Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve: hunting rules and map
Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve is 7,039 acres of CDFW land in San Diego County, in CDFW's South Coast Region, one of the ecological reserves where Title 14, Section 630(d) makes hunting a designated public use. CDFW's rule for it: Allowed only at the times and in the specific areas designated by the department. It lies in deer Zone D16, where CDFW estimates 322 deer were taken in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: CDFW's 2026-2027 land use regulations (updated July 1, 2026). Boundary and acres: CDFW. Zones: CDFW. Land around it: CPAD 2026a.
National forestBLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeRancho Jamul ERDeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 7,039 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 5, South Coast Region |
| County | San Diego |
| Hunting | Allowed only at the times and in the specific areas designated by the department. |
| Deer zone | Zone D16 |
| Nearest towns | Jamul (next to it), Spring Valley (4 mi) and Rancho San Diego (4 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
Section 630(d): Allowed only at the times and in the specific areas designated by the department.
CDFW lists no rules for Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve beyond those for every ecological reserve (Sections 550 and 630).
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 630. CDFW's page for Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
What does CDFW say about Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
The approximately 5,600-acre Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve is an important component of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) multi-habitat preserve system in southwestern San Diego County, supporting large areas of coastal sage scrub, annual grasslands and riparian habitat. The MSCP is a subregional plan under the auspices of the State's Natural Community Conservation Planning program. Numerous public ownerships connect to provide a large core area of conserved land, including BLM's Otay Mountain Wilderness Area, the US Fish and Wildlife Service's San Diego-Sweetwater National Wildlife Refuge, CDFW's adjacent Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area and various City and County of San Diego ownerships. The Cleveland National Forest is close but not immediately adjacent to State-owned lands.
The site includes large, open grasslands that provide foraging habitat for abundant and diverse raptor species. Coastal sage scrub habitat is valuable for numerous sensitive species, and willow-sycamore riparian areas provide nesting habitat and are of overall importance as water sources for wildlife.
From CDFW's page for Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the reserve alone.
| Zone | Acres of Rancho Jamul ER in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D16 | 7,039 | 322 deer taken in 2025, 10.7% hunter success; 2026 general season October 24 to November 22 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Rancho Jamul ER: hunt G-13 (San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt), hunt M-6 (San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt A-22 (San Diego Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 15,754 acres of CDFW land, 14,240 acres of BLM land and 11,269 acres of national wildlife refuge.
How do you get to Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
CDFW's directions: Directions from Downtown San Diego: follow Highway 94 (AKA Campo Road) east through the town of Jamul. Approximately two miles after passing the Jamul Fire Station is the entrance on the south/west side of Highway 94.
Highways within 8 miles: CA 94, CA 54, CA 125, I-8 and CA 905. Nearest towns: Jamul (next to it), Spring Valley (4 miles), Rancho San Diego (4 miles) and Bonita (5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
Yes, within CDFW's limits in Section 630(d): Allowed only at the times and in the specific areas designated by the department. Hunting is prohibited on any ecological reserve that section does not list.
Can you camp on Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
No. Camping is prohibited on all CDFW ecological reserves (Section 550(p)(4)).
Which deer zone is Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve in?
All of it is in deer Zone D16, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 322 deer were taken in Zone D16 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve?
Jamul (next to it), Spring Valley (4 miles) and Rancho San Diego (4 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
Get a California hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for California are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, California included.
Where these facts come from
- Rules: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations.
- Boundary and acres: CDFW public access lands (BIOS ds3077); CDFW, Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve.
- Zones: CDFW BIOS zone layers. Surrounding public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a.
- Deer harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.