Deer hunt J-3: Tehama Wildlife Area Apprentice Buck Hunt
Hunt J-3, CDFW's Tehama Wildlife Area Apprentice Buck Hunt, is an apprentice hunt on 43,680 acres of Tehama County, inside deer Zone C4. The 2026 season runs November 28 to 29 with 15 tags. CDFW estimates 14 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 93.3% 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 forestCDFW landHunt J-3Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt J-3, 2026 | Tehama Wildlife Area Apprentice Buck Hunt: November 28 to 29, 15 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Tehama |
| Size | 43,680 acres |
| Public land | 95.6% (41,743 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone C4 |
| Hunt J-3, 2025 | 14 deer, 93.3% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt J-3?
CDFW estimates 14 deer were taken on hunt J-3 in 2025: 14 bucks and 0 does. Hunters reported 11; 20% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 93.3% | 20% |
| 2024 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 66.7% | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 80% | 20% |
| 2022 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 80% | 26.7% |
| 2021 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 86.7% | 26.7% |
| 2020 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 73.3% | 13.3% |
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-3?
Of the 11 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in the latest year, 6 had 4 points or more.
| Hunt and year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Does reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-3, 2025 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt J-3?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 421 hunters put hunt J-3 first for 15 tags (8 by preference points). Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Bag limit: One buck, forked horn (see subsection 351(a)) or better, per tag. Tags in the regulations: 15.
Season: The season for additional hunt J-3 (Tehama Wildlife Area Apprentice Buck Hunt) shall open on the last Saturday in November and extend for 2 consecutive days.
- 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. 3. Tagholders shall attend an orientation meeting the day before the opening day of the season.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 56, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt J-3?
95.6% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 41,743 of 43,680 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| CDFW land | 41,742 | 95.6% |
| National forest | 1 | 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 (43,487 acres).
How do you get to hunt J-3?
No numbered highway crosses it. Nearby: Tehama (11 miles), Red Bluff (12 miles), Corning (18 miles) and Anderson (19 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone C4 (43,680 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt J-3?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 15 tags. In 2025 the quota was 15. Only junior license holders may apply for an apprentice hunt.
What is the success rate on hunt J-3?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 93.3%: an estimated 14 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 66.7% (10 deer).
When is hunt J-3 in 2026?
November 28 to 29, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt J-3 (Tehama Wildlife Area Apprentice Buck Hunt) shall open on the last Saturday in November and extend for 2 consecutive days.
Where is hunt J-3?
In Tehama County, inside deer Zone C4. Towns in and near the ground: Tehama and Red Bluff.
CDFW's boundary of hunt J-3
That portion of Tehama County within the boundaries of the Tehama Wildlife Area.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 56.
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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.