Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve: hunting rules and map
Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve is 439 acres of CDFW land in Marin County, in CDFW's Bay Delta Region, one of the ecological reserves where Title 14, Section 630(d) makes hunting a designated public use. CDFW's rule for it: Waterfowl only. It lies in deer Zone A, where CDFW estimates 9,184 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.
CDFW landNational Park ServiceState parkTomales Bay ERDeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 439 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| County | Marin |
| Hunting | Waterfowl only. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Nearest towns | Point Reyes Station (next to it), Inverness (next to it) and Nicasio (7 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
Section 630(d): Waterfowl only.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | The land area of the reserve is closed to all visitor use/access from March 1 through June 30. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 630. CDFW's page for Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
Which hunt zones is Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the reserve alone.
| Zone | Acres of Tomales Bay ER in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 236 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 18,162 acres of National Park Service land, 2,167 acres of state park land and 518 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
Highways within 8 miles: CA 1. Nearest towns: Point Reyes Station (next to it), Inverness (next to it), Nicasio (7 miles) and Lagunitas-Forest Knolls (8 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
Yes, within CDFW's limits in Section 630(d): Waterfowl only. Hunting is prohibited on any ecological reserve that section does not list.
Can you camp on Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
No. Camping is prohibited on all CDFW ecological reserves (Section 550(p)(4)).
Which deer zone is Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve in?
All of it is in deer Zone A, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 9,184 deer were taken in Zone A in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve?
Point Reyes Station (next to it), Inverness (next to it) and Nicasio (7 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, Tomales Bay 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.