California Deer Hunting Zones 2004

One of the many objectives of California's wildlife conservation policy is to provide sport hunting use of selected species where such use is consistent with maintaining healthy wildlife populations. The California Department of Fish and Game manages deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with the objectives of maintaining healthy deer herds and providing public sport hunting opportunities through regulated harvest.

Currently, deer hunting occurs within 44 specific zones or limited areas within those zones. These zones may consist of an individual deer herd or group of herds having similar ecological and management requirements. Permits or deer license tags are valid only for specified areas and periods. In this way, the deer harvest can be regulated to maintain the department's objectives for herds within specific areas of the state. The California Deer Hunting Zones map is updated annually and distributed throughout the state to serve as a guide to the general locations of deer hunting zones.