Round Valley Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Round Valley Wildlife Area is 377 acres of CDFW land in Inyo and Mono counties, in CDFW's Inland Deserts 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 X9a, where CDFW estimates 160 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 landRound Valley WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 377 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
| Counties | Inyo and Mono |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone X9a |
| Nearest towns | Swall Meadows (next to it), Round Valley (next to it) and Paradise (2 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Round Valley Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Round Valley WA needs no hunting pass.
CDFW lists no rules for Round Valley Wildlife Area beyond those for every wildlife area (Sections 550 and 551).
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Round 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 Round Valley Wildlife Area?
The Round Valley Wildlife Area is composed of two management units: 1) the northern 272-acre Swall Meadows Unit located in Mono County at 6,000 feet in elevation at the foot of the dramatic Wheeler Crest, and 2) the lower elevation Pine Creek Unit (100 acres) in Round Valley, Inyo County to the south. The primary purpose for the wildlife area is to provide high quality winter range, migration corridor, and spring holding area habitats for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. hemionus) of the Round Valley herd. This herd, which occupies one of the most popular deer hunt zones in the state (X9A), has experienced significant population fluctuations over the last 25-years with habitat loss associated with residential development and wildfire identified as significant threats.
The wildlife area supports the water birch thickets, a sensitive natural community, along perennial creeks and upland areas of sagebrush-bitterbrush scrub. Bitterbrush occurs in dense stands along drainages, around meadow edges, and on well-drained alluvial fans and is an important food source for deer in winter and spring.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Quail, upland birds, cottontail, and deer may be present.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking trails and fishing: pine creek unit.
From CDFW's page for Round Valley Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Round Valley Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Round Valley WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X9a | 377 | 160 deer taken in 2025, 62.7% hunter success; 2026 general season September 19 to October 12 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Round Valley WA: hunt J-12 (Round Valley Apprentice Buck Hunt), hunt G-39 (Round Valley Late Season Buck Hunt) and hunt A-16 (Zone X-9a Archery Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Round Valley Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 32,144 acres of national forest, 18,936 acres of BLM land and 376 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Round Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: (Pine Creek) Follow Pine Creek Road 3 miles west of US Route 395. Parking is available at the west end of the property on unpaved roads. (Swall Meadows) From the community of Swall Meadows travel south on Valley View Road to the intersection with Rimrock Drive. Inland Deserts Region's Bishop Office: (760) 872-1171 Unit Maps: Pine Creek (PDF), Swall Meadows (PDF)
CDFW's location note: (Pine Creek) Follow Pine Creek Road 3 miles west of US Route 395. Parking is available at the west end of the property on unpaved roads. Highways within 8 miles: US 395 and CA 168. Nearest towns: Swall Meadows (next to it), Round Valley (next to it), Paradise (2 miles) and Mesa (3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Round 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 Round Valley Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Round Valley Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Round Valley Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone X9a, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 160 deer were taken in Zone X9a in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Round Valley Wildlife Area?
Swall Meadows (next to it), Round Valley (next to it) and Paradise (2 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, Round 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.