San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area is 10,854 acres of CDFW land in Marin and Sonoma counties, 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, and moorhen 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 refugeState parkOther state or federal landSan Pablo Bay WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 10,854 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| Counties | Marin and Sonoma |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Nearest towns | Santa Venetia (next to it), Black Point-Green Point (2 mi) and San Rafael (3 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, San Pablo Bay WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot days and special drawings | Whole area | Blinds shall be available on a first come-first served basis. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for San Pablo Bay 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 Pablo Bay Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of San Pablo Bay WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 10,854 | 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 San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 12,547 acres of CDFW land, 8,547 acres of national wildlife refuge, 2,581 acres of other state or federal land and 1,441 acres of state park land.
How do you get to San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: US 101, CA 37, I-580, I-80 and CA 121. Nearest towns: Santa Venetia (next to it), Black Point-Green Point (2 miles), San Rafael (3 miles) and Novato (3 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only.
Can you camp on San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is San Pablo Bay 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 Pablo Bay Wildlife Area?
Santa Venetia (next to it), Black Point-Green Point (2 miles) and San Rafael (3 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 Pablo Bay 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.