deer hunt area · California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt
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 Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt
Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt is a deer hunt area in California, United States, set by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It covers about 6,606 km² (2,551 mi²). Towns inside it include Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria and Guadalupe.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for Mule deer.
- Unit code
- MA-3
- Area
- 6,606 km²
- Area (miles)
- 2,551 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,876 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 | 2,548 | 39% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 99 | 1% |
| Santa Barbara, County of | 61 | under 1% |
| Unknown | 39 | under 1% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 33 | under 1% |
| California Department of Parks and Recreation | 30 | under 1% |
| Santa Barbara, City of | 30 | under 1% |
| University of California | 26 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 51 | under 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
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against California Department of Fish and Wildlife's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed deer | Nov 28, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | antlered, muzzleloader, draw source |
| Black-tailed deer | Nov 28, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | antlered, archery, draw source |
| Mule deer | Nov 28, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | antlered, muzzleloader, draw source |
| Mule deer | Nov 28, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | antlered, archery, draw source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Official regulations: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
- Vandenberg Either-Sex Deer Hunt
- Ventura Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Hunt
- San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer
Other hunting units that cover part of it
What HuntGrid shows for Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt
- 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 Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt (deer hunt area)?
About 6,606 km² (2,551 mi²), as HuntGrid maps California Department of Fish and Wildlife's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,876 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 Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt?
This page lists 4 seasons a person has checked against California Department of Fish and Wildlife's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to Santa Barbara Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Buck Hunt?
In the same unit system: Vandenberg Either-Sex Deer Hunt, Ventura Muzzleloading Rifle Either-Sex Hunt and San Luis Obispo Muzzleloading Rifle/Archery Either-Sex Deer.
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 ds3241 "Deer Hunt Zones, Additional Hunts - Title 14, Section 360"). 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.