Deer hunt J-16: Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt J-16, CDFW's Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 1,722,368 acres of Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba counties, inside deer Zone D3. The 2026 season runs September 26 to November 1 with 75 tags. CDFW estimates 35 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 46.7% 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.
National forestBLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeState parkOther state or federal landHunt J-16Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-16, 2026 | Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt: September 26 to November 1, 75 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba |
| Size | 1,722,368 acres |
| Public land | 45.9% (790,946 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D3 |
| Hunt J-16, 2025 | 35 deer, 46.7% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-16?
CDFW estimates 35 deer were taken on hunt J-16 in 2025: 5 bucks and 30 does. Hunters reported 27; 22.7% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75 | 4 | 23 | 35 | 46.7% | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 75 | 3 | 22 | 33 | 44% | 24% |
| 2023 | 75 | 3 | 31 | 43 | 57.3% | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 75 | 3 | 30 | 38 | 50.7% | 13.3% |
| 2021 | 75 | 8 | 25 | 37 | 49.3% | 12% |
| 2020 | 75 | 2 | 27 | 35 | 46.7% | 18.7% |
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 J-16?
Of the 2 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 1 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-16, 2025 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-16?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 99 hunters put hunt J-16 first for 75 tags (38 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: 75.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-16 (Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall be concurrent with the zone D-3 general season as defined in subsection 360(a)(4)(B).
- 1. Only junior license holders shall apply (see subsection 708.2). 2. Tagholders shall be accompanied by an adult chaperon 18 years of age or older while hunting.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 58, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt J-16?
45.9% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 790,946 of 1,722,368 acres. The largest pieces: Plumas National Forest (394,779 acres), Tahoe National Forest (350,515 acres), Pines to Mines (3,484 acres) and Lassen National Forest (2,114 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 751,290 | 43.6% |
| CDFW land | 20,186 | 1.2% |
| BLM | 19,470 | 1.1% |
| State park | 14,289 | 0.8% |
| Other state or federal land | 9,750 | 0.6% |
| National wildlife refuge | 732 | under 0.1% |
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: Spenceville Wildlife Area (11,728 acres), Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area (8,751 acres) and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (420 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-16?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 49, CA 20, CA 70, CA 89, I-80 and CA 99. Towns inside: Wheatland, Grass Valley, Marysville, Live Oak, Nevada City and Loma Rica. Nearby: Yuba City (on the line), Colfax (2 miles), Colusa (4 miles) and Gridley (4 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D3 (1,722,368 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-16?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 75 tags. In 2025 the quota was 75. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-16?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 46.7%: an estimated 35 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 44% (33 deer).
When is hunt J-16 in 2026?
September 26 to November 1, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-16 (Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall be concurrent with the zone D-3 general season as defined in subsection 360(a)(4)(B).
Where is hunt J-16?
In Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba counties, inside deer Zone D3. Towns in and near the ground: Wheatland, Grass Valley, Marysville, Yuba City and Colfax.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-16
Excluding Butte, Colusa and Glenn Counties, in those portions of Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba Counties within the area described as zone D-3 (see subsection 360(a)(4)(A)1).
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 58.
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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.