One of the larger deer hunting zones in California. Located along the coast north of San Francisco. The majority of the deer found in this area are blacktail with a few mule deer found along the eastern border.

As with many zones in California the natural cycle of wildfire aids the deer habitat creating additional edge cover and young sprouts providing food. Blacktail are found within this zone.

The elevations are not extreme but the vegetation and ravines of the unit can be barriers to an effective harvest. The unit is a mixture of multiple types of land ownership which makes access to public lands difficult at times. The unit is very beautiful and the coastal weather makes this a nice area to hunt.

The vegetation is highly varied throughout the A Zone ranging from coastal scrub along the coastal areas, mixed chaparral and oak-hardwood forests in the south through mixed chaparral, oak-grassland and dense conifer forests in the north. Recently burned areas or clear cuts that have re-sprouted with brush are good areas to hunt. Areas, where oaks are producing acorns, may also attract deer.

Most public land can be found in the Los Padres National Forests, scattered parcels of BLM land, Department Wildlife Areas and numerous other local and federally controlled lands that may be open to hunting.

In the northern portions of the A Zone, the major access routes into and through the zone include: Interstates 5 and 80 and Highways 1, 101, 20, 128 and 16. In the south, major access is provided by Interstate 5 and Highways 1, 101, 33, 58, 154, 138, 41, 46 and 25.

The weather is usually quite hot and dry during archery and early general season, but early storms are not uncommon. The chance of snowfall during season is low except in the higher elevations in the north, however, heavy rains can make many roads very difficult, if not impossible, to travel. You should be prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment for a variety of weather conditions.

There are many USFS campgrounds within the hunt zone and these are shown on USFS maps. Informal camping is allowed on USFS and BLM lands, but campfire permits are required for use of camp stoves. Most of this hunt is conducted during fire season so most campfires are prohibited outside of official campgrounds.

Please, DO NOT camp or hunt for prolonged periods near water sources important to wildlife and livestock. Remaining for over 30 minutes and within 200 yards of an artificial water source including guzzlers or horizontal wells on public lands within California is a Fish and Game violation.