Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area is 6,402 acres of CDFW land in Merced County, in CDFW's Central Region. Title 14, Section 551 lists it as Type C: open daily for hunting all legal species without a hunting pass, except where CDFW's area rules say otherwise. 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.
BLMCDFW landState parkOther state or federal landCottonwood Creek WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 6,402 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 4, Central Region |
| County | Merced |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Closures | Closed to hunting after the last Sunday in January to the opening of Zone A archery deer season. |
| Camping | Allowed only in the Upper Cottonwood Creek Unit parking lot. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Elk zone | Santa Clara |
| Nearest towns | Santa Nella (3 mi), Volta (8 mi) and Gustine (11 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Cottonwood Creek WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | Whole area | Allowed only in the Upper Cottonwood Creek Unit parking lot. |
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to hunting after the last Sunday in January to the opening of Zone A archery deer season. Dog training and trials are prohibited. The use of dogs for wild pig hunting is prohibited. |
| Shoot days and special drawings | Whole area | Special draw entry permits are required for all visitor entry during the opening weekend of the Zone A general deer season. Self- registration required all other times of year. |
| Firearms | Lower Cottonwood Creek Unit | Only shotguns and archery equipment may be used. Only archery equipment may be used from the start of the Zone A archery deer season until the start of Zone A general deer season. |
| Firearms | Upper Cottonwood Creek Unit | Firearms may be used or possessed only from the opening of the Zone A general deer season through the last Sunday in January. Only archery equipment may be used from the start of the Zone A archery deer season until the start of the Zone A general deer season. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
What does CDFW say about Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area is approximately 6,300 acres of steep oak-grassland (Upper unit) and steep hilly grassland (Lower unit). Wildlife includes wild pigs, black-tailed deer, gray fox, and 100 species of birds. Foot access only onto wildlife area.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Cottonwood Creek WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 6,402 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
| Santa Clara elk zone | 6,402 | 0 elk taken in 2022 |
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025); CDFW Elk Hunt Statistics. Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 27,976 acres of state park land, 7,306 acres of CDFW land, 559 acres of BLM land and 332 acres of other state or federal land.
How do you get to Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: 36 miles east of Gilroy and northeast of Hwy 152
Highways within 8 miles: CA 152, I-5 and CA 33. Nearest towns: Santa Nella (3 miles), Volta (8 miles), Gustine (11 miles) and Los Banos (12 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Type C areas are open daily for all legal species, unless CDFW's area rules say otherwise. CDFW's closure: Closed to hunting after the last Sunday in January to the opening of Zone A archery deer season. Dog training and trials are prohibited. The use of dogs for wild pig hunting is prohibited.
Can you camp on Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Allowed only in the Upper Cottonwood Creek Unit parking lot. Where camping is allowed, a visitor may stay up to seven nights in a row and fourteen nights a year (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area 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 Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area?
Santa Nella (3 miles), Volta (8 miles) and Gustine (11 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, Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area.
- 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.