Deer hunt J-14: Riverside Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt J-14, CDFW's Riverside Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 956,596 acres of Riverside County, inside deer Zone D19. The 2026 season runs November 21 to 29 with 30 tags. CDFW estimates 14 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 46.7% 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 forestBLMCDFW landState parkOther state or federal landHunt J-14Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-14, 2026 | Riverside Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt: November 21 to 29, 30 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Riverside |
| Size | 956,596 acres |
| Public land | 39.5% (377,606 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D19 |
| Hunt J-14, 2025 | 14 deer, 46.7% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-14?
CDFW estimates 14 deer were taken on hunt J-14 in 2025: 10 bucks and 4 does. Hunters reported 10; 30% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 46.7% | 30% |
| 2024 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 53.3% | 43.3% |
| 2023 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 28.6% | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 18 | 60% | 20% |
| 2021 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 56.7% | 13.3% |
| 2020 | 30 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 56.7% | 20% |
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-14?
Of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-14, 2025 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-14?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 48 hunters put hunt J-14 first for 30 tags (15 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: 30.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-14 (Riverside 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-14?
39.5% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 377,606 of 956,596 acres. The largest pieces: San Bernardino National Forest (203,034 acres) and Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (29,684 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 203,034 | 21.2% |
| CDFW land | 106,354 | 11.1% |
| BLM | 68,218 | 7.1% |
| State park | 59,901 | 6.3% |
| Other state or federal land | 30,846 | 3.2% |
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: Santa Rosa Wildlife Area (117,121 acres), San Jacinto Wildlife Area (8,408 acres), Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve (3,809 acres), Peninsular Ranges Ecological Reserve (3,343 acres) and Carrizo Canyon Ecological Reserve (1,655 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-14?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 86, CA 111, CA 74, I-10, CA 243 and US 243. Towns inside: Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indio, Beaumont, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. Nearby: San Jacinto (on the line), Hemet (on the line), Banning (on the line) and Coachella (2 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D19 (956,596 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-14?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 30 tags. In 2025 the quota was 30. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-14?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 46.7%: an estimated 14 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 53.3% (16 deer).
When is hunt J-14 in 2026?
November 21 to 29, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-14 (Riverside Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in November and extend for 9 consecutive days.
Where is hunt J-14?
In Riverside County, inside deer Zone D19. Towns in and near the ground: Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indio, San Jacinto and Hemet.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-14
In that portion of Riverside County within Zone D-19 (see subsection 360(a)(17)(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.