Deer hunt MA-1: San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt MA-1, CDFW's San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an muzzleloading rifle and archery hunt on 236,987 acres of San Luis Obispo County, inside deer Zone A. The 2026 season runs November 28 to December 13 with 150 tags. CDFW estimates 17 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 11.9% 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 forestBLMCDFW landHunt MA-1Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt MA-1, 2026 | San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt: November 28 to December 13, 150 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | San Luis Obispo |
| Size | 236,987 acres |
| Public land | 79% (187,146 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Hunt MA-1, 2025 | 17 deer, 11.9% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt MA-1?
CDFW estimates 17 deer were taken on hunt MA-1 in 2025: 11 bucks and 6 does. Hunters reported 11; 36.4% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 150 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 11.9% | 36.4% |
| 2024 | 150 | 11 | 7 | 32 | 21.6% | 44.6% |
| 2023 | 150 | 9 | 11 | 25 | 16.8% | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 150 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 11.3% | 20.7% |
| 2021 | 150 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 15.6% | 22.4% |
| 2020 | 150 | 9 | 16 | 29 | 19.5% | 15.4% |
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 MA-1?
Of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA-1, 2025 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt MA-1?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 101 hunters put hunt MA-1 first for 150 tags (135 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: 150.
Season: The season for additional hunt MA-1 (San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open the last Saturday in November and extend for 16 consecutive days.
- Only archery equipment as specified in Section 354 or muzzleloading rifles as specified in Section 353 may be used.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 55, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt MA-1?
79% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 187,146 of 236,987 acres. The largest piece: Los Padres National Forest (185,593 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 185,593 | 78.3% |
| CDFW land | 863 | 0.4% |
| BLM | 690 | 0.3% |
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: Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserve (1,311 acres).
How do you get to hunt MA-1?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: US 101 and CA 41. Nearby: Atascadero (3 miles), San Luis Obispo (4 miles), Morro Bay (6 miles) and Arroyo Grande (7 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone A (236,987 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt MA-1?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 150 tags. In 2025 the quota was 150.
What is the success rate on hunt MA-1?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 11.9%: an estimated 17 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 21.6% (32 deer).
When is hunt MA-1 in 2026?
November 28 to December 13, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt MA-1 (San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open the last Saturday in November and extend for 16 consecutive days.
Where is hunt MA-1?
In San Luis Obispo County, inside deer Zone A. Towns in and near the ground: Atascadero and San Luis Obispo.
CDFW's boundary of hunt MA-1
That portion of San Luis Obispo County lying within the Los Padres National Forest.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 55.
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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.