Deer Zone X3a: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone X3a covers 1,533 square miles of Lassen and Modoc counties. 52.4% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that national forest (309,826 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 209 deer in Zone X3a in 2025 (209 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 63%. The 2026 general season runs October 3 to 18.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: CDFW's deer harvest reports, 2020 to 2025. Seasons and quotas: CDFW's approved 2026 seasons and the 2026-2027 regulations. Land: CPAD 2026a.
National forestBLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeOther state or federal landZone X3aNeighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lassen and Modoc |
| Size | 981,279 acres (1,533 square miles) |
| Public land | 52.4% (514,597 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 355 |
| Archery, 2026 (hunt A-5) | August 15 to September 6 |
| General season, 2026 | October 3 to 18 |
| Bag limit | One buck, forked horn or better, per tag. |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 209 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 63% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | Alturas, California Pines, Bieber, Likely and Canby |
How many deer are taken in Zone X3a?
CDFW estimates 209 deer were taken in Zone X3a in 2025, up from 174 in 2024. Hunters reported 160 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 23.5% of tag holders who did not report.
| Year | Tag quota | Tags issued | Bucks reported | Does reported | Deer taken (CDFW estimate) | Hunter success (CDFW) | Tag holders who did not report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 354 | not printed | 160 | 0 | 209 | 63% | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 354 | not printed | 138 | 0 | 174 | 52.4% | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 354 | not printed | 121 | 0 | 132 | 39.4% | 9% |
| 2022 | 354 | 346 | 134 | 0 | 150 | 43.4% | 11% |
| 2021 | 355 | 395 | 161 | 0 | 191 | 48.4% | 15.9% |
| 2020 | 354 | 373 | 155 | 0 | 185 | 49.6% | 16.6% |
Source: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025), Table 1. CDFW's hunter success is its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. Harvest on Private Lands Management and Section 554 landowner programs is not included.
What size are the bucks taken in Zone X3a?
Of the 160 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 58 (36.3%) had 4 points or more and 58 had 3 points. CDFW counts antler points on one side.
| Year | Spike | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points or more | Bucks with points recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 (0%) | 44 (27.5%) | 58 (36.3%) | 49 (30.6%) | 9 (5.6%) | 160 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 39 (28.3%) | 44 (31.9%) | 50 (36.2%) | 5 (3.6%) | 138 |
| 2023 | 0 (0%) | 30 (24.8%) | 45 (37.2%) | 40 (33.1%) | 6 (5%) | 121 |
Source: CDFW 2025 California Deer Harvest Statistics, Table 2 (reported deer kill by antler class), and the two years before it. Shares are of the bucks reported with points recorded.
When is deer season in Zone X3a in 2026?
General season: October 3 to 18, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone X-3a shall open on the first Saturday in October and extend for 16 consecutive days.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 1,816 hunters put Zone X3a first for 354 tags (319 by preference points, 35 by draw-by-choice). For archery hunt A-5: 116 first-choice applicants for 40 tags. Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Archery hunting in Zone X3a is CDFW hunt A-5, Zone X-3a Archery Hunt: August 15 to September 6, 2026, 40 tags. In 2025 archers reported 17 deer taken in Zone X3a on that hunt.
Deer taken in Zone X3a in 2025 on other hunts' tags, as hunters reported them: hunt A-5: 17.
Source: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons and CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 47 (Title 14, Section 360). CDFW can change a season: check CDFW's deer zone page before you go.
How much public land is in Zone X3a?
52.4% of Zone X3a is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 514,597 of its 981,279 acres. The largest pieces are Modoc National Forest (298,102 acres) and Lassen National Forest (11,724 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone X3a |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 309,826 | 31.6% |
| BLM | 189,765 | 19.3% |
| CDFW land | 15,006 | 1.5% |
| Other state or federal land | 3,272 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 678 | 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside CDFW's zone 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 in Zone X3a: Ash Creek Wildlife Area (14,565 acres here) and Dutch Flat Wildlife Area (157 acres here).
Which elk and pronghorn zones overlap Zone X3a?
Elk zones: Northeastern elk zone (798,277 acres inside Zone X3a). Pronghorn zones: Pronghorn Zone 5 (Big Valley) (371,523 acres), Pronghorn Zone 3 (Likely Tables) (360,071 acres) and Pronghorn Zone 4 (Lassen) (249,684 acres). Elk and pronghorn tags are drawn in CDFW's big game drawing, apart from a few fundraising tags.
How do you get to Zone X3a?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 139, CA 299, US 395 and CA 8. Towns inside: Alturas, California Pines, Bieber, Adin, Little Valley and Madeline. Nearby: Likely (on the line), Canby (on the line), Lookout (on the line) and Daphnedale Park (on the line).
Which deer zones border Zone X3a?
Zone X3a touches 6 other deer zones. Their size, public land and CDFW's 2025 numbers:
| Zone | Square miles | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone X1 | 2,904 | 55.2% | 331 | 45.5% |
| Zone X2 | 1,620 | 72.3% | 78 | 46.7% |
| Zone X3b | 1,543 | 61.6% | 161 | 34.5% |
| Zone X4 | 1,115 | 61.9% | 173 | 37.3% |
| Zone X5a | 543 | 72.4% | 47 | 68.1% |
| Zone X5b | 933 | 73.1% | 30 | 68.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone X3a?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 355. In 2025 the quota was 354 and CDFW estimates 209 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone X3a?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 63%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 52.4%.
When does deer season open in Zone X3a in 2026?
The general season runs October 3 to 18, 2026. Archery hunting here is a separate hunt, A-5, August 15 to September 6. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone X-3a shall open on the first Saturday in October and extend for 16 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone X3a?
52.4% of Zone X3a, 514,597 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest pieces: Modoc National Forest (298,102 acres) and Lassen National Forest (11,724 acres).
Which CDFW lands are in Zone X3a?
Ash Creek Wildlife Area (14,565 acres here) and Dutch Flat Wildlife Area (157 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone X3a
In those portions of Lassen and Modoc counties within a line beginning at the intersection of the Lookout-Hackamore Road and Highway 139; southeast on Highway 139 to Highway 299; east on Highway 299 to Highway 395 in Alturas; south on Highway 395 to the Termo-Grasshopper Road (Lassen County 513); west on the Termo-Grasshopper Road to Highway 139; south on Highway 139 to the Cleghorn Road (Lassen County 521); west and north on the Cleghorn Road to Lassen County Road 519 near Coulthurst Flat; west on Lassen County Road 519 to U.S. Forest Service Designated Through Route 22 near Gooch Mountain; west and north on U.S. Forest Service Designated Through Route 22 to the Little Valley Road (Lassen County 404); north on the Little Valley Road to the Western Pacific Railroad; northeast on the Western Pacific Railroad to Horse Creek; northwest on Horse Creek to the Pit River; north on the Pit River to Highway 299 at Bieber; northeast on Highway 299 to the Bieber-Lookout-Hackamore Road; north along the Bieber-Lookout-Hackamore Road to the point of beginning.
From CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations, page 47, Title 14, Section 360.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, quotas, hunter success and antler classes: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
- 2026 seasons and quotas: CDFW Approved 2026 Deer Seasons; boundary, bag limit and season rule: CDFW 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations.
- Public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a. Zone boundary: CDFW deer hunt zones (BIOS ds342, Title 14 Section 360).
- 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.
California hunting CDFW Region 1 Zone X1 Zone X2 Zone X3b Zone X4 Zone X5a Zone X5b