Deer Zone X9a: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone X9a covers 1,946 square miles of Fresno, Inyo, Madera and Mono counties. 84% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that national forest (724,352 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 160 deer in Zone X9a in 2025 (160 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 62.7%. The 2026 general season runs September 19 to October 12.
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 X9aNeighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Fresno, Inyo, Madera and Mono |
| Size | 1,245,692 acres (1,946 square miles) |
| Public land | 84% (1,046,737 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 270 |
| Archery, 2026 (hunt A-16) | August 15 to September 6 |
| General season, 2026 | September 19 to October 12 |
| Bag limit | One buck, forked horn or better, per tag. |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 160 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 62.7% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Benton, Wilkerson and Twin Lakes |
CDFW's note for Zone X9a: In 2026-2027,X-9a 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 X9a?
CDFW estimates 160 deer were taken in Zone X9a in 2025, up from 143 in 2024. Hunters reported 126 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 21.2% 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 | 269 | not printed | 126 | 0 | 160 | 62.7% | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 269 | not printed | 118 | 0 | 143 | 56.1% | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 269 | not printed | 98 | 0 | 108 | 42.2% | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 269 | 263 | 124 | 0 | 140 | 53.2% | 11.8% |
| 2021 | 270 | 223 | 129 | 0 | 144 | 64.6% | 10.8% |
| 2020 | 269 | 88 | 41 | 0 | 48 | 54.5% | 15.9% |
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 X9a?
Of the 126 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 37 (29.4%) had 4 points or more and 46 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%) | 43 (34.1%) | 46 (36.5%) | 35 (27.8%) | 2 (1.6%) | 126 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 52 (44.1%) | 33 (28%) | 27 (22.9%) | 6 (5.1%) | 118 |
| 2023 | 0 (0%) | 36 (36.7%) | 30 (30.6%) | 28 (28.6%) | 4 (4.1%) | 98 |
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 X9a in 2026?
General season: September 19 to October 12, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone X-9a shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 24 consecutive days.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 3,428 hunters put Zone X9a first for 269 tags (243 by preference points, 26 by draw-by-choice). For archery hunt A-16: 239 first-choice applicants for 30 tags. Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Archery hunting in Zone X9a is CDFW hunt A-16, Zone X-9a Archery Hunt: August 15 to September 6, 2026, 30 tags. In 2025 archers reported 7 deer taken in Zone X9a on that hunt.
Other CDFW deer hunts held in Zone X9a in 2026:
| Hunt | Name | 2026 dates | 2026 tags | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-12 | Round Valley Apprentice Buck Hunt | December 5 to 20 | 10 | 10 | 100% |
| G-39 | Round Valley Late Season Buck Hunt | October 24 to November 8 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Harvest of these hunts: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 1, for the whole hunt, which may reach past Zone X9a.
Deer taken in Zone X9a in 2025 on other hunts' tags, as hunters reported them: hunt A-16: 7, hunt G-39: 2 and hunt J-12: 5.
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 X9a?
84% of Zone X9a is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 1,046,737 of its 1,245,692 acres. The largest pieces are Inyo National Forest (719,289 acres) and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (5,034 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone X9a |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 724,352 | 58.1% |
| BLM | 320,572 | 25.7% |
| State park | 52,451 | 4.2% |
| Other state or federal land | 5,996 | 0.5% |
| CDFW land | 1,813 | 0.1% |
| National Park Service | 1,009 | 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 X9a: River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve (629 acres here), Round Valley Wildlife Area (377 acres here), Buttermilk Country Wildlife Area (325 acres here) and Fish Slough Ecological Reserve (184 acres here).
How do you get to Zone X9a?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: US 395, US 6, CA 158, CA 203, CA 168 and CA 167. 18 Census places are inside it, among them Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Benton, Chalfant, Round Valley and June Lake. Nearby: Wilkerson (6 miles), Twin Lakes (8 miles), Bridgeport (11 miles) and Big Pine (15 miles).
Which deer zones border Zone X9a?
Zone X9a 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 D6 | 5,021 | 29.4% | 1,119 | 11.2% |
| Zone D7 | 3,762 | 50.6% | 1,300 | 14.5% |
| Zone X9b | 741 | 86.6% | 65 | 29.4% |
| Zone X9c | 8,711 | 30.8% | 77 | 24% |
| Zone X12 | 1,031 | 84.4% | 193 | 58.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone X9a?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 270. In 2025 the quota was 269 and CDFW estimates 160 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone X9a?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 62.7%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 56.1%.
When does deer season open in Zone X9a in 2026?
The general season runs September 19 to October 12, 2026. Archery hunting here is a separate hunt, A-16, August 15 to September 6. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone X-9a shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 24 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone X9a?
84% of Zone X9a, 1,046,737 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest pieces: Inyo National Forest (719,289 acres) and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (5,034 acres).
Which CDFW lands are in Zone X9a?
River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve (629 acres here), Round Valley Wildlife Area (377 acres here), Buttermilk Country Wildlife Area (325 acres here) and Fish Slough Ecological Reserve (184 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone X9a
In those portions of Fresno, Inyo, Madera and Mono counties within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 6 and the California-Nevada state line; south along Highway 6 to its junction with Highway 395; south along Highway 395 to its junction with Highway 168; west and south along Highway 168 to the North Lake Road turnoff; west along the North Lake Road and the Piute Pass Trail to the Sierra Crest (Inyo National Forest Boundary); north along the Inyo National Forest Boundary to the Deer Creek Trail; south and west along the Deer Creek Trail to the upper crossing of Deer Creek; west and south along Deer Creek to its confluence with Fish Creek; west along Fish Creek to its confluence with the middle fork of the San Joaquin River; north along the middle fork of the San Joaquin River to the junction of King Creek; west along King Creek to the junction of Ashley Creek; west along Ashley Creek to Ashley Lake; continue west along Ashley Creek to the junction of the Inyo National Forest boundary; north along the Inyo National Forest Boundary (the crest of the Ritter Range) to the Mono-Madera county line; north along the Mono-Madera county line to Mono-Tuolumne county line; north on the Mono-Tuolumne county line to the Virginia Lakes Trail (Entry Trail D-11); east along Virginia Lakes Trail to Virginia Lakes Road; east along Virginia Lakes Road to Highway 395; south along Highway 395 to Highway 167; east on Highway 167 to the California-Nevada state line; southeast on the California-Nevada state line 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.
California hunting CDFW Region 6 Zone D6 Zone D7 Zone X9b Zone X9c Zone X12