Deer hunt G-3: Goodale Buck Hunt
Hunt G-3, CDFW's Goodale Buck Hunt, is an additional hunt on 185,159 acres of Inyo County, inside deer Zone X9b. The 2026 season runs December 5 to 20 with 25 tags. CDFW estimates 20 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 90.9% 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 forestBLMNational Park ServiceHunt G-3Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt G-3, 2026 | Goodale Buck Hunt: December 5 to 20, 25 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Inyo |
| Size | 185,159 acres |
| Public land | 87.7% (162,384 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone X9b |
| Hunt G-3, 2025 | 20 deer, 90.9% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt G-3?
CDFW estimates 20 deer were taken on hunt G-3 in 2025: 20 bucks and 0 does. Hunters reported 16; 18.2% 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 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 90.9% | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 20 | 87% | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 25 | 19 | 0 | 20 | 87% | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 23 | 92% | 16% |
| 2021 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 83.3% | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 75% | 4.2% |
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-3?
Of the 16 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 10 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-3, 2025 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt G-3?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 3,950 hunters put hunt G-3 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.
CDFW's note for G-3: In 2026-2027, G-3 is part of the CWD Management Zone and hunters shall submit a CWD sample to CDFW within 10 days of harvest. Hunters are also encouraged to leave brain, spinal column, and gut pile at the harvest site.
Season: The season for additional hunt G-3 (Goodale Buck Hunt) shall open on the first Saturday in December and extend for 16 consecutive days.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 51, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt G-3?
87.7% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 162,384 of 185,159 acres. The largest piece: Inyo National Forest (107,964 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 107,964 | 58.3% |
| BLM | 54,420 | 29.4% |
| National Park Service | 828 | 0.4% |
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-3?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: US 395. Nearby: Independence (on the line), Lone Pine (2 miles), Big Pine (11 miles) and Keeler (13 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone X9b (184,936 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt G-3?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 25 tags. In 2025 the quota was 25.
What is the success rate on hunt G-3?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 90.9%: an estimated 20 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 87% (20 deer).
When is hunt G-3 in 2026?
December 5 to 20, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt G-3 (Goodale Buck Hunt) shall open on the first Saturday in December and extend for 16 consecutive days.
Where is hunt G-3?
In Inyo County, inside deer Zone X9b. Towns in and near the ground: Independence and Lone Pine.
CDFW's boundary of hunt G-3
In that portion of Inyo County within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 395 and Lone Pine Creek; west along Lone Pine Creek to the Inyo-Tulare county line; northwest along the Inyo-Tulare and Inyo-Fresno county lines to Taboose Creek; east along Taboose Creek to Highway 395; south along Highway 395 to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 51.
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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.