Deer hunt J-17: Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt J-17, CDFW's Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 1,325,368 acres of Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties, inside deer Zone D4. The 2026 season runs September 26 to November 1 with 25 tags. CDFW estimates 8 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 32% 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-17Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-17, 2026 | Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt: September 26 to November 1, 25 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba |
| Size | 1,325,368 acres |
| Public land | 24.4% (323,917 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone D4 |
| Hunt J-17, 2025 | 8 deer, 32% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-17?
CDFW estimates 8 deer were taken on hunt J-17 in 2025: 2 bucks and 7 does. Hunters reported 5; 40% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 32% | 40% |
| 2024 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 26.1% | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 44% | 12% |
| 2022 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 36% | 12% |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20% | 12% |
| 2020 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 44% | 12% |
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-17?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-17, 2025 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-17?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 34 hunters put hunt J-17 first for 25 tags (13 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: 25.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-17 (Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall be concurrent with the zone D-4 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-17?
24.4% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 323,917 of 1,325,368 acres. The largest pieces: Tahoe National Forest (246,372 acres), Eldorado National Forest (46,366 acres) and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (6,565 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 299,780 | 22.6% |
| State park | 28,006 | 2.1% |
| BLM | 15,362 | 1.2% |
| CDFW land | 8,775 | 0.7% |
| Other state or federal land | 2,764 | 0.2% |
| National wildlife refuge | 2,594 | 0.2% |
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: Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area (4,098 acres), Feather River Wildlife Area (2,433 acres) and Fremont Weir Wildlife Area (1,457 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-17?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: I-80, CA 70, CA 99, I-5, CA 65 and CA 113. Towns inside: Roseville, Lincoln, Rocklin, Yuba City, Citrus Heights and Loomis. Nearby: Woodland (on the line), Marysville (on the line), Sacramento (on the line) and Wheatland (2 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone D4 (1,325,368 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-17?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 25 tags. In 2025 the quota was 25. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-17?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 32%: an estimated 8 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 26.1% (6 deer).
When is hunt J-17 in 2026?
September 26 to November 1, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-17 (Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall be concurrent with the zone D-4 general season as defined in subsection 360(a)(4)(B).
Where is hunt J-17?
In Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties, inside deer Zone D4. Towns in and near the ground: Roseville, Lincoln, Rocklin, Woodland and Marysville.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-17
Excluding Colusa County, in those portions of Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties within the area described as zone D-4 (see subsection 360(a)(4)(A)2).
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.