Jawbone Canyon is an area of public hunting land on the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Kern County, California, that is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.  The area borders the Red Rock Canyon State Park on the east.

Hunting pressure is light during the summer portion of the cottontail rabbit season, becoming moderately light during the first few weekends of the quail season, alternating between light to moderately light thereafter.  Terrain ranges from broad wash-like draw bottoms to moderately steep rolling ridges, with moderate brush coverage and good cheat grass propagation.

Game Species

Valley quail, jackrabbit, and cottontail rabbit are found throughout this area.  Populations of all three are variable but typically abundant.  Valley quail populations can be high following years of good rainfall. There are isolated populations of chukar partridge on this management unit, but overall numbers are low and hunter success is typically lower here than in other areas. 

Note:  While hunting (and target shooting) is legal on the BLM Jawbone Canyon Management Area, hunting, shooting, and possession of firearms are all prohibited within the adjoining Red Rock Canyon State Park, and these prohibitions are STRICTLY ENFORCED.  Be sure that you are on the west side (BLM) of the boundary and NOT the east side (State Park).  Maps of the area are available at the BLM office at the area entrance off of SR 14.

If You Go........

This area is found on the desert slope of the southern Sierra Nevada, with access just off SR 14, on the north side of the highway, about a half a mile east of the infamous Jawbone Canyon Store.

It is an area often passed by and overlooked by hunters from the Metro L.A. / Orange County area heading off to more well known, and thus more popular and heavily-hunted areas, such as Red Mountain, or the El Paso Mountains.  If you can live without chukar on opening day, and can be content with valley quail, this area is worth a look, particularly if you can also do without crowds.

The downside to this area, apart from the lack of chukar, is that it is a very popular riding area for ATV enthusiasts and dirt bikers.  It's large enough to get away from them, though, as most of their activity is centered in the "open riding area" near the entrance off SR-14.

Access:  dirt roads with high-clearance two-wheel drive okay in dry weather.  4wd w/ low range highly recommended.

Elevation Range: 4,000 to 6,000 feet