Deer Zone D12: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone D12 covers 8,333 square miles of Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 52.3% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that BLM land (2,780,108 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 121 deer in Zone D12 in 2025 (121 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 12.8%. The 2026 general season runs November 7 to 29.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: CDFW's deer harvest reports, 2020 to 2025. Seasons and quotas: CDFW's approved 2026 seasons and the 2026-2027 regulations. Land: CPAD 2026a.
BLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceState parkOther state or federal landZone D12Neighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino |
| Size | 5,332,969 acres (8,333 square miles) |
| Public land | 52.3% (2,789,173 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 950 |
| Archery season, 2026 | October 3 to 25 |
| General season, 2026 | November 7 to 29 |
| Bag limit | One buck, forked horn or better, per tag. |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 121 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 12.8% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Blythe, Yucca Valley and Indio |
How many deer are taken in Zone D12?
CDFW estimates 121 deer were taken in Zone D12 in 2025, down from 170 in 2024. Hunters reported 69 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 43.1% of tag holders who did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Tags issued | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Tag holders who did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 950 | not printed | 69 | 0 | 121 | 12.8% | 43.1% |
| 2024 | 950 | not printed | 113 | 0 | 170 | 17.9% | 33.4% |
| 2023 | 950 | not printed | 85 | 0 | 113 | 11.9% | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 950 | 947 | 57 | 0 | 78 | 8.2% | 27.7% |
| 2021 | 950 | 947 | 78 | 0 | 106 | 11.2% | 26.7% |
| 2020 | 950 | 949 | 105 | 0 | 136 | 14.3% | 23.1% |
Source: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025), Table 1. CDFW's hunter success is its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. Harvest on Private Lands Management and Section 554 landowner programs is not included.
What size are the bucks taken in Zone D12?
Of the 69 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 30 (43.5%) had 4 points or more and 18 had 3 points. CDFW counts antler points on one side.
| Year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Bucks with points recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 (0%) | 21 (30.4%) | 18 (26.1%) | 26 (37.7%) | 4 (5.8%) | 69 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 32 (28.3%) | 48 (42.5%) | 27 (23.9%) | 6 (5.3%) | 113 |
| 2023 | 0 (0%) | 31 (36.5%) | 31 (36.5%) | 19 (22.4%) | 4 (4.7%) | 85 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class), and the two years before it. Shares are of the bucks reported with points recorded.
When is deer season in Zone D12 in 2026?
Archery only: October 3 to 25. General season: November 7 to 29, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone D-12 shall open on the first Saturday in November and extend for 23 consecutive days.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 1,058 hunters put Zone D12 first for 950 tags (855 by preference points, 95 by draw-by-choice). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Source: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons and CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 45 (Title 14, Section 360). CDFW can change a season: check CDFW's deer zone page before you go.
How much public land is in Zone D12?
52.3% of Zone D12 is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 2,789,173 of its 5,332,969 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone D12 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 2,780,108 | 52.1% |
| National Park Service | 772,521 | 14.5% |
| Other state or federal land | 103,439 | 1.9% |
| National wildlife refuge | 23,835 | 0.4% |
| State park | 14,515 | 0.3% |
| CDFW land | 9,065 | 0.2% |
Measured by FilledTag inside CDFW's zone 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 in Zone D12: Palo Verde Ecological Reserve (2,077 acres here), Coachella Valley Ecological Reserve (1,804 acres here), Sky Valley Ecological Reserve (1,778 acres here), Imperial Wildlife Area (1,243 acres here) and Oasis Spring Ecological Reserve (486 acres here).
How do you get to Zone D12?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: I-10, CA 111, I-8, CA 62, CA 78 and CA 115. 23 Census places are inside it, among them Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Blythe, Calexico, Calipatria and Holtville. Nearby: Yucca Valley (on the line), Indio (on the line), Twentynine Palms (on the line) and Cathedral City (on the line).
Which deer zones border Zone D12?
Zone D12 touches 4 other deer zones. Their size, public land and CDFW's 2025 numbers:
| Zone | Square miles | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone D14 | 1,704 | 53.4% | 503 | 16.8% |
| Zone D16 | 4,481 | 30.2% | 322 | 10.7% |
| Zone D17 | 19,555 | 47.1% | 58 | 11.6% |
| Zone D19 | 2,693 | 23.2% | 156 | 10.4% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone D12?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 950. In 2025 the quota was 950 and CDFW estimates 121 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone D12?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 12.8%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 17.9%.
When does deer season open in Zone D12 in 2026?
Archery season runs October 3 to 25, 2026, and the general season November 7 to 29. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone D-12 shall open on the first Saturday in November and extend for 23 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone D12?
52.3% of Zone D12, 2,789,173 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a.
Which CDFW lands are in Zone D12?
Palo Verde Ecological Reserve (2,077 acres here), Coachella Valley Ecological Reserve (1,804 acres here), Sky Valley Ecological Reserve (1,778 acres here), Imperial Wildlife Area (1,243 acres here) and Oasis Spring Ecological Reserve (486 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone D12
Those portions of Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties within a line beginning at Highway 62 and the Twentynine Palms-Amboy Road in Twentynine Palms; east along Highway 62 to Highway 95 at Vidal Junction; north on Highway 95 to Interstate 40; east on Interstate 40 to the California-Arizona state line; south along this state line to the U.S.-Mexican border; west along the U.S.-Mexican border to Highway 111 in Calexico; north on Highway 111 to Interstate 10; north and west on Interstate 10 to Highway 62; north and east on Highway 62 to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 45, Title 14, Section 360.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, quotas, hunter success and antler classes: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
- 2026 seasons and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons; boundary, bag limit and season rule: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations.
- Public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. Zone boundary: CDFW deer hunt zones (BIOS ds342, Title 14 Section 360).
- 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.
California hunting CDFW Region 6 Zone D14 Zone D16 Zone D17 Zone D19