River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve: hunting rules and map
River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve is 629 acres of CDFW land in Mono County, in CDFW's Inland Deserts Region, one of the ecological reserves where Title 14, Section 630(d) makes hunting a designated public use. CDFW's rule for it: Allowed. It lies in deer Zone X9a, where CDFW estimates 160 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 landOther state or federal landRiver Spring Lakes ERDeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 629 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
| County | Mono |
| Hunting | Allowed. |
| Deer zone | Zone X9a |
| Nearest towns | Benton (9 mi), Sunny Slopes (24 mi) and Crowley Lake (25 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
Section 630(d): Allowed.
CDFW lists no rules for River Spring Lakes 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 River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
Which hunt zones is River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the reserve alone.
| Zone | Acres of River Spring Lakes ER in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X9a | 629 | 160 deer taken in 2025, 62.7% hunter success; 2026 general season September 19 to October 12 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of River Spring Lakes ER: hunt A-16 (Zone X-9a Archery Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 25,335 acres of BLM land, 15,271 acres of national forest, 630 acres of CDFW land and 398 acres of other state or federal land.
How do you get to River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
Highways within 8 miles: US 6. Nearest towns: Benton (9 miles), Sunny Slopes (24 miles), Crowley Lake (25 miles) and McGee Creek (26 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
Yes. Section 630(d) allows hunting on it. Hunting is prohibited on any ecological reserve that section does not list.
Can you camp on River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
No. Camping is prohibited on all CDFW ecological reserves (Section 550(p)(4)).
Which deer zone is River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve in?
All of it is in deer Zone X9a, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 160 deer were taken in Zone X9a in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve?
Benton (9 miles), Sunny Slopes (24 miles) and Crowley Lake (25 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, River Spring Lakes 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.