Deer hunt J-11: San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt J-11, CDFW's San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 975,472 acres of San Bernardino County, inside deer Zone D14. The 2026 season runs November 21 to 29 with 40 tags. CDFW estimates 16 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 42.1% 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 forestBLMCDFW landState parkOther state or federal landHunt J-11Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-11, 2026 | San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt: November 21 to 29, 40 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | San Bernardino |
| Size | 975,472 acres |
| Public land | 55.4% (540,335 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D14 |
| Hunt J-11, 2025 | 16 deer, 42.1% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-11?
CDFW estimates 16 deer were taken on hunt J-11 in 2025: 8 bucks and 9 does. Hunters reported 15; 7.9% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 42.1% | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 40 | 7 | 14 | 23 | 57.5% | 10% |
| 2023 | 40 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 47.5% | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 40 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 51.3% | 12.8% |
| 2021 | 40 | 11 | 19 | 31 | 77.5% | 5% |
| 2020 | 40 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 57.5% | 17.5% |
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 J-11?
Of the 6 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 2 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-11, 2025 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-11?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 121 hunters put hunt J-11 first for 40 tags (20 by preference points). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Bag limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection 351(c)) per tag. Tags in the regulations: 40.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-11 (San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in November and extend for 9 consecutive days.
- 1. Only junior license holders shall apply (see subsection 708.2). 2. Tagholders shall be accompanied by an adult chaperon 18 years of age or older while hunting.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 57, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt J-11?
55.4% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 540,335 of 975,472 acres. The largest piece: San Bernardino National Forest (375,013 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 375,018 | 38.4% |
| BLM | 162,953 | 16.7% |
| Other state or federal land | 4,449 | 0.5% |
| State park | 4,025 | 0.4% |
| CDFW land | 2,364 | 0.2% |
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: Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve (163 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-11?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 18, CA 38, CA 210, I-10, I-215 and I-15. Towns inside: Hesperia, San Bernardino, Fontana, Yucca Valley, Yucaipa and Rialto. Nearby: Redlands (on the line), Colton (on the line), Calimesa (on the line) and Loma Linda (2 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D14 (975,472 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-11?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 40 tags. In 2025 the quota was 40. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-11?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 42.1%: an estimated 16 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 57.5% (23 deer).
When is hunt J-11 in 2026?
November 21 to 29, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-11 (San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in November and extend for 9 consecutive days.
Where is hunt J-11?
In San Bernardino County, inside deer Zone D14. Towns in and near the ground: Hesperia, San Bernardino, Fontana, Redlands and Colton.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-11
In those portions of Zone D-14 within San Bernardino County (see subsection 360(a)(13)(A).
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 57.
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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.