O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area is 670 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. CDFW limits hunting here to: Waterfowl, pheasant, quail, dove, rabbit, and crow only. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. 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 landO'Neill Forebay WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 670 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 4, Central Region |
| County | Merced |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Waterfowl, pheasant, quail, dove, rabbit, and crow only. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. |
| Closures | Closed to all visitor use the day of and day after designated special apprentice pheasant hunts except for special apprentice pheasant hunt permit holders. |
| Camping | Allowed only in parking lot, except during authorized dog trials when participants must adhere to conditions of Special Use Permit issued per subsection 550(n)(2) of these regulations. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Elk zone | Santa Clara |
| Nearest towns | Santa Nella (next to it), Volta (6 mi) and Los Banos (10 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, O'Neill Forebay 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 parking lot, except during authorized dog trials when participants must adhere to conditions of Special Use Permit issued per subsection 550(n)(2) of these regulations. |
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to all visitor use the day of and day after designated special apprentice pheasant hunts except for special apprentice pheasant hunt permit holders. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. Deer may be taken with shotgun and slug only (see subsection 353(d)). |
| Shoot days and special drawings | Whole area | Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. Deer may be taken with shotgun and slog only (see subsection 353(d)). Self-registration is required at the parking lot at all times except for junior pheasant hunts, the day following junior pheasant hunts, and deer hunts when entry is controlled through special drawings. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. Shotgun slugs are prohibited except for take of deer. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Waterfowl, pheasant, quail, dove, rabbit, and crow only. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for O'Neill Forebay 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 O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
O’Neill Forebay Wildlife Area is 700 acres. It consists of eight miles of artificial waterways and riparian habitat, including four small shallow ponds. Wildlife includes black-tailed deer, cottontail, and 127 species of birds. Past land use was primarily the grazing of cattle. The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1974.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Type C: O'Neill Forebay 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. Foot access only Facilities: Restrooms
CDFW lists upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of O'Neill Forebay WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 670 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
| Santa Clara elk zone | 670 | 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 O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 10,459 acres of state park land, 2,274 acres of CDFW land, 691 acres of BLM land and 333 acres of other state or federal land.
How do you get to O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: 10 miles west of Los Banos and 2 miles south of Santa Nella, west of Hwy 33
Highways within 8 miles: CA 152, I-5 and CA 33. Nearest towns: Santa Nella (next to it), Volta (6 miles), Los Banos (10 miles) and Gustine (11 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Waterfowl, pheasant, quail, dove, rabbit, and crow only. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. CDFW's closure: Closed to all visitor use the day of and day after designated special apprentice pheasant hunts except for special apprentice pheasant hunt permit holders. Closed to deer hunting except with a department-issued entry permit. Deer may be taken with shotgun and slug only (see subsection 353(d)).
Can you camp on O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Allowed only in parking lot, except during authorized dog trials when participants must adhere to conditions of Special Use Permit issued per subsection 550(n)(2) of these regulations. 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 O'Neill Forebay 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 O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area?
Santa Nella (next to it), Volta (6 miles) and Los Banos (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, O'Neill Forebay 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.