Zone D-6 is located in portions of Alpine, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties, East of Highway 99 to the Sierra Mountains, including Yosemite National Park.

Make certain to carry a bear tag in this area as bears are in abundance and may increase your opportunity for a harvest. In this high-use area many bears target campgrounds as feeding stations at night. They are easy enough to find if you target travel corridors in the mornings.This is an extreme high use area. Plan on every campground to be full and every flat place in the forest be filled with a camp if you arrive after work. If recognized on the forest roads as a hunter expect to be shown the bird by passing recreational motorists. Do NOT leave valuables in camp unattended. They may not be yours when you get back.

The terrain in this zone changes drastically form east to west. It runs from the flat lands in the valleys in the west, up into the high mountains of the Sierra Nevadas in the east.

Reminder: Lands within Yosemite National Park and State Game Refuge 1-R are closed to hunting. Hunters should be aware of State Game Refuge 1-R, located between the North and Middle Forks of the Stanislaus River. This area is well-defined on the Stanislaus National Forest map and is also well posted. Please note that there are travel restrictions through the Game Refuge for hunters transporting hunting weapons (See Fish and Game Code Section 10506).

Yosemite National Park takes up nearly one-quarter of this zone and almost 50% of the public land within this zone. Due to its vast size and hunting prohibition it plays a major factor in the hunting opportunities in this zone. Please consider this when applying if you do not scout prior to your trip.

Access to most public lands within Zone D-6 is very good. Major access routes are along Highways 4, 108, 120 and 140. On opening weekend, most of the areas accessed by roads are popular with hunters and it is difficult to find solitude, due to the concentration of hunters near these access roads. However, hunting pressure drops off significantly when storms occur, usually in mid to late-October. Do not expect a solo hunting experience in this zone.

Zone D-6 contains a mixture of both public and private lands. Remember you must obtain and have in your possession written permission to hunt on private property. Hunter trespass laws are strictly enforced. Public lands within Zone D-6 are administered by the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Wilderness lands have been established within two portions of the Stanislaus National Forests. The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness lies north of Highway 108 and the Emigrant Wilderness is south of the Highway 108 corridor. These wilderness areas are accessible by hiking and by pack stock. Public use of the wilderness is regulated by permit. Wilderness Permits may be obtained by contacting the Stanislaus National Forest, Summit Ranger District office at: #1 Pinecrest Lake Road; Pinecrest, CA 95364 (209- 965-3434).

Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) also owns large blocks of land within the Stanislaus National Forest in zone D-6. Much of SPI land is behind locked gates; however SPI allows public hunting on their property.

Access to their land is by foot only and no written permit is required. No camping or fires are allowed on SPI property. Remember you are a guest on SPI land, please carry out all refuse, be fire safe and respect their property. SPI often conducts timber activity on their lands increasing the quality of habitat for deer in the process.

The vegetation is highly varied throughout Zone D-6 ranging from oak-woodland, mixed and montane chaparral, hardwood, hardwood-conifer, aspen and dense conifer to alpine habitats.

The Sierras are very scenic mountains with large granite outcroppings.

In the last decade there have been several large wildfires in this zone improving the habitat.

There are numerous Forest Service campgrounds within Zone D-6. The developed campsites are shown on the Forest Service maps. Informal camping is allowed on Forest Service lands, but campfires permits are required. Permits may be obtained from any USFS, BLM, or California Department of Forestry (CDF) office. During fire season, special regulations may apply. Campfire permits are required for the use of propane stoves and BBQs outside of established campgrounds.