Indian Valley Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Indian Valley Wildlife Area is 3,709 acres of CDFW land in Lake County, in CDFW's North 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.
National forestBLMCDFW landOther state or federal landIndian Valley WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 3,709 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 2, North Central Region |
| County | Lake |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Camping | Camping allowed, but camp trailers and motorhomes are prohibited. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Elk zone | Cache Creek, Bear Valley |
| Nearest towns | Spring Valley (2 mi), Clearlake Oaks (7 mi) and Lodoga (9 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Indian Valley WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | Whole area | Camping allowed, but camp trailers and motorhomes are prohibited. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Indian Valley 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 Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
Indian Valley Wildlife Area consists of approximately 5,000 acres around Indian Valley Reservoir. The reservoir holds large and smallmouth bass, kokanee salmon, crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, and catfish. Habitats include the reservoir inundation zone (open, grassy) and adjacent brush, chaparral, and woodlands. Bald eagles, deer, and wild pigs can be found here. Dense chaparral can make hunting difficult. The area is cooperatively managed with the surrounding BLM Indian Valley Management Area.
Detailed Map (PDF) | Topographic Map (PDF)
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Game species include deer, wild pig, black bear, rabbit, tree squirrel, wild turkey, quail, and dove.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking trails and camping.
From CDFW's page for Indian Valley Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Indian Valley Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Indian Valley WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 3,709 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
| Cache Creek elk zone | 3,427 | 4 elk taken in 2022 |
| Bear Valley elk zone | 282 | 2 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 Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 43,976 acres of BLM land, 13,801 acres of national forest, 5,592 acres of CDFW land and 1,743 acres of other state or federal land.
How do you get to Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: On Highway 20 approximately 4 miles west of its intersection with Highway 16, turn north on Walker Ridge Road; travel Walker Ridge Road to Bartlett Springs Road. Turn west to Indian Valley Reservoir.
Highways within 8 miles: CA 20 and CA 53. Nearest towns: Spring Valley (2 miles), Clearlake Oaks (7 miles), Lodoga (9 miles) and Clearlake (9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Indian Valley 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.
Can you camp on Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Camping allowed, but camp trailers and motorhomes are prohibited. 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 Indian Valley 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 Indian Valley Wildlife Area?
Spring Valley (2 miles), Clearlake Oaks (7 miles) and Lodoga (9 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, Indian Valley 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.