Deer hunt J-21: East Tehama Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt
Hunt J-21, CDFW's East Tehama Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 927,861 acres of Tehama County, inside deer Zone C4. The 2026 season runs September 19 to November 1 with 50 tags. CDFW estimates 35 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 70% 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 refugeNational Park ServiceState parkOther state or federal landHunt J-21Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-21, 2026 | East Tehama Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt: September 19 to November 1, 50 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Tehama |
| Size | 927,861 acres |
| Public land | 28.1% (260,681 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone C4 |
| Hunt J-21, 2025 | 35 deer, 70% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-21?
CDFW estimates 35 deer were taken on hunt J-21 in 2025: 22 bucks and 12 does. Hunters reported 25; 28% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | 16 | 9 | 35 | 70% | 28% |
| 2024 | 50 | 7 | 14 | 29 | 63% | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 50 | 10 | 12 | 25 | 50% | 14% |
| 2022 | 50 | 13 | 15 | 32 | 64% | 14% |
| 2021 | 50 | 17 | 9 | 31 | 62% | 18% |
| 2020 | 50 | 13 | 14 | 30 | 60% | 10% |
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-21?
Of the 16 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 4 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-21, 2025 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-21?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 186 hunters put hunt J-21 first for 50 tags (25 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: 50.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-21 (East Tehama Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 44 consecutive days.
- 1. Only junior license holder 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 59, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt J-21?
28.1% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 260,681 of 927,861 acres. The largest piece: Lassen National Forest (191,091 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 191,402 | 20.6% |
| CDFW land | 43,117 | 4.6% |
| BLM | 26,162 | 2.8% |
| National wildlife refuge | 4,354 | 0.5% |
| National Park Service | 4,223 | 0.5% |
| State park | 338 | under 0.1% |
| Other state or federal land | 326 | 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: Tehama Wildlife Area (44,406 acres), Battle Creek Wildlife Area (456 acres), Dales Lake Ecological Reserve (377 acres), Merrill's Landing Wildlife Area (297 acres), Sacramento River Wildlife Area (133 acres) and Butler Slough Ecological Reserve (54 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-21?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: I-5, CA 36, CA 89, CA 32, CA 99 and CA 172. Towns inside: Corning, Tehama, Mineral, Manton, Lake California and Paynes Creek. Nearby: Red Bluff (on the line), Orland (4 miles), Anderson (5 miles) and Chico (9 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone C4 (927,860 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-21?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 50 tags. In 2025 the quota was 50. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-21?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 70%: an estimated 35 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 63% (29 deer).
When is hunt J-21 in 2026?
September 19 to November 1, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-21 (East Tehama Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in September and extend for 44 consecutive days.
Where is hunt J-21?
In Tehama County, inside deer Zone C4. Towns in and near the ground: Corning, Tehama, Mineral, Red Bluff and Orland.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-21
In that portion of Tehama County within the area described as zone C-4 (see subsection 360(a) (3)(A)4.).
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 59.
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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.