San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area is 1,100 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. 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 landState parkSan Luis Reservoir WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 1,100 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 4, Central Region |
| County | Merced |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Closures | The use of dogs for wild pig hunting is prohibited. |
| Camping | Allowed only in parking lot. |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Elk zone | San Luis Reservoir |
| Nearest towns | Santa Nella (9 mi), Volta (15 mi) and Gustine (15 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, San Luis Reservoir 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. |
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | The use of dogs for wild pig hunting is prohibited. Motor vehicles are allowed in the parking lot only. |
| Shoot days and special drawings | Whole area | Special draw entry permits are required for all visitor entry during the opening weekend of the Zone A deer season. Self-registration is required at the parking lot on Dinosaur Point Road at all other times of year. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
Which hunt zones is San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of San Luis Reservoir WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 1,100 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
| San Luis Reservoir elk zone | 1,099 | 4 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 San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 16,754 acres of state park land and 5,287 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: CA 152. Nearest towns: Santa Nella (9 miles), Volta (15 miles), Gustine (15 miles) and Hollister (18 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on San Luis Reservoir 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: The use of dogs for wild pig hunting is prohibited. Motor vehicles are allowed in the parking lot only.
Can you camp on San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Allowed only in parking lot. 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 San Luis Reservoir 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 San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Santa Nella (9 miles), Volta (15 miles) and Gustine (15 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 Luis Reservoir 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.