Deer hunt M-3: Doyle Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt
Hunt M-3, CDFW's Doyle Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt, is an muzzleloading rifle hunt on 149,750 acres of Lassen County, inside deer Zone X6b. The 2026 season runs November 21 to 29 with 20 tags. CDFW estimates 10 deer were taken on this hunt in 2025, with 55.6% 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.
National forestBLMCDFW landOther state or federal landHunt M-3Deer zone linesLake or riverHighway
| Hunt M-3, 2026 | Doyle Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt: November 21 to 29, 20 tags |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lassen |
| Size | 149,750 acres |
| Public land | 57% (85,300 acres) |
| Deer zone | Zone X6b |
| Hunt M-3, 2025 | 10 deer, 55.6% hunter success (CDFW) |
How many deer are taken on hunt M-3?
CDFW estimates 10 deer were taken on hunt M-3 in 2025: 10 bucks and 0 does. Hunters reported 9; 11.1% of tag holders did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 55.6% | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 60% | 20% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 60% | 10% |
| 2022 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 66.7% | 5.6% |
| 2021 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 69.2% | 0% |
| 2020 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 68.4% | 10.5% |
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 M-3?
Of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M-3, 2025 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class).
What are CDFW's rules for hunt M-3?
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 607 hunters put hunt M-3 first for 20 tags (18 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: 20.
Season: The season for additional hunt M-3 (Doyle Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in November and extend for nine consecutive days.
- Only muzzleloading rifles as specified in Section 353 may be used.
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 54, Title 14, Sections 360 and 361; dates and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons.
How much public land is in hunt M-3?
57% of the ground is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 85,300 of 149,750 acres. The largest piece: Plumas National Forest (24,052 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the hunt area |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 48,802 | 32.6% |
| National forest | 24,052 | 16.1% |
| CDFW land | 12,446 | 8.3% |
| Other state or federal land | 3,673 | 2.5% |
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: Doyle Wildlife Area (10,395 acres) and Hallelujah Junction Wildlife Area (2,029 acres).
How do you get to hunt M-3?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: US 395. Towns inside: Doyle, Patton Village and Herlong. Nearby: Milford (on the line), Chilcoot-Vinton (2 miles), Loyalton (11 miles) and Portola (19 miles).
Deer zones the ground lies in: Zone X6b (149,750 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many tags are there for hunt M-3?
CDFW's 2026 quota is 20 tags. In 2025 the quota was 20.
What is the success rate on hunt M-3?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 55.6%: an estimated 10 deer on the tags issued. In 2024 it was 60% (12 deer).
When is hunt M-3 in 2026?
November 21 to 29, by CDFW's approved 2026 seasons. CDFW's rule: The season for additional hunt M-3 (Doyle Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt) shall open on the third Saturday in November and extend for nine consecutive days.
Where is hunt M-3?
In Lassen County, inside deer Zone X6b. Towns in and near the ground: Doyle, Patton Village, Herlong, Loyalton and Portola.
CDFW's boundary of hunt M-3
That portion of Lassen County within the area described as X-6b (see subsection 360(b)(9)(A)).
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 54.
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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.