Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area is 8,554 acres of CDFW land in Sonoma County, in CDFW's Bay Delta 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. CDFW limits hunting here to: Deer, wild pig, and turkey only. May require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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 landOther state or federal landLake Sonoma WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 8,554 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| County | Sonoma |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Deer, wild pig, and turkey only. May require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. |
| Closures | Closed to hunting except through special drawings. |
| Camping | Allowed only in Army Corps of Engineers-designated campgrounds. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Nearest towns | Cloverdale (2 mi), Geyserville (5 mi) and Healdsburg (10 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Lake Sonoma 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 Army Corps of Engineers-designated campgrounds. |
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to hunting except through special drawings. The portion of the area posted as “Critical Habitat” is closed to all visitor use and entry from February 1 through August 1. Dogs are prohibited. |
| Shoot days and special drawings | Whole area | Hunting is only allowed during department-authorized special hunts for deer, turkey and wild pigs. Deer hunting is only allowed with a J-1 or A-25 deer tag available through the big game drawing. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Firearms are allowed only for special hunts. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Deer, wild pig, and turkey only. May require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Lake Sonoma 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 Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
The approximately 8,000-acre Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1986. It is operated in cooperation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lake was created with the completion of the Warm Springs Dam in 1983. It is situated in the beautiful foothills of Sonoma County, and is surrounded by rugged terrain covered by live oaks, madrones, spicebush, and in spring, a host of wildflowers.
Some of the common wildlife seen include deer, California quail, acorn woodpeckers, and ash-throated flycatchers. Nesting peregrine falcons are rarely but occasionally seen. The lake provides excellent bass fishing. Other game fish include crappie, Sacramento perch, channel catfish and redear sunfish.
CDFW lists big game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing, fishing and hiking trails.
Facilities, in CDFW's words: Restrooms available at the campgrounds and visitor center. There are both campgrounds and primitive campsites available.
From CDFW's page for Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Lake Sonoma WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 8,554 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Lake Sonoma WA: hunt A-25 (Lake Sonoma Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt J-1 (Lake Sonoma Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 8,155 acres of CDFW land, 8,082 acres of other state or federal land and 161 acres of BLM land.
How do you get to Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: Yorty Creek area: From Highway 101, exit at South Cloverdale Blvd. Take a right on Cloverdale Blvd., then either a left at Treadway and go 0.3 miles, turn right for 0.3 miles to Hot Springs Road or turn left at first signal (West Brookside) to Foothill, left on Foothill to Hot Springs Road. Liberty Glen area: From Highway 101, take the Healdsburg exit (Dry Creek Road).
CDFW's location note: 20 miles northwest of Santa Rosa. Highways within 8 miles: US 101 and CA 128. Nearest towns: Cloverdale (2 miles), Geyserville (5 miles), Healdsburg (10 miles) and Hopland (11 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Deer, wild pig, and turkey only. May require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. CDFW's closure: Closed to hunting except through special drawings. The portion of the area posted as “Critical Habitat” is closed to all visitor use and entry from February 1 through August 1. Dogs are prohibited.
Can you camp on Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Allowed only in Army Corps of Engineers-designated campgrounds. 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 Lake Sonoma 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 Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area?
Cloverdale (2 miles), Geyserville (5 miles) and Healdsburg (10 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, Lake Sonoma 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.