San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area is 17,781 acres of CDFW land in San Diego County, in CDFW's South Coast 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 D16, where CDFW estimates 322 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 landState parkSan Felipe Valley WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 17,781 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 5, South Coast Region |
| County | San Diego |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Closures | Closed to hunting February 1 through August 31 except during the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone D16, Zone D19 |
| Nearest towns | Julian (3 mi), Aguanga (4 mi) and Lake Riverside (7 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, San Felipe Valley WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to hunting February 1 through August 31 except during the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. D-16 general deer zone tags may not be used west of Highway S-2. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited in designated areas. |
| Lands pass | Whole area | Listed in section 551(w): a visitor must carry a valid Lands Pass, or a valid hunting or fishing license, to enter. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for San Felipe 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 San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
The approximately 17,800-acre San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area has diverse habitat types including desert riparian woodland, chaparral, oak woodland, native grassland, alluvial fan sage scrub, acacia scrub, and mixed hardwood/conifer forest.
This variety of habitat types supports a tremendous diversity of species including the federally endangered Least Bell's vireo. Mountain lion, bobcat, gray fox, Southern mule deer, golden eagle, San Diego mountain king snake, migratory birds, and upland game birds such as dove and quail also inhabit the property.
CDFW lists big game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of San Felipe Valley WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D16 | 17,757 | 322 deer taken in 2025, 10.7% hunter success; 2026 general season October 24 to November 22 |
| Deer Zone D19 | 24 | 156 deer taken in 2025, 10.4% hunter success; 2026 general season October 3 to November 1 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of San Felipe Valley WA: hunt G-13 (San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt), hunt M-6 (San Diego Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt A-22 (San Diego Archery 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 San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 38,302 acres of BLM land, 35,639 acres of state park land, 17,736 acres of national forest and 17,727 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's location note: Approximately 10 miles northeast of the town of Julian between State Highways 78 and 79. Highways within 8 miles: CA 79, CA 78, CA 371, US 371 and CA 76. Nearest towns: Julian (3 miles), Aguanga (4 miles), Lake Riverside (7 miles) and Anza (10 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on San Felipe 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. CDFW's closure: Closed to hunting February 1 through August 31 except during the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. D-16 general deer zone tags may not be used west of Highway S-2.
Can you camp on San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area in?
Zone D16 (17,757 acres) and Zone D19 (24 acres), by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 322 deer were taken in Zone D16 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area?
Julian (3 miles), Aguanga (4 miles) and Lake Riverside (7 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, San Felipe 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.
California hunting CDFW Region 5 Deer Zone D16 Deer Zone D19