Santa Rosa Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Santa Rosa Wildlife Area is 117,197 acres of CDFW land in Riverside County, 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. CDFW limits hunting here to: Deer, rabbit, and quail only. It lies in deer Zone D19, where CDFW estimates 156 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 parkOther state or federal landSanta Rosa WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 117,197 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 6, Inland Deserts Region |
| County | Riverside |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Deer, rabbit, and quail only. |
| Closures | Closed to hunting on the portion of the area that lies within Fish and Game Refuge 4D (see Fish and Game Code Section 10837). |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone D19 |
| Nearest towns | La Quinta (next to it), Rancho Mirage (next to it) and Palm Springs (2 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Santa Rosa 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 on the portion of the area that lies within Fish and Game Refuge 4D (see Fish and Game Code Section 10837). |
| Firearms | Whole area | All firearms, archery equipment, air and gas guns, spear guns, and other propulsive devices are prohibited on the portion of the area that lies within Fish and Game Refuge 4D (see Fish and Game Code Section 10837). |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Deer, rabbit, and quail only. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
Santa Rosa Wildlife Area is approximately 101,500 acres with very steep terrain. Vegetation consists of scrub and succulent plants. This area is habitat for the largest herd of protected penninsular bighorn sheep in the U.S., and was acquired to protect their habitat. It was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1983. A refuge and ecological reserve are adjacent to this area to protect habitat and species. The golden eagle and prairie falcon can also be found here.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Deer, rabbits, and quail may be present.
CDFW lists big game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Santa Rosa Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Santa Rosa Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Santa Rosa WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D19 | 117,197 | 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 Santa Rosa WA: hunt J-14 (Riverside Apprentice 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 Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 98,000 acres of CDFW land, 72,539 acres of state park land, 47,949 acres of national forest and 24,298 acres of BLM land.
How do you get to Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
CDFW's location note: 15 miles southwest of Indio. Highways within 8 miles: CA 86, CA 111, I-10, CA 74 and US 86. Nearest towns: La Quinta (next to it), Rancho Mirage (next to it), Palm Springs (2 miles) and Oasis (2 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Deer, rabbit, and quail only. CDFW's closure: Closed to hunting on the portion of the area that lies within Fish and Game Refuge 4D (see Fish and Game Code Section 10837).
Can you camp on Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Santa Rosa Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Santa Rosa Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone D19, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 156 deer were taken in Zone D19 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Santa Rosa Wildlife Area?
La Quinta (next to it), Rancho Mirage (next to it) and Palm Springs (2 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
Get a California hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for California are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, California included.
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, Santa Rosa 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.