Unit X9b Zone X9b
Steep, limited-draw mule deer country — the Goodale herd on the eastern wall of the Sierra
Eastern Sierra X-zones — Owens Valley & the Sierra Escarpment · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
743
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
3,700–14,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Zone X-9b is a compact, rugged premium X-zone running the eastern Sierra escarpment along the west side of the Owens Valley through Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, and Lone Pine in Inyo County. It holds the Goodale Deer Herd of Inyo mule deer, a migratory population that summers in the high Sierra along the crest and winters low in the Owens Valley. This is some of the steepest deer country in the state — desert scrub near Lone Pine climbing straight up to 14,000-foot peaks and the John Muir Wilderness. It is largely public (Inyo National Forest, BLM, and LADWP), but success runs lower than neighboring X-9a (about 22%) because of the vertical, unforgiving terrain and dispersed deer.
Terrain
The abrupt eastern wall of the Sierra Nevada: desert-scrub valley floor near Lone Pine rising in just a few miles to alpine crest and 14,000-foot peaks. Steep, rocky, and physically demanding, with cold nights, warm valley days early, and snow at elevation later.
Cover: Great Basin desert scrub, sagebrush, and bitterbrush on the alluvial fans and valley floor, grading up through pinyon-juniper, montane chaparral, Jeffrey pine, montane riparian along the creeks, and subalpine conifer to alpine near the crest.
Landmarks: Eastern Sierra escarpment · Owens Valley & Owens River · John Muir Wilderness · Goodale Creek · Big Pine Creek · Independence & Lone Pine Sierra front · Mount Whitney / Sierra crest skyline
Access
Predominantly public along the Sierra front, but the Owens Valley floor is a checkerboard of LADWP holdings and private town parcels — written permission is required and enforced, and overnight camping is not allowed on LADWP land. Vehicle access is largely limited to improved roads up the major Sierra drainages off US-395; beyond the road ends and into the John Muir Wilderness it is foot and horseback only. The terrain west of 395 is steep and physically demanding.
Managers: Inyo National Forest (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), Private (Owens Valley towns)
Access points: US Highway 395 (Bishop-Big Pine-Independence-Lone Pine corridor) · Sierra-front creek roads (Goodale, Big Pine, Independence creeks) · Inyo NF trailheads into the John Muir Wilderness · BLM roads on the valley benches
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe migratory Goodale herd of Inyo mule deer is the sole draw. Deer summer high (8,000-14,000 ft) along the Sierra crest and winter low (4,500-7,500 ft) in the Owens Valley, moving on traditional routes with fall snow. Steep terrain and dispersed animals keep success modest despite the premium tag.
- →Be in shape and hunt high early — deer are scattered across the summer range along the crest before storms move them
- →Glass the transition benches and drainage mouths where migrating deer stage as snow builds up top
- →Time the second half of the season to fall storms that push deer down toward the valley
- →Use the major creek drainages as travel and glassing corridors; expect long, steep approaches
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears occur in the timbered Sierra drainages and riparian bottoms of the Inyo NF, an incidental opportunity while deer hunting the higher country.
- →Glass aspen pockets and creek bottoms in the higher forest early and late
- →Check bitterbrush and berry benches near timber
- →Work montane riparian corridors along the Sierra-front creeks
Pro tips
- →Come fit — this is vertical, big-vertical-gain country with long approaches off the road ends
- →Hunt the storms; the fall snow that pushes deer off the crest is the best window here
- →Glass drainage mouths and mid-elevation benches where migrating deer funnel
- →Sort out LADWP and private boundaries in the Owens Valley before hunting the low country
- →Carry plenty of water — the alluvial fans and lower slopes are bone dry
Watch out for
- !LADWP checkerboard and private town parcels in the Owens Valley — verify boundaries, no camping on LADWP land
- !Extremely steep, rocky terrain and long approaches — plan for the physical demand
- !Dry lower slopes; pack water
- !Early snow and cold at elevation; road ends can be socked in
- !Wilderness (John Muir) is non-motorized — foot/horseback only
- !Fire-season closures and restrictions
Logistics
Bishop and Lone Pine anchor the corridor, with Big Pine and Independence as smaller stops — all strung along US-395 with fuel, food, and lodging. Plan on steep, strenuous hunting; carry water, since the desert fans and lower slopes are dry. Fill fuel tanks before heading up the drainages, carry a good spare and recovery gear, and expect cold nights and possible snow at elevation. Cell coverage is limited off the highway.
Nearest towns: Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone X-9b & Area-Specific Archery A-17 General Deer Hunting Information (Wildlife Branch) · CDFW Deer Hunting · GoHunt — California Deer Zone X-9b Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit X9b in California?
- Unit X9b (Zone X9b) covers about 743 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,700 to 14,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit X9b?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Inyo National Forest (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), Private (Owens Valley towns). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X9b?
- 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 X9b on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.