DEER BOUNDARIES BY COUNTY

By Jerry Maytum

 

     The California Big Game Club recognizes three different deer species within California. These species are divided by geography which follow roads, rivers, county or state lines. Each measurer must be familiar with the boundaries of each species and should have his own reference map highlighting the borders with different colors.

     The Boone and Crocket Club originated the blacktail deer boundary in the northwest corner of the state and recognize the remainder of the state as mule deer. The Pope and Young Club also recognizes the same boundaries as the Boone and Crockett Club. The Big Game Club has divided the mule deer section into two separate species: mule deer and pacific hybrid deer.

     The pacific hybrid boundary was designed by Bob Jensen and the new species was adopted by the Big Game Club at the annual meeting in January 1985.

     The following list is a breakdown of the 58 counties with the species of deer in that county. Mule deer are found in 35 counties, blacktail deer are found in 25 counties and pacific hybrid deer are found in 16 counties. Two species of deer are found in 19 counties. The following list is a breakdown of each county in alphabetical order with the species of deer found in that county. If the county contains two deer species, there is a brief description of the border which divides the deer. Each description is valid in that specific county and should be referenced to your highlighted map to verify the species of deer.

 

ALAMEDA- Blacktail deer

ALPINE- Mule deer

AMADOR- Mule deer

BUTTE- Mule deer

CALAVERAS- Mule deer

COLUSA- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer.

CONTRA COSTA- Blacktail deer

DEL NORTE- Blacktail deer

EL DORADO- Mule deer

FRESNO- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 are blacktail deer.

GLENN- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer.

HUMBOLDT- Blacktail deer

IMPERIAL- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken east of highway 86 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 86 are pacific hybrid deer

INYO- Mule deer

KERN- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken east of highway 99 and east of Interstate 5 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 and Interstate 5 are pacific hybrid deer.

KINGS- Pacific Hybrid deer

LAKE- Blacktail deer

LASSEN- Mule deer

LOS ANGELES- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken north of highway 138 and east of Interstate 5 and east of highway 14 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 138 and west of Interstate 5 and west of highway 14 are pacific hybrid deer.

MADERA- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken north of highway 152 and east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 152 and west of highway 99 are pacific hybrid deer.

MARIN- Blacktail deer

MARIPOSA- Mule deer

MENDOCINO- Blacktail deer

MERCED- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken north of highway 152 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 152 are pacific hybrid deer

MODOC- Mule deer

MONO- Mule deer

MONTEREY- Pacific Hybrid deer

NAPA- Blacktail deer

NEVADA- Mule deer

ORANGE- Pacific Hybrid deer

PLACER- Mule deer

PLUMAS- Mule deer

RIVERSIDE- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken north of Interstate 10 and east of highway 86 are mule deer. Deer taken south of Interstate 10 and west of highway 86 are pacific hybrid deer

SACRAMENTO-Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken north of walnut grove and east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River and south of Walnut Grove are blacktail deer

SAN BENITO- Pacific Hybrid deer

SAN BERNARDINO- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken north of highway 138 and east of highway 15 and north of Interstate 10 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 138 and west of highway 15 and south of interstate 10 are pacific hybrid deer

SAN DIEGO- Pacific Hybrid deer

SAN FRANCISCO- Blacktail deer

SAN JOAQUIN- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of the Mokelumne River and east of the San Joaquin River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Mokelumne River and west of the San Joaquin River are blacktail deer

SAN LUIS OBISPO- Pacific Hybrid deer

SAN MATEO- Blacktail deer

SANTA BARBARA- Pacific Hybrid deer

SANTA CLARA- Blacktail deer

SANTA CRUZ- Blacktail deer

SHASTA- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken north 299 and east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 299 and west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer.

SIERRA- Mule deer

SISKIYOU- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of R8W and south of the Klamath River and east of Scott River Rd and east of highway 3 are mule deer. Deer taken west of R9W and north of the Klamath River and west of Scott River Rd and west of highway 3 are blacktail deer

SOLANO- Blacktail deer

SONOMA- Blacktail deer

STANISLAUS- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of the San Joaquin River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the San Joaquin River are blacktail deer

SUTTER- Mule deer

TEHAMA- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer

TRINITY- Mule/Blacktail deer

     Deer taken east of highway 3 and north of highway 299 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 3 and south of highway 299 are blacktail deer

TULARE- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer

     Deer taken east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 are pacific hybrid deer

TUOLUMNE- Mule deer

VENTURA- Pacific Hybrid deer

YOLO- Blacktail deer

YUBA- Mule deer