adult bucks are entering the deer population. Buck to doe ratios remain in the 20's.

GUIDES

Blue Ridge Guide Service .... Call Bill Sweetser for quail, turkey, bear, bobcat, and deer in the southern Sierra Mountains of California. 2 hours north of Los Angeles. PH# 661-539-5102.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season:

D9 Rifle is Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2002.

D9 Bow is Aug. 17 - Sept. 8, 2002.

Tag Availability:  D9 zone  has 2,000 tags for 2002 and the tags sold out 9/4/02. 2001 had 2,000 tags and the D9 tags sold out 9/5/00. 2,000  D7 tags were sold in 1999 and the tag quota filled 9/17/99.

Bag and Possession Limit:  One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: D9 zone  is 9%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D9 zone  is 14%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D9 zone  is 11%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D9 zone  is 9.8%, with an estimated 195 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is unknown. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is unknown.

D9 Zone Boundary:  In that portion of Kern County within a line beginning at the intersection of Highways 99 and 178; northeast along Highway 178 along Lake Isabella and through Walker Pass to Highway 14; southwest along Highway 14 to Highway 58; northwest along Highway 58 to Highway 99; north along Highway 99 to the point of beginning.

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

DEER POPULATION STATUS: The Piute deer herd occupies Zone D9 and is stable in terms of population. It is a resident herd (non-migratory).

PUBLIC LAND

The Public land in D9 is within the boundaries of the Sequoia National Forest (Greenhorn and Cannell Meadow Ranger Districts) and adjacent and contiguous to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands east of Bakersfield, between State Highways 178 on the north, 58 on the west, and 14 on the east.

Headquarters offices are as follows:

Sequoia National Forest, Supervisors Office  900 W. Grand Ave. Porterville, CA 93257. (559) 784-1500

Sequoia National Forest - Greenhorn Ranger District, P.O. Box 3810, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. (760) 379-5646

Sequoia National Forest - Cannell Meadow Ranger District - P.O. Box 6, Kernville, CA 93238. (760) 376-3781

BLM Bakersfield Field Office  3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308-6837. (661) 391-6000. E-mail caweb010@ca.blm.gov   (661) 391-6088

CDF California Dept. of Forestry

PRIVATE LAND

You must have written permission from a landowner to hunt on posted private land.

ACCESS

Major access to the public land is from State Highways 178, 58 and 14. However, the road network within the forest is limited but adequate. Hunting activity is highest on the opening and closing weekends.

MAPS

Forest maps and forest wilderness maps may be obtained for about $4.00 from one of the offices listed above. U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) maps may be obtained at map, drafting/engineering or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL TIPS

Weather early in the season is mild to hot with cold nights. Light to moderate rain and/or snow and possibly fog may occur anytime but most generally during the latter half of the season; hunters should be prepared for this possibility.

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

CAMPING

There are several Forest Service campgrounds within the hunt zone. The developed campsites are shown on the Forest Service maps. Informal camping is allowed on Forest Service lands, but campfire permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply, and it is always best to contact the local Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or California Department of Forestry office for the latest information.

Please do not camp near springs or watering holes -- they may be critical to wildlife survival.

Camping near water sources may preclude use by wildlife and may be a violation of Fish and Game laws.

WHERE ARE THE DEER?

Hunters should move away from areas of heavy human use and vehicle traffic and look for recently used deer trails and bedding areas. Binoculars are very helpful for locating and identifying deer. For safety's sake, never use your rifle scope to look for deer. While use of Hunter Orange is not required, its use provides better hunter recognition and its use is encouraged.

WHERE SHOULD I HUNT?

No one location is guaranteed to have deer on any given date; however, some places where deer are known to occur include:

Breckenridge Mountain (east of Bakersfield), Golf Meadow area, Squirrel Meadow to top of the mountain, O'Brian Springs area, Lower slope on the Kern River side. Hunter success: 15-17 bucks taken on average each season

Piute Mountains (east of Breckenridge Mountain and south of Lake Isabella), the areas around Brown Meadow, Saddle Springs, Landers Meadow, Mace Meadow, Sorrell Peak, Piute Peak. Hunter success: 35-37 bucks taken on average each season

Scodie Mountains (southeast of Lake Isabella): Located entirely within USFS wilderness area. Receives very light pressure; fewer than five bucks taken on average each season.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .

GENERAL

This information has been prepared to assist you in selecting a hunt during the deer tag application process or in preparing for a hunt after you have received a deer tag. Please read important information on zone boundaries, tag quotas, hunting seasons, bag limits and special conditions in the CALIFORNIA HUNTING REGULATIONS (MAMMALS AND FURBEARERS). Articles on big game hunting and information about how to apply for deer tags may be found in the current year's issue of BIG GAME HUNTING. If you have further questions, please call (559) 243-4005.

Season: 

D10 Rifle is Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2002.

D10 Bow is Aug. 17 - Sept. 8, 2002.

Tag Availability:  D10 zone has 700 tags for 2002 and the tags did not sell out in 2001. 2001 had 700 tags. 682  D10 tags were sold in 1999.

Bag and Possession Limit:  One buck, forked horn or better per tag.

Estimated 2001 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: D10 zone  is 17%.

Estimated 2000 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 2000 estimated hunter success rate for D10 zone  is 9%.

Estimated 1999 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1999 estimated hunter success rate for D10 zone  is 11%.

Estimated 1998 Hunter Success and Deer Harvest: The 1998 estimated hunter success rate for D10 zone  is 10.3%, with an estimated 70 deer harvested. Buck/Doe ratio is unknown. Estimated deer population based on a 3 year average is unknown.

D10 Zone Boundary: In those portions of Kern and Los Angeles counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highways 99 and 58; southeast along Highway 58 to Highway 14; south along Highway 14 to Highway 138; west along Highway 138 to Interstate 5; north on Interstate 5 to Highway 99; north on Highway 99 to the point of beginning.

Zone D10 includes the south-central part of Kern County, plus a very small portion of northwest Los Angeles County. The zone consists almost entirely of private land. There are also scattered parcels of Bureau of Land Management land that are landlocked by private holdings. The Tejon Ranch is the primary landowner in the zone and offers limited access for a fee. The Tejon Ranch may be contacted at the following address and phone numbers:

Shooting Hours: Hunting and shooting hours for big game, including but not limited to deer, antelope, elk, bear, and wild pig shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Tejon Ranch Company .... 1 hour north of Los Angeles off I-5. Contact Don Geivet at PH# 661-248-6774 or Sandy at 661-248-6775.

MAPS 

U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) maps may be obtained at map, drafting/engineering or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here  Jesse's Hunting Page . Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos.

WEATHER

Caltrans Road Conditions

The Weather Channel

DEER POPULATION STATUS The Tejon deer herd occupies Zone D-10 and is stable in terms of population trend.

FIELD REPORTS

If you have any pics or stories you would like to share about this hunt, please email them to us at .