Deer hunt G-21: Ventana Wilderness Buck Hunt
Hunt G-21, CDFW's Ventana Wilderness Buck Hunt, is an additional hunt on 237,726 acres of Monterey County, inside deer Zone A. The 2026 season runs November 14 to December 6 with 25 tags. CDFW estimates 5 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 21.7% hunter 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 forestBLMState parkOther state or federal landHunt G-21Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt G-21, 2026 | Ventana Wilderness Buck Hunt: November 14 to December 6, 25 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Monterey |
| Size | 237,726 acres |
| Public land | 98.8% (234,830 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Hunt G-21, 2025 | 5 deer, 21.7% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt G-21?
CDFW estimates 5 deer were taken on hunt G-21 in 2025: 5 bucks and 0 does. Hunters reported 3; 34.8% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 21.7% | 34.8% |
| 2024 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 36% | 32% |
| 2023 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 28% | 24% |
| 2022 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13% | 17.4% |
| 2021 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 24% | 8% |
| 2020 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7.7% |
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 hunt G-21?
Of the 3 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 0 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-21, 2025 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt G-21?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 130 hunters put hunt G-21 first for 25 tags (23 by preference points). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Bag limit: One buck, forked horn (see subsection 351(a)) or better, per tag. Tags in the regulations: 25.
Season: The season for additional hunt G-21 (Ventana Wilderness Buck Hunt) shall open on the second Saturday in November and extend for 23 consecutive days.
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 hunt G-21?
98.8% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 234,830 of 237,726 acres. The largest piece: Los Padres National Forest (234,681 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 234,681 | 98.7% |
| BLM | 149 | 0.1% |
| State park | 61 | under 0.1% |
| Other state or federal land | 57 | 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.
How do you get to hunt G-21?
No numbered highway crosses it. Nearby: Greenfield (8 miles), King City (9 miles), Carmel-by-the-Sea (12 miles) and Del Rey Oaks (13 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone A (237,726 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt G-21?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 25 tags. In 2025 the quota was 25.
What is the success rate on hunt G-21?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 21.7%: an estimated 5 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 36% (9 deer).
When is hunt G-21 in 2026?
November 14 to December 6, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt G-21 (Ventana Wilderness Buck Hunt) shall open on the second Saturday in November and extend for 23 consecutive days.
Where is hunt G-21?
In Monterey County, inside deer Zone A. Towns in and near the ground: Greenfield and King City.
CDFW's boundary of hunt G-21
That portion of Monterey County and the Los Padres National Forest within the exterior boundaries of the Ventana Wilderness Area.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 53.
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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.