Unit D17 Zone D17
A vast, wide-open Mojave zone where a scattering of desert mule deer live tied to a handful of springs and high desert ranges.
Southern California — Mojave Desert & eastern ranges · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
19,600
sq mi
Public land
63%
approx.
Elevation
1,500–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone D-17 is enormous — nearly 20,000 square miles sprawling across San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern and Los Angeles counties and taking in the heart of the Mojave, including the Mojave National Preserve and vast BLM desert. Deer here are low-density desert mule deer that concentrate in the higher, better-watered ranges — the Clark, New York, Providence, Granite and Kingston mountains — while most of the flat creosote basin holds few if any deer. Success is actually among the higher percentages in the state (recent years near 12%) precisely because the hunters who go are targeting known water and rugged country, but total harvest is tiny. This is also premier desert bighorn sheep country hunted on a separate coveted draw.
Terrain
Basin-and-range Mojave: broad creosote valleys and dry lakebeds split by rugged, isolated desert mountain ranges that rise several thousand feet and hold the springs and cover deer need.
Cover: Creosote-bursage flats and Joshua tree woodland at lower elevations, blackbrush and juniper on the bajadas, and pinyon-juniper with scattered white fir on the highest range crests.
Landmarks: Mojave National Preserve · Clark Mountain · New York Mountains · Providence Mountains · Granite Mountains · Kingston Range
Access
Overwhelmingly public — vast BLM desert plus the Mojave National Preserve — but access is defined by dirt roads, water and heat rather than ownership lines. Many desert roads require high-clearance or 4WD, wilderness areas within the preserve and BLM close motorized travel, and firewood collection is prohibited inside Mojave National Preserve so hunters must pack their own.
Managers: BLM, National Park Service (Mojave National Preserve), Private (scattered ranch & mining inholdings), Military withdrawals
Access points: Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 corridors · Kelbaker Road and Kelso-Cima Road · Cima Road · Ivanpah/Nipton Road · numerous BLM desert routes off the interstates
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited opportunitySparse desert mule deer confined to the higher, watered ranges; low total harvest (recent years around 59 deer) but a relatively high success rate for those who hunt the right country hard.
- →Ignore the flats — hunt the pinyon-juniper crests and canyons of the New York, Providence, Clark and Granite mountains
- →Locate reliable springs and guzzlers and glass the surrounding slopes at dawn and last light
- →Cover ground with optics from high vantage points; deer density is too low to still-hunt blind
- →Carry far more water than you think you need and plan for big temperature swings
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe eastern Mojave ranges hold desert bighorn and are among California's storied sheep units — hunted only through an extremely limited premium draw, separate from the deer tag.
- →Sheep here live in the roughest, most broken ridgelines of the desert ranges — expect steep, waterless glassing
- →Water sources and rugged escape terrain are the anchors; scout guzzlers and rocky faces well ahead of any tag
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a water hunt — map every spring, tank and guzzler in your range before you go
- →Pick one or two high ranges and learn them; trying to cover 20,000 square miles is a fool's errand
- →High-clearance 4WD, full recovery gear and extra fuel are mandatory on the desert routes
- →Hunt the first and last hour hard, then glass shade and water through the heat
- →Respect Mojave National Preserve rules — no firewood gathering, wilderness closed to vehicles
Watch out for
- !Extreme heat and scarce water — desert survival is the real challenge
- !Very low deer density; long miles between animals
- !Rough, remote 4WD roads with no cell service and few people
- !Wilderness and preserve travel restrictions; military withdrawals along the edges
- !Summer-monsoon flash flooding in washes and low crossings
Logistics
Services are thin and far apart — Baker, Barstow and Needles on the interstates are the practical resupply points, with long dirt-road drives to the huntable ranges. This is a self-contained, haul-everything hunt: bring all water, fuel and firewood (required inside the preserve). Cell coverage is limited to the I-15/I-40 corridors and gone in the ranges.
Nearest towns: Baker, Barstow, Needles, Nipton, Primm (NV)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Deer Hunting Zones · NPS Mojave National Preserve · BLM California Desert District
FAQ
- How big is Unit D17 in California?
- Unit D17 (Zone D17) covers about 19,600 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,500 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit D17?
- Approximately 63% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, National Park Service (Mojave National Preserve), Private (scattered ranch & mining inholdings), Military withdrawals. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit D17?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official California agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit D17 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.