The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for deer hunting opportunities at the Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve in Sacramento County for the 2025 A Zone general season and the D-5 Zone archery and general seasons.
CDFW initiated a limited deer hunting program within the ecological reserve in 2021. The program proved safe and popular with hunters and was expanded in 2022, doubling the number of access permits offered to eight.
Permits will be issued for eight separate one-week hunting periods – four permits for the A Zone and four for the D-5 Zone seasons that fall within the reserve’s boundaries. Each permit will accommodate up to two hunters. Only archery equipment may be used during the A Zone archery season and D-5 Zone archery season. Only archery equipment or shotguns with nonlead slugs may be used during the general season hunt dates. Rifles, pistols or muzzleloaders will not be allowed due to safety concerns. Harvest is limited to one legal buck per hunter per access period.
The A Zone hunts take place in July through September within the reserve’s Arno Unit, located west of Highway 99. The D-5 Zone hunts are offered in mid-August through early November within the reserve’s Dillard Unit, east of Highway 99.
Hunters can download the applications online at the Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve web page. Hunters can also request an access permit application by calling CDFW’s Rancho Cordova office at (916) 358-2900 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to Dustin.Wallis@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Rancho Cordova office at 1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.
For the A Zone, Arno Unit general hunt applications must be received by 2 p.m. on July 7, 2025. For the D-5 Zone Dillard archery and general hunts, applications must be received by 2 p.m. on Aug 4, 2025. Permits will be awarded by a computerized, random drawing. Successful applicants will be notified by email or phone call/text message within two working days of the drawing, and will receive additional information, including maps and special instructions, prior to the hunt. Results will not be given over the phone.
Up to two people may apply for the hunt as one party by including all required information on the application form. Junior hunting license holders who are 12 years of age or older may also apply if accompanied by an adult hunter. Applicants may apply for one access permit on one area only. An individual’s name may appear in the drawing only once. Any individual’s name who appears on more than one application will cause all applications with that individual’s name present to be disqualified.
Hunters selected for an access permit for the Arno Unit (A Zone) or Dillard Unit (D-5 Zone) must possess the necessary A Zone, D3-5 Zones or Archery Only deer tag for the 2025 season. All hunters selected for a permit must also possess a 2025-26 California hunting license.
CDFW photo.
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Media Contacts:
Dustin Wallis, CDFW North Central Region, (916) 282-8977
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858