California · Public Land · 2026 Edition
California Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 6,200 to 9,200 acres. A hunting license covers you on California WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Lodge Wildlife Area | Butte, Sutter | 9,200 | Waterfowl, Coot |
| Los Banos Wildlife Area | Merced | 6,200 | Waterfowl, Pheasant, Dove, Snipe |
Gray Lodge, at 9,100 acres in the Sacramento Valley, is one of California's signature waterfowl destinations — over 300 bird species pass through the marsh, and steel shot is mandatory for duck, coot and moorhen hunting here as it is statewide. Los Banos, California's oldest state-run waterfowl refuge (purchased in 1929) in the San Joaquin Valley, adds pheasant, dove and snipe to the mix on a smaller 6,200-acre footprint of managed marsh, lakes and sloughs. This list is a starting point, not CDFW's full inventory of more than 120 wildlife areas and ecological reserves statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
California's managed wildlife areas are classed Type A, B or C, and most of the well-known Central Valley waterfowl areas are Type A — hunters there need a Wildlife Area Pass (one-day or season) bought in advance, on top of the standard hunting license and any duck stamps. Junior license holders are exempt from the pass requirement. Type C areas add their own entry permits or drawings depending on the specific property and time of year.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · California Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from CDFW, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.