The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is now accepting applications for a limited, lottery draw deer hunt scheduled for opening week of the A-Zone general deer season on the Knoxville Wildlife area in Napa County.

The 21,000-acre Knoxville Wildlife Area is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Lake Berryessa.

This special lottery draw deer hunt was created to limit the number of hunters on the wildlife area during opening week and to improve the hunting experience.

“This will be the second year of our special draw for the opening week of deer season. We essentially close the wildlife area to other uses and allow drawn hunters to have the whole area to themselves,” said Stacy Martinelli, wildlife biologist for Napa and Sonoma counties.

Only 120 hunt permits will be issued for the special lottery draw. The hunt permit is valid for the single hunt period, Aug. 8 to 14, 2020. The Knoxville Wildlife Area will be closed to all other users during the hunt period.

For more information and to apply for the lottery draw, visit here.

Applications are being accepted until June 20, 2020.

Successful applicants will be selected through a random computerized draw and will be notified by email four to six weeks before the hunt period. Up to four hunters may apply as one party by including all required information in the online application.

Multiple applications from any hunter will result in disqualification from the drawing. Substitutions of hunt party members will not be permitted.

Hunters must possess a valid 2020-21 California hunting license prior to applying for the lottery draw.

Deer hunt preference points will not be considered for this lottery draw, nor will preference points be affected if drawn for this special hunt.