This is the largest deer zone in the state of California. Located along the west coast from Sacramento to Los Angeles, it has a wide variation of terrain. Most of the zone and all wildlife areas allow non-lead ammunition only.

As with many zones in California, the natural cycle of wildfire aids the deer habitat creating additional edge cover and young sprouts providing food. Both mule deer and blacktail are found within this zone. Blacktail are found in the northern parts of the unit and mule deer stretch throughout the southern regions of the zone.

This unit is effectively split in half running vertically down the coastal mountain range, the eastern facing coastal mountains and the western facing slopes. 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.

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.

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.

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.

The USFS also requires a Forest Adventure Pass if you intend to park your vehicle and use the USFS public lands in the southern portion of the Los Padres National Forest for any purpose. For more information, contact the Los Padres National Forest.

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.