Deer Zone D7: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone D7 covers 3,762 square miles of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Tulare counties. 50.6% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that national forest (1,209,405 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 1,300 deer in Zone D7 in 2025 (1,298 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 14.5%. The 2026 general season runs September 19 to November 1.
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.
National forestBLMCDFW landNational Park ServiceState parkOther state or federal landZone D7Neighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 4, Central Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Tulare |
| Size | 2,407,802 acres (3,762 square miles) |
| Public land | 50.6% (1,219,190 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 9,000 |
| Archery season, 2026 | August 15 to September 6 |
| General season, 2026 | September 19 to November 1 |
| Bag limit | One buck, forked horn or better, per tag. |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 1,300 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 14.5% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Chowchilla and Madera |
CDFW's note for Zone D7: In 2026-2027, D-7 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.
How many deer are taken in Zone D7?
CDFW estimates 1,300 deer were taken in Zone D7 in 2025, up from 1,065 in 2024. Hunters reported 779 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 40.1% 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 | 9,000 | not printed | 778 | 0 | 1,300 | 14.5% | 40.1% |
| 2024 | 9,000 | not printed | 707 | 0 | 1,065 | 11.8% | 33.6% |
| 2023 | 9,000 | not printed | 537 | 0 | 728 | 8.1% | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 9,000 | 8,995 | 674 | 0 | 915 | 10.2% | 26.3% |
| 2021 | 9,000 | 8,998 | 889 | 0 | 1,211 | 13.5% | 26.6% |
| 2020 | 9,000 | 9,002 | 188 | 1 | 253 | 2.8% | 25.5% |
Source: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025), Table 1. CDFW's hunter success is its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. Harvest on Private Lands Management and Section 554 landowner programs is not included.
What size are the bucks taken in Zone D7?
Of the 778 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 169 (21.7%) had 4 points or more and 202 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%) | 407 (52.3%) | 202 (26%) | 138 (17.7%) | 31 (4%) | 778 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 362 (51.3%) | 206 (29.2%) | 108 (15.3%) | 29 (4.1%) | 705 |
| 2023 | 3 (0.6%) | 300 (55.9%) | 141 (26.3%) | 68 (12.7%) | 25 (4.7%) | 537 |
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 D7 in 2026?
Archery only: August 15 to September 6. General season: September 19 to November 1, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone D-7 shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 44 consecutive days.
Other CDFW deer hunts held in Zone D7 in 2026:
| Hunt | Name | 2026 dates | 2026 tags | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-40 | D-7 Late Season Buck Hunt | November 28 to December 6 | 25 | 16 | 69.6% |
Harvest of these hunts: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 1, for the whole hunt, which may reach past Zone D7.
Deer taken in Zone D7 in 2025 on other hunts' tags, as hunters reported them: hunt G-40: 13.
Source: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons and CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 44 (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 D7?
50.6% of Zone D7 is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 1,219,190 of its 2,407,802 acres. The largest pieces are Sierra National Forest (1,183,335 acres) and Inyo National Forest (26,020 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone D7 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 1,209,405 | 50.2% |
| National Park Service | 116,594 | 4.8% |
| State park | 11,773 | 0.5% |
| Other state or federal land | 11,593 | 0.5% |
| BLM | 8,300 | 0.3% |
| CDFW land | 1,485 | 0.1% |
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 D7: Big Table Mountain Ecological Reserve (762 acres here) and Kinsman Flat Wildlife Area (519 acres here).
How do you get to Zone D7?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 41, CA 168, CA 99, CA 180, CA 145 and CA 49. 34 Census places are inside it, among them Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Selma, Kingsburg and Fowler. Nearby: Chowchilla (on the line), Madera (on the line), Reedley (on the line) and Dinuba (4 miles).
Which deer zones border Zone D7?
Zone D7 touches 5 other deer zones. Their size, public land and CDFW's 2025 numbers:
| Zone | Square miles | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 35,615 | 11.8% | 9,184 | 34.2% |
| Zone D6 | 5,021 | 29.4% | 1,119 | 11.2% |
| Zone D8 | 5,794 | 26.4% | 916 | 16.2% |
| Zone X9a | 1,946 | 84% | 160 | 62.7% |
| Zone X9b | 741 | 86.6% | 65 | 29.4% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone D7?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 9,000. In 2025 the quota was 9,000 and CDFW estimates 1,300 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone D7?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 14.5%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 11.8%.
When does deer season open in Zone D7 in 2026?
Archery season runs August 15 to September 6, 2026, and the general season September 19 to November 1. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone D-7 shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 44 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone D7?
50.6% of Zone D7, 1,219,190 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest pieces: Sierra National Forest (1,183,335 acres) and Inyo National Forest (26,020 acres).
Which CDFW lands are in Zone D7?
Big Table Mountain Ecological Reserve (762 acres here) and Kinsman Flat Wildlife Area (519 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone D7
In those portions of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Tulare counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 99 and the Madera-Merced county line; northeast along the Madera-Merced and Madera-Mariposa county lines to Highway 41 south of Westfall Station; north along Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park boundary; east along the park boundary to the Mono-Madera county line near Rodger Peak; south along the Inyo National Forest boundary (crest of the Ritter Range) to the junction of the Inyo National Forest boundary and Ashley Creek; east to Ashley Lake; northeast along Ashley Creek to the junction of King Creek; southeast along King Creek to its junction with the middle fork of the San Joaquin River; south and west along the middle fork of the San Joaquin River to the junction of the Inyo National Forest boundary; east along Fish Creek to its confluence with Deer Creek; north and east along Deer Creek to the upper crossing of the Deer Creek trail; north and east along the Deer Creek trail to the Inyo National Forest Boundary (the Sierra Crest); south along the Sierra crest and the Inyo National Forest boundary to Bishop Pass; west along the Dusy Basin Trail to the Middle Fork of the Kings River; southwest and downstream along the Middle Fork of the Kings River to the junction of the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Kings River; southwest along the Kings River through Pine Flat Reservoir, Piedra and Reedley to Highway 99; north along Highway 99 to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 44, 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 4 Zone A Zone D6 Zone D8 Zone X9a Zone X9b