bear hunt area · California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Southern Sierra
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 Sierra
Southern Sierra is a bear hunt area in California, United States, set by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It covers about 47,996 km² (18,531 mi²). Towns inside it include Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, Visalia, Clovis and Merced.
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 Sierra
- Area
- 47,996 km²
- Area (miles)
- 18,531 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 24,387 km² of public or protected land inside it, 51% 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 | 13,808 | 29% |
| National Park Service | 6,510 | 14% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 2,659 | 6% |
| The Wildlands Conservancy | 378 | under 1% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 339 | under 1% |
| California Department of Parks and Recreation | 210 | under 1% |
| Unknown | 86 | under 1% |
| Merced Irrigation District | 63 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 518 | 1% |
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 Sierra 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
- Tehachapi Rocky Mountain Elk Hunt (elk hunt zone)
- Balance of State Zone (waterfowl zone)
- Zone D-6 (deer zone)
- Zone D-7 (deer zone)
- Zone D-8 (deer zone)
- Zone D-9 (deer zone)
- Zone D-10 (deer zone)
- D-7 Late Season Buck Hunt (deer hunt area)
- Zone Q1 (quail zone)
- Zone Q3 (quail zone)
- Southern California Zone (waterfowl zone)
- Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone (waterfowl zone)
What HuntGrid shows for Southern Sierra
- 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 Sierra (bear hunt area)?
About 47,996 km² (18,531 mi²), as HuntGrid maps California Department of Fish and Wildlife's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Southern Sierra?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 24,387 km² of public or protected land, 51% 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 Sierra?
In California Department of Fish and Wildlife's official regulations: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bear
Which units are next to Southern Sierra?
In the same unit system: Central California, Southeastern Sierra and Southern California.
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.