Grizzly Island Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area is 12,860 acres of CDFW land in Solano County, in CDFW's Bay Delta Region. Title 14, Section 551 lists it as a mix of types. 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 landState parkOther state or federal landGrizzly Island WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 12,860 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| County | Solano |
| Wildlife area type | a mix of types: Crescent (Type A), Crescent Family (Type A), Goodyear Slough (Type B), Grey Goose (Type C), Grizzly Island (Type A), Island Slough (Type B), Joice Island (Type A), West Family (Type B) management units |
| Closures | A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field during waterfowl season. |
| Camping | Not allowed except with prior written authorization from the area manager during the tule elk season. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Elk zone | Grizzly Island |
| Nearest towns | Benicia (2 mi), Suisun City (3 mi) and Port Costa (3 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area has units of different types: Crescent (Type A), Crescent Family (Type A), Goodyear Slough (Type B), Grey Goose (Type C), Grizzly Island (Type A), Island Slough (Type B), Joice Island (Type A), West Family (Type B) management units.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | Whole area | Not allowed except with prior written authorization from the area manager during the tule elk season. |
| Fire | Whole area | Fires are prohibited except for the use of portable gas stoves in designated parking areas and sites. |
| Closures and restrictions | Goodyear Slough, Island Slough, West Family and Grey Goose units | A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field during waterfowl season. Closed to all public use from the end of waterfowl season to September 30. Access to the Grey Goose Unit and the Goodyear Slough Unit to the south of Lake Herman Road and east of the eastern most railroad tracks is by boat only. The Island Slough Unit is open to hunting on Christmas Day when Christmas falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday. |
| Closures and restrictions | Joice Island Unit | Closed to public use except when permits are issued for waterfowl hunting, special wild pig hunts, and during the special season open to fishing from mid-May to mid-August (contact area headquarters for details). Joice Island Unit is open to waterfowl hunting on Sundays only, starting on the first Sunday in December for the remainder of the waterfowl season, by permit only. |
| Closures and restrictions | Grizzly Island Unit | Dogs are prohibited from March 1 to June 30, all of August, and during the tule elk hunting season in September. Dogs may be used to assist in the take of game which is in season, authorized by area regulations and in portions of the area open to such take. Dogs are otherwise prohibited during October and through the end of waterfowl season. Closed to uses other than hunting from the last Monday in July to the end of the Grizzly Island tule elk season and from October 1 through the end of waterfowl season. |
| Shoot days and hours in waterfowl season | Joice Island Unit | Open to waterfowl hunting Sundays only, starting on the first Sunday in December for the remainder of the waterfowl season by permit only, and for special drawing pig hunts. |
| Shoot days and special drawings | Gray Goose Unit | Hunting is allowed only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays and only during waterfowl season. |
| Firearms | Grey Goose Unit | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
| Additional hunting: Tule elk | Whole area | Allowed only with an elk tag available through the big game drawing. Methods of take for big game are authorized per Section 353 of these regulations. |
| Additional hunting: Rabbit | Crescent and Grizzly Island units | Allowed daily in July and on waterfowl shoot days during the pheasant season. |
| Additional hunting: Wild pig | Whole area | Allowed only with an entry permit obtained through a special drawing. Only shotguns with slugs and archery equipment are authorized. Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
| Species that may be hunted | Grey Goose Unit | Waterfowl, snipe, coot, moorhen, and pheasant only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays and only during open seasons. |
| Lands pass | Whole area | Listed in section 551(w): a visitor must carry a valid Lands Pass, or a valid hunting or fishing license, to enter. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Grizzly Island 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 Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
Located in the Suisun Marsh of Northern California, Grizzly Island Wildlife Area consists of several property units situated in this ecologically rich wetland environment. The complex of properties features seasonal hunting and fishing, wildlife viewing and nature trails.
Nearby Attractions: Brannan Island State Park, Rush Ranch, Jepson Prairie Preserve, Lagoon Valley Lake, Rockville Hills Park
From CDFW's page for Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Grizzly Island WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 12,860 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
| Grizzly Island elk zone | 8,928 | 33 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 Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 16,465 acres of CDFW land, 5,343 acres of other state or federal land and 375 acres of state park land.
How do you get to Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: Take 1-80 north from San Francisco, south from Sacramento. Take Highway 12 off-ramp east toward Rio Vista. Turn onto Grizzly Island Road, at the stoplight at Sunset Shopping Center. Hill Slough Wildlife Area is on both sides of Grizzly Island Road from Highway 12 to the first one-lane bridge. The Grizzly Island Complex Headquarters is 9.5 miles further on Grizzly Island Road.
Highways within 8 miles: CA 4, I-80, I-680, CA 12 and I-780. Nearest towns: Benicia (2 miles), Suisun City (3 miles), Port Costa (3 miles) and Mountain View (4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as a mix of types. CDFW's closure: A hunter shall not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field during waterfowl season. Closed to all public use from the end of waterfowl season to September 30. Access to the Grey Goose Unit and the Goodyear Slough Unit to the south of Lake Herman Road and east of the eastern most railroad tracks is by boat only. The Island Slough Unit is open to hunting on Christmas Day when Christmas falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday.
Can you camp on Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Not allowed except with prior written authorization from the area manager during the tule elk season. 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 Grizzly Island 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 Grizzly Island Wildlife Area?
Benicia (2 miles), Suisun City (3 miles) and Port Costa (3 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, Grizzly Island 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).
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