San Diego deer hunts G-13, M-6 and A-22
CDFW holds 3 deer hunts on the same 2,168,104 acres of San Diego County, inside deer Zone D16: G-13, San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt (October 24 to November 15, 300 tags), M-6, San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt (December 19 to 31, 80 tags) and A-22, San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt (September 5 to October 18 and November 21 to December 31, 1,000 tags). CDFW estimates 101 deer were taken on them in 2025: 45 on G-13 (15% success), 4 on M-6 (5% success) and 52 on A-22 (5.2% success).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: CDFW's deer harvest reports, 2020 to 2025. Seasons and tags: CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. Rules: the 2026-2027 regulations. Land: CPAD 2026a.
National forestBLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceState parkOther state or federal landSan DiegoDeer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt G-13, 2026 | San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt: October 24 to November 15, 300 tags |
|---|---|
| Hunt M-6, 2026 | San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt: December 19 to 31, 80 tags |
| Hunt A-22, 2026 | San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt: September 5 to October 18 and November 21 to December 31, 1,000 tags |
| Counties | San Diego |
| Size | 2,168,104 acres |
| Public land | 23.6% (512,406 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D16 |
| Hunt G-13, 2025 | 45 deer, 15% hunter success (CDFW) |
| Hunt M-6, 2025 | 4 deer, 5% hunter success (CDFW) |
| Hunt A-22, 2025 | 52 deer, 5.2% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on the San Diego deer hunts?
CDFW's estimates for each hunt, 2020 to 2025. In 2025: G-13 45 deer (6 bucks, 40 does), M-6 4 deer (0 bucks, 4 does) and A-22 52 deer (22 bucks, 30 does).
| Hunt | Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-13 | 2025 | 300 | 4 | 27 | 45 | 15% | 31.7% |
| G-13 | 2024 | 300 | 6 | 46 | 67 | 22.6% | 22.9% |
| G-13 | 2023 | 300 | 3 | 40 | 52 | 17.4% | 18.1% |
| G-13 | 2022 | 300 | 6 | 33 | 47 | 15.7% | 17.7% |
| G-13 | 2021 | 300 | 12 | 36 | 57 | 19% | 16% |
| G-13 | 2020 | 300 | 8 | 52 | 70 | 23.5% | 14.4% |
| M-6 | 2025 | 80 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5% | 27.5% |
| M-6 | 2024 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6.3% | 40% |
| M-6 | 2023 | 80 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2.5% | 12.5% |
| M-6 | 2022 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2.5% | 11.3% |
| M-6 | 2021 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3.8% | 13.9% |
| M-6 | 2020 | 80 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5.1% | 17.9% |
| A-22 | 2025 | 1,000 | 12 | 16 | 52 | 5.2% | 46.3% |
| A-22 | 2024 | 1,000 | 17 | 15 | 62 | 6.2% | 48.6% |
| A-22 | 2023 | 1,000 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 2.8% | 21.8% |
| A-22 | 2022 | 1,000 | 12 | 15 | 34 | 3.4% | 21% |
| A-22 | 2021 | 1,000 | 15 | 15 | 37 | 3.7% | 21% |
| A-22 | 2020 | 1,000 | 23 | 20 | 53 | 5.1% | 19% |
Source: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025), Table 1. CDFW's hunter success is its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued.
What size are the bucks taken on the San Diego deer hunts?
Of the 12 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 1 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-13, 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| M-6, 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| A-22, 2025 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for the San Diego deer hunts?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 507 hunters put hunt G-13 first for 300 tags (270 by preference points) and 63 hunters put hunt M-6 first for 80 tags (72 by preference points). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
G-13, San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt
Bag limit: One antlerless deer (see subsection 351(b)) per tag. Tags in the regulations: 300.
Season: The season for additional hunt G-13 (San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt) shall open on the fourth Saturday in October and extend for 23 consecutive days.
M-6, San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Bag limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection 351(c)) per tag. Tags in the regulations: 80.
Season: The season for additional hunt M-6 (San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in December and extend through December 31.
- Only muzzleloading rifles as specified in Section 353 may be used.
A-22, San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Bag limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection 351(c)) per tag. Tags in the regulations: 1,000.
Season: The season for hunt A-22 (San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the first Saturday in September and extend for 44 consecutive days, and reopen on the third Saturday in November and extend through December 31.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 53, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in the San Diego deer hunts?
23.6% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 512,406 of 2,168,104 acres. The largest pieces: Cleveland National Forest (280,170 acres), McCain Valley National Cooperative Land and Wildlife Management Area (75,969 acres) and Otay National Co-op Land & Wildlife Management Area (25,207 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| State park | 309,713 | 14.3% |
| National forest | 280,170 | 12.9% |
| BLM | 181,178 | 8.4% |
| CDFW land | 51,058 | 2.4% |
| National wildlife refuge | 14,594 | 0.7% |
| Other state or federal land | 6,929 | 0.3% |
| National Park Service | 152 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside CDFW's hunt boundary from California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. "Public land" on this page means national forest, BLM and CDFW land, the three managers whose ground is open to hunting under their own rules. National Park Service land, state parks and most other public ground are listed but not counted: hunting there is closed or limited. Land held by cities, counties, districts and private groups is not shown.
CDFW wildlife areas and ecological reserves inside: San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area (17,757 acres), Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve (7,039 acres), Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area (6,848 acres), Crestridge Ecological Reserve (2,756 acres), Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve (2,734 acres), Otay Mountain Ecological Reserve (1,242 acres), Boden Canyon Ecological Reserve (1,211 acres) and San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve (726 acres).
How do you get to the San Diego deer hunts?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: I-8, CA 78, CA 94, CA 79, I-5 and I-15. Towns inside: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Poway, Carlsbad and Escondido. Nearby: Coronado (on the line), Temecula (4 miles), Murrieta (10 miles) and Wildomar (14 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D16 (2,167,845 acres).
Questions hunters ask
Which deer hunts are held on the San Diego ground?
G-13 (San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt), M-6 (San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and A-22 (San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt), by CDFW's 2026 regulations. All 3 use the same boundary.
How many tags are there for the San Diego hunts?
G-13: 300, M-6: 80 and A-22: 1,000 in 2026.
What is the success rate on the San Diego hunts?
CDFW's 2025 hunter success: G-13 15% (45 deer), M-6 5% (4 deer) and A-22 5.2% (52 deer). CDFW works it out as its estimated kill divided by tags issued.
When are the San Diego hunts in 2026?
G-13: October 24 to November 15, M-6: December 19 to 31 and A-22: September 5 to October 18 and November 21 to December 31, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons.
Where are the San Diego hunts?
In San Diego County, inside deer Zone D16. Towns in and near the ground: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Coronado and Temecula.
CDFW's boundary of the San Diego hunts
That portion of San Diego County within Zone D-16 (see subsection 360(a)(15)(A)).
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 53, hunt G-13.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, quotas and hunter success: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
- 2026 dates and tags: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons; rules and boundary: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations.
- Public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. Hunt boundaries: CDFW additional deer hunts (BIOS ds3241); CDFW archery deer hunts (BIOS ds3242, Title 14 Section 361).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from CDFW, CPAD and the Census Bureau, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.