bear hunt area · California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Southern California
California, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Southern California
Southern California is a bear hunt area in California, United States, set by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It covers about 27,608 km² (10,660 mi²). Towns inside it include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, San Bernardino, Fontana and Oxnard.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for American black bear.
- Unit code
- Southern California
- Area
- 27,608 km²
- Area (miles)
- 10,660 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 12,144 km² of public or protected land inside it, 44% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Service Region 05 Pacific Southwest | 9,481 | 34% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 862 | 3% |
| California Department of Parks and Recreation | 349 | 1% |
| Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority | 224 | under 1% |
| The Wildlands Conservancy | 145 | under 1% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 115 | under 1% |
| National Park Service | 97 | under 1% |
| Santa Barbara, County of | 61 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 915 | 3% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Season dates, bag limits and licences for Southern California are in California Department of Fish and Wildlife's official regulations. HuntGrid shows a season in the app only once a person has checked it against them.
Official regulations: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Zone A (deer zone)
- Los Angeles Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt (archery deer hunt area)
- Ventura/Los Angeles Late Season Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt (archery deer hunt area)
- Zone D-11 (deer zone)
- Zone D-13 (deer zone)
- Zone D-14 (deer zone)
- Zone D-15 (deer zone)
- Zone D-17 (deer zone)
- San Bernardino Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt (deer hunt area)
- Los Angeles Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt (deer hunt area)
- Ventura Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Hunt (deer hunt area)
- Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt (deer hunt area)
- Zone Q3 (quail zone)
- Southern California Zone (waterfowl zone)
What HuntGrid shows for Southern California
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Southern California (bear hunt area)?
About 27,608 km² (10,660 mi²), as HuntGrid maps California Department of Fish and Wildlife's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Southern California?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 12,144 km² of public or protected land, 44% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Forest Service Region 05 Pacific Southwest. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Southern California?
In California Department of Fish and Wildlife's official regulations: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bear
Which units are next to Southern California?
In the same unit system: Southern Sierra.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (BIOS), CC BY 4.0. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (CDFW BIOS ds2807 "Bear Hunt Areas"). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The official regulations and maps have the final word.