Saline Valley Ecological Reserve: hunting rules and map
Saline Valley Ecological Reserve is 531 acres of CDFW land in Inyo 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 X9c, where CDFW estimates 77 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.
BLMCDFW landNational Park ServiceOther state or federal landSaline Valley ERDeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 531 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
| County | Inyo |
| Hunting | Allowed. |
| Deer zone | Zone X9c |
| Nearest towns | Keeler (15 mi), Lone Pine (16 mi) and Independence (23 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Saline Valley Ecological Reserve?
Section 630(d): Allowed.
CDFW lists no rules for Saline Valley 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 Saline Valley Ecological Reserve has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
Which hunt zones is Saline Valley Ecological Reserve in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the reserve alone.
| Zone | Acres of Saline Valley ER in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X9c | 531 | 77 deer taken in 2025, 24% hunter success; 2026 general season October 17 to November 8 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Saline Valley ER: hunt A-18 (Zone X-9c Archery Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Saline Valley Ecological Reserve?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 23,514 acres of National Park Service land, 17,095 acres of BLM land, 1,561 acres of other state or federal land and 528 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Saline Valley Ecological Reserve?
Nearest towns: Keeler (15 miles), Lone Pine (16 miles), Independence (23 miles) and Cartago (29 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Saline Valley 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 Saline Valley Ecological Reserve?
No. Camping is prohibited on all CDFW ecological reserves (Section 550(p)(4)).
Which deer zone is Saline Valley Ecological Reserve in?
All of it is in deer Zone X9c, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 77 deer were taken in Zone X9c in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Saline Valley Ecological Reserve?
Keeler (15 miles), Lone Pine (16 miles) and Independence (23 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
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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, Saline Valley 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.