Zone X-12 located in portions of Mono County.

There are nice camp areas at Lower Blue Lake, the middle campground between the Blue Lakes and Upper Blue Lake. Many of the smaller lakes in this area have flat, open, dispersed camping along their shorelines. Expect a lot of people in the areas with water.Make certain to carry a bear tag in this area as bears are in abundance and may increase your opportunity for a harvest.

Popular and well known geographic features in the zone include the eastern Sierra Nevada and its numerous rivers, creeks, and lakes. Some of these drainages include Virginia Creek, Green Creek, Robinson Creek, East Walker River, Buckeye Creek, Molyebdnite Creek, Little Walker River, and the West Walker River. Other well-known areas include the Bodie Hills, Sweetwater Mountains, Bridgeport Valley, Antelope Valley, and the Slinkard and Little Antelope Valley Wildlife Areas.

U.S. Highway 395 is the primary route of access through Zone X-12. This major highway bisects the zone in a north-south direction, passing through the communities of Coleville, Walker and Bridgeport. Other major highways within the zone that can be accessed from Highway 395 include Highway 167 (Pole Line Road), Highway 108 (Sonora Pass Road), Highway 89 (Monitor Pass Road), Highway 270 (Bodie Road), and Highway 182 (Yerington Road). These highways provide access to numerous improved and unimproved dirt roads (Forest Routes) that penetrate portions of the zone’s interior. Many areas of quality deer habitat located on public lands are readily accessible by vehicle using these forest routes. These routes are depicted on the Toiyabe National Forest Bridgeport Ranger District Map and topographic maps of the area.

The majority of Zone X-12 is public land administered by the Toiyabe National Forest or Bureau of Land Management. Large tracts of private land occur within the zone primarily within the Bridgeport Valley, Bodie Hills, Sonora Junction, and Antelope Valley areas.

Deer in Zone X-12 occupy an ecologically diverse zone, supporting a variety of deer habitats distributed across elevations ranging from 5,000-11,000 feet. The zone comprises winter, summer and transition ranges; however, during the archery and general hunting seasons most deer are concentrated on the summer range. Some of the more conspicuous habitat types occupied by deer on the summer range include Great Basin sagebrush, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Jeffrey Pine Forest, Montane Chaparral, Montane Riparian Forest, Quaking Aspen, and Subalpine Conifer Forest.

There are numerous campgrounds located on public lands within Zone X-12, many of which are open until the end of October. Mono County has a wide variety of camping opportunities on USFS, BLM, and county lands. Overnight camping is not allowed on Los Angeles Department of Water and Power lands.

For areas where dispersed camping is allowed, you need to obtain a California Campfire Permit for the use of any open flame (including gas stoves, lanterns, wood fires, charcoal fires, or smoking). These permits can be obtained at no cost from any National Forest Ranger Station, BLM office or Visitor Center. Open flame of any kind may be restricted during times of high fire danger; check with the local Forest Service office for current restrictions.

There are nice camp areas at Lower Blue Lake, the middle campground between the Blue Lakes and Upper Blue Lake. Many of the smaller lakes in this area have flat, open, dispersed camping along their shorelines. Expect a lot of people in the areas with water.