Unit D11 Zone D11
Big public timber and wilderness ridges in L.A.'s backyard range
Southern California — San Gabriel Mountains & Angeles National Forest · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,546
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
1,000–10,064
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone D-11 spans portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, built around the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest that blankets them. Unlike its all-private neighbor D-10, D-11 mixes private ground with extensive, well-accessed public land, and it produces the highest raw deer harvest of these southern zones. The deer are resident California mule deer that move up and down the slopes with weather rather than migrating. Three wilderness areas — San Gabriel, Sheep Mountain and Cucamonga — offer backcountry hunting for those willing to hike or pack in above the road system.
Terrain
Steep, rocky front-range mountains rising from flat valley floors and rolling foothills to high, timbered ridges topping out on Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy) at 10,064 ft.
Cover: Oak woodland, mixed and montane chaparral, hardwood-conifer and conifer forest, pinyon-juniper and coastal scrub, up to subalpine/alpine habitat on the highest peaks.
Landmarks: San Gabriel Mountains · Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy) · Blue Ridge · Liebre Mountain · Mount Gleason · Icehouse Saddle · Sierra Pelona · Lytle Creek
Access
Extensive public tracts with excellent road access via the Angeles NF, interspersed with private land where written permission is required. A Forest Adventure Pass is needed to park on USFS land, and a Wilderness Permit is required for the San Gabriel, Sheep Mountain and Cucamonga wilderness areas. Street-legal vehicles are required across most of the zone; green-sticker OHV use is limited to designated routes.
Managers: USFS Angeles National Forest, Private inholdings and ranches, BLM (scattered)
Access points: Highway 2 (Angeles Crest) · Highway 39 (San Gabriel Canyon) · Highway 14 · N3 (Angeles Forest Highway) · numerous USFS and county spur roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityResident California mule deer that shift up in late spring and drop below the snowline with the first heavy fall storms — often during the season. The zone's large public footprint yields the highest deer harvest of the southern D-zones, though per-hunter success is modest.
- →Hunt high, timbered ridges early, then follow deer to lower brushy elevations after the first storms
- →Target recent burns, clear-cut regrowth and acorn-producing oak stands where brush has re-sprouted
- →Work classic producers — Blue Ridge, Liebre Mountain, Mount Gleason, Icehouse Saddle, Lytle Creek, Sierra Pelona
- →Hike away from road corridors and other hunters; glass canyon breaks at first and last light
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are well established throughout the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel canyons, offering a legitimate secondary pursuit on public timber.
- →Focus on oak-heavy canyons and berry brush in the higher forest
- →Still-hunt and glass drainages at dawn where deer and bear food overlaps
Pro tips
- →Buy a Forest Adventure Pass and, for the backcountry, a Wilderness Permit before you go
- →Time the hunt to storm fronts — post-storm downhill movement concentrates deer at accessible elevations
- →Escape road pressure by hiking into wilderness or off spur roads; the deer are there but wary
- →Hunt burns and oak flats; glass hard rather than road-cruising
Watch out for
- !Mixed ownership — verify boundaries and get written permission on private inholdings
- !Wildfire history and seasonal forest/road closures can shut down access; check current status
- !Steep, rocky terrain and dense chaparral; carry water and recovery gear
- !High recreational and hunter traffic near roads and popular canyons
Logistics
The zone is ringed by major cities, so fuel, lodging and gear are never far — stage from Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Wrightwood or the San Gabriel Valley foothill towns. Numerous developed Angeles NF campgrounds (primitive to full-service) plus dispersed camping on USFS land support multi-day hunts. Top off fuel before heading into the backcountry and carry recovery gear.
Nearest towns: Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Azusa, Wrightwood, San Bernardino
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone D-11 General Deer Hunting Information (2025) · USFS San Bernardino/Angeles NF — Deer Hunt Zone D-11 (San Gabriel Mountains) · CDFW Deer Hunting Zones
FAQ
- How big is Unit D11 in California?
- Unit D11 (Zone D11) covers about 2,546 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 10,064 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit D11?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Angeles National Forest, Private inholdings and ranches, BLM (scattered). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit D11?
- Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official California agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit D11 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.