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Big Sandy Wildlife Area

Description

The Big Sandy Wildlife Area was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1976. It is 857 acres of open grasslands with some open stream habitat. The Big Sandy Unit is composed of an annual grassland type along the river benches, and a cottonwood-willow-mulefat association within the bed of the Salinas River. The San Antonio Unit’s vegetation is also primarily riparian habitat with the cottonwood-willow-mulefat association, but has much denser cover over the entire area that the Big Sandy Unit. The wildlife that is associated with these units is diverse, including numerous bird and mammal species.

For more information, call the Central Region Fresno office at (559) 243-4005.

Recreational Opportunities

Wildlife Viewing Quail Hunting Wild Pig Hunting Deer Hunting

Activities: wildlife viewing and hunting

Type C: Big Sandy Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry. Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas.

California quail and wild pigs can be found here.

NOTE: Visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all regulations pertaining to the use of Department lands.

Refer to the Public Uses on State and Federal Lands section of the Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use Regulations (PDF) booklet for both statewide and property-specific regulations.

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You may not operate a drone on CDFW Lands without a Special Use Permit.

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Location

Central Region (Region 4)

Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties

9 miles north of Paso Robles, east of Camp Roberts

Access: Entrance to parking lot is reached from Indian Valley Rd. on the east side of the Salinas River.

CDFW Lands Viewer

Wildlife Branch - Lands Program
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090