Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area is 3,156 acres of CDFW land in Sacramento 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: Waterfowl, coot, moorhen, pheasant, dove, and rabbit only. 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther state or federal landLower Sherman Island WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 3,156 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| County | Sacramento |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Waterfowl, coot, moorhen, pheasant, dove, and rabbit only. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Nearest towns | Antioch (3 mi), Pittsburg (4 mi) and Oakley (5 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Lower Sherman Island WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Waterfowl, coot, moorhen, pheasant, dove, and rabbit only. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Lower Sherman 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 Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area is approximately 3,100 acres of riparian marshland with willows and cottonwoods at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1976. After serious flooding in 1986, the Delta Flood Protection Act provided flood control improvement projects for eight islands including Sherman. In 1991, Senate Bill 1065 went into effect to assure that these activities result in no net loss of habitat.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Type C: Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry. Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas. Facilities: None.
CDFW lists waterfowl hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Lower Sherman Island WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 3,156 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 7,420 acres of other state or federal land, 3,441 acres of CDFW land and 68 acres of national wildlife refuge.
How do you get to Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: Hwy 160 to Sherman Island Rd. to Mayberry Slough near confluence of Sacramento River. Accessible only by boat.
Highways within 8 miles: CA 4, CA 160 and CA 84. Nearest towns: Antioch (3 miles), Pittsburg (4 miles), Oakley (5 miles) and Bay Point (7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Waterfowl, coot, moorhen, pheasant, dove, and rabbit only.
Can you camp on Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Lower Sherman 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 Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area?
Antioch (3 miles), Pittsburg (4 miles) and Oakley (5 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, Lower Sherman 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).
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.