Sky Valley Ecological Reserve: hunting rules and map
Sky Valley Ecological Reserve is 1,778 acres of CDFW land in Riverside 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: Upland game only. It lies in deer Zone D12, where CDFW estimates 121 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 ServiceState parkOther state or federal landSky Valley ERDeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 1,778 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
| County | Riverside |
| Hunting | Upland game only. |
| Deer zone | Zone D12 |
| Nearest towns | Indio Hills (next to it), Desert Palms (6 mi) and Sky Valley (6 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
Section 630(d): Upland game only.
CDFW lists no rules for Sky 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 Sky 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 Sky Valley Ecological Reserve in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the reserve alone.
| Zone | Acres of Sky Valley ER in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D12 | 1,778 | 121 deer taken in 2025, 12.8% hunter success; 2026 general season November 7 to 29 |
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 18,294 acres of National Park Service land, 12,834 acres of BLM land, 5,503 acres of state park land and 1,738 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
Highways within 8 miles: I-10. Nearest towns: Indio Hills (next to it), Desert Palms (6 miles), Sky Valley (6 miles) and Thousand Palms (6 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
Yes, within CDFW's limits in Section 630(d): Upland game only. Hunting is prohibited on any ecological reserve that section does not list.
Can you camp on Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
No. Camping is prohibited on all CDFW ecological reserves (Section 550(p)(4)).
Which deer zone is Sky Valley Ecological Reserve in?
All of it is in deer Zone D12, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 121 deer were taken in Zone D12 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Sky Valley Ecological Reserve?
Indio Hills (next to it), Desert Palms (6 miles) and Sky Valley (6 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, Sky 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.