Deer Zone X8: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone X8 covers 520 square miles of Alpine and El Dorado counties. 89.4% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that national forest (274,331 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 49 deer in Zone X8 in 2025 (49 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 24.3%. The 2026 general season runs September 26 to October 11.
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 landState parkOther state or federal landZone X8Neighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 2, North Central Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Alpine and El Dorado |
| Size | 332,827 acres (520 square miles) |
| Public land | 89.4% (297,711 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 210 |
| Archery, 2026 (hunt A-15) | August 15 to September 6 |
| General season, 2026 | September 26 to October 11 |
| Bag limit | One buck, forked horn or better, per tag. |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 49 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 24.3% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | South Lake Tahoe, Markleeville, Mesa Vista, Kirkwood and Walker |
How many deer are taken in Zone X8?
CDFW estimates 49 deer were taken in Zone X8 in 2025, up from 41 in 2024. Hunters reported 33 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 32.7% 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 | 210 | not printed | 33 | 0 | 49 | 24.3% | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 210 | not printed | 32 | 0 | 41 | 20.7% | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 210 | not printed | 38 | 0 | 42 | 20.9% | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 210 | 205 | 53 | 0 | 63 | 30.7% | 16.1% |
| 2021 | 210 | 168 | 49 | 0 | 60 | 35.7% | 18.5% |
| 2020 | 210 | 174 | 59 | 0 | 66 | 37.9% | 11.5% |
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 X8?
Of the 33 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 16 (48.5%) had 4 points or more and 3 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%) | 14 (42.4%) | 3 (9.1%) | 12 (36.4%) | 4 (12.1%) | 33 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 6 (18.8%) | 10 (31.3%) | 14 (43.8%) | 2 (6.3%) | 32 |
| 2023 | 0 (0%) | 13 (34.2%) | 12 (31.6%) | 12 (31.6%) | 1 (2.6%) | 38 |
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 X8 in 2026?
General season: September 26 to October 11, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone X-8 shall open on the fourth Saturday in September and extend for 16 consecutive days.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 916 hunters put Zone X8 first for 210 tags (189 by preference points, 21 by draw-by-choice). For archery hunt A-15: 78 first-choice applicants for 40 tags. Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Archery hunting in Zone X8 is CDFW hunt A-15, Zone X-8 Archery Hunt: August 15 to September 6, 2026, 40 tags. In 2025 archers reported 4 deer taken in Zone X8 on that hunt.
Deer taken in Zone X8 in 2025 on other hunts' tags, as hunters reported them: hunt A-15: 4.
Source: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons and CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 49 (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 X8?
89.4% of Zone X8 is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 297,711 of its 332,827 acres. The largest pieces are Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (229,494 acres) and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (42,599 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone X8 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 274,331 | 82.4% |
| BLM | 17,202 | 5.2% |
| CDFW land | 6,178 | 1.9% |
| Other state or federal land | 2,141 | 0.6% |
| State park | 592 | 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 X8: Hope Valley Wildlife Area (2,952 acres here), Heenan Lake Wildlife Area (1,660 acres here) and Red Lake Wildlife Area (848 acres here).
How do you get to Zone X8?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 89, CA 88, CA 4 and US 50. Towns inside: South Lake Tahoe, Markleeville, Mesa Vista, Alpine Village and Meyers. Nearby: Kirkwood (3 miles), Walker (4 miles), Coleville (5 miles) and Topaz (6 miles).
Which deer zones border Zone X8?
Zone X8 touches 3 other deer zones. Their size, public land and CDFW's 2025 numbers:
| Zone | Square miles | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone D5 | 4,815 | 27.6% | 2,484 | 19% |
| Zone D6 | 5,021 | 29.4% | 1,119 | 11.2% |
| Zone X12 | 1,031 | 84.4% | 193 | 58.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone X8?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 210. In 2025 the quota was 210 and CDFW estimates 49 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone X8?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 24.3%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 20.7%.
When does deer season open in Zone X8 in 2026?
The general season runs September 26 to October 11, 2026. Archery hunting here is a separate hunt, A-15, August 15 to September 6. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone X-8 shall open on the fourth Saturday in September and extend for 16 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone X8?
89.4% of Zone X8, 297,711 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest pieces: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (229,494 acres) and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (42,599 acres).
Which CDFW lands are in Zone X8?
Hope Valley Wildlife Area (2,952 acres here), Heenan Lake Wildlife Area (1,660 acres here) and Red Lake Wildlife Area (848 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone X8
In those portions of Alpine and El Dorado counties within a line beginning at the junction of the California-Nevada state line and Highway 50; southeast along the California-Nevada state line to the Indian Springs Road, south to the Alpine-Mono County line; south along the Alpine-Mono county line to the Sierra crest; northwest along the Sierra crest to the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail near Wolf Creek Pass; northwest along the Pacific Crest Trail to Highway 50 at Echo Summit; northeast on Highway 50 to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 49, 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.