Deer hunt G-12: Gray Lodge Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt G-12, CDFW's Gray Lodge Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an additional hunt on 9,224 acres of Butte and Sutter counties, inside deer Zone D3. The 2026 season runs September 19 to 27 with 30 tags. CDFW estimates 8 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 27.6% hunter success.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: CDFW's deer harvest reports, 2020 to 2025. Seasons and tags: CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. Rules: the 2026-2027 regulations. Land: CPAD 2026a.
CDFW landHunt G-12Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt G-12, 2026 | Gray Lodge Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt: September 19 to 27, 30 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Butte and Sutter |
| Size | 9,224 acres |
| Public land | 98.6% (9,098 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D3 |
| Hunt G-12, 2025 | 8 deer, 27.6% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt G-12?
CDFW estimates 8 deer were taken on hunt G-12 in 2025: 1 buck and 6 does. Hunters reported 6; 20.7% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 27.6% | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 34.5% | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 17.9% | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 39.3% | 3.6% |
| 2021 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 42.3% | 7.7% |
| 2020 | 30 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 72.4% | 3.4% |
Source: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025), Table 1. CDFW's hunter success is its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued.
What size are the bucks taken on hunt G-12?
Of the 1 buck hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 0 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-12, 2025 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt G-12?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 131 hunters put hunt G-12 first for 30 tags (27 by preference points). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Bag limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection 351(c)) per tag. Tags in the regulations: 30.
Season: The season for additional hunt G-12 (Gray Lodge Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for nine consecutive days.
- Only shotguns and ammunition as specified in Section 353 may be used.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 52, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt G-12?
98.6% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 9,098 of 9,224 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| CDFW land | 9,098 | 98.6% |
Measured by FilledTag inside CDFW's hunt boundary from California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. "Public land" on this page means national forest, BLM and CDFW land, the three managers whose ground is open to hunting under their own rules. National Park Service land, state parks and most other public ground are listed but not counted: hunting there is closed or limited. Land held by cities, counties, districts and private groups is not shown.
CDFW wildlife areas and ecological reserves inside: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (9,153 acres).
How do you get to hunt G-12?
No numbered highway crosses it. Nearby: Gridley (4 miles), Live Oak (5 miles), Biggs (6 miles) and Colusa (11 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D3 (9,224 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt G-12?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 30 tags. In 2025 the quota was 30.
What is the success rate on hunt G-12?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 27.6%: an estimated 8 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 34.5% (10 deer).
When is hunt G-12 in 2026?
September 19 to 27, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt G-12 (Gray Lodge Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for nine consecutive days.
Where is hunt G-12?
In Butte and Sutter counties, inside deer Zone D3. Towns in and near the ground: Gridley and Live Oak.
CDFW's boundary of hunt G-12
Those portions of Butte and Sutter counties within the exterior boundaries of the Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 52.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, quotas and hunter success: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
- 2026 dates and tags: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons; rules and boundary: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations.
- Public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. Hunt boundaries: CDFW additional deer hunts (BIOS ds3241); CDFW archery deer hunts (BIOS ds3242, Title 14 Section 361).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from CDFW, CPAD and the Census Bureau, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.