Independence elk zone: California elk hunting by the numbers
The Independence elk zone covers 115 square miles of Inyo County and is hunted for tule elk. 50.4% is national forest, BLM or CDFW land (CPAD 2026a). CDFW's 2026 regulations list 5 hunts here with 6 tags in all. In 2022, CDFW's elk hunt statistics show 3 elk taken on 5 tags, with 1,425 applications for this zone's hunts.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt statistics: CDFW, 2017 to 2022. 2026 hunts and tags: CDFW's 2026-2027 regulations. Land: CPAD 2026a.
National forestBLMIndependenceNeighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
|---|---|
| Elk | Tule elk |
| Counties | Inyo |
| Size | 73,656 acres (115 square miles) |
| Public land | 50.4% (37,131 acres) |
| Hunts and tags, 2026 | 5 hunts, 6 tags |
| Taken, 2022 | 3 on 5 tags (CDFW) |
| Applications, 2022 | 1,425 for this zone's hunts |
| Towns in and near it | Independence, Big Pine and Lone Pine |
What elk hunts are in the Independence zone in 2026?
CDFW's 2026-2027 regulations list 5 hunts for this zone, 6 tags in all:
| Hunt | Type | 2026 tags | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Period 1 Muzzleloader Bull | Muzzleloader | 1 | September 12 to 27 |
| Independence Period 2 General Methods Antlerless | General Methods | 1 | October 3 to 11 |
| Independence Period 2 General Methods Bull | General Methods | 2 | October 3 to 11 |
| Independence Period 3 General Methods Antlerless | General Methods | 1 | October 17 to 25 |
| Independence Period 3 General Methods Bull | General Methods | 1 | October 17 to 25 |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 86; hunt codes and dates: CDFW 2026 Elk Hunt Dates and General Information. CDFW's Owens Valley Multiple Zone archery bull tag is also valid here.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 790 applications went to this zone's hunts:
| Hunt code | Hunt | Tags | By preference points | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 367 | Independence Period 1 - Muzzleloader - Bull | 1 | 0 | 120 |
| 369 | Independence Period 2 - General Methods - Bull | 2 | 1 | 406 |
| 371 | Independence Period 3 - General Methods - Bull | 1 | 0 | 108 |
| 368 | Independence Period 2 - General Methods - Antlerless | 1 | 0 | 98 |
| 370 | Independence Period 3 - General Methods - Antlerless | 1 | 0 | 58 |
Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics. The rest of each quota goes by draw-by-choice. CDFW also prints applicants at each point level.
How many elk are taken in the Independence zone?
In 2022, CDFW's elk hunt statistics show 3 taken on 5 tags; 5 tag holders reported. CDFW notes that forest closures affected many elk hunts in 2020 and 2021. Year by year, for this zone's hunts:
| Year | Hunts | Tags | Applications | Tag holders who reported | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | 1,425 | 5 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 1,457 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 1,619 | 5 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 1,568 | 5 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 1,305 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | 1,402 | 6 | 2 |
Each hunt in 2022:
| Hunt code | Hunt | Applications | Tags | Taken | Success (CDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 367 | Independence Period 1 - Muzzloader - Bull | 261 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 368 | Independence Period 2 - Antlerless | 171 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| 369 | Independence Period 2 - Bull | 553 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 370 | Independence Period 3 - Antlerless | 113 | 1 | 0 | N/A |
| 371 | Independence Period 3 - Bull | 327 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
Source: CDFW Elk Hunt Statistics (2017 to 2022); 2022: CDFW 2022 Elk Hunt Statistics. CDFW's success rate is reported harvest divided by tags. Applications are the sum of the applicant counts CDFW prints for each of this zone's hunts.
How much public land is in the Independence zone?
50.4% of the zone, 37,131 of 73,656 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land. The largest public units: Inyo National Forest (29,574 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the zone |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 29,574 | 40.2% |
| BLM | 7,557 | 10.3% |
Measured by FilledTag inside CDFW's zone boundary from California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. "Public land" on this page means national forest, BLM and CDFW land, the three managers whose ground is open to hunting under their own rules. National Park Service land, state parks and most other public ground are listed but not counted: hunting there is closed or limited. Land held by cities, counties, districts and private groups is not shown.
Which deer zones overlap the Independence zone?
Zone X9c (73,547 acres; 77 deer taken in 2025).
How do you get to the Independence zone?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: US 395. Towns inside: Independence. Nearby: Big Pine (12 miles) and Lone Pine (16 miles).
Neighboring elk zones: Goodale elk zone, Lone Pine elk zone, Tinemaha elk zone, West Tinemaha elk zone and Whitney elk zone.
Questions hunters ask
How many elk tags are there in the Independence zone?
CDFW's 2026 regulations list 6 tags in 5 hunts: Independence Period 1 Muzzleloader Bull (1), Independence Period 2 General Methods Antlerless (1), Independence Period 2 General Methods Bull (2), Independence Period 3 General Methods Antlerless (1) and Independence Period 3 General Methods Bull (1). Tags are drawn in CDFW's big game drawing, apart from a few fundraising tags.
How many elk were taken in the Independence zone?
CDFW's 2022 elk hunt statistics show 3 taken on 5 tags across 5 hunts. In 2021: 2 on 5 tags.
When are the Independence elk hunts in 2026?
September 12 to 27, October 3 to 11 and October 17 to 25, by hunt, in CDFW's 2026 regulations.
How much public land is in the Independence zone?
50.4%: 37,131 acres of national forest, BLM and CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest public units: Inyo National Forest (29,574 acres).
CDFW's boundary of the Independence zone
In that portion of Inyo County within a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 395 and Aberdeen Station Road; east on Aberdeen Station Road to its terminus at the southern boundary of Section 5, Township 11S, Range 35E; east along the southern boundary of sections 5, 4, 3, and 2, Township 11S, Range 35E to the Papoose Flat Road at Papoose Flat; south and east on Papoose Flat Road to Mazourka Canyon Road; south, then west on Mazourka Canyon Road to Highway 395; north on Highway 395 to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 80, Title 14, Section 364.
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Where these numbers come from
- Hunt statistics: CDFW Elk Hunt Statistics, 2017 to 2022.
- 2026 hunts, tags and dates: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations.
- Public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. Zone boundary: CDFW elk hunt zones (BIOS ds786).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from CDFW, CPAD and the Census Bureau, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
California hunting CDFW Region 6 Goodale elk zone Lone Pine elk zone West Tinemaha elk zone Whitney elk zone