Deer Zone X3b: California deer hunting by the numbers
Deer Zone X3b covers 1,543 square miles of Lassen and Modoc counties. 61.6% of it is national forest, BLM or CDFW land, most of that national forest (345,904 acres), by the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD 2026a). CDFW estimates hunters took 161 deer in Zone X3b in 2025 (161 bucks); CDFW puts hunter success at 34.5%. 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 X3bNeighboring zonesLake or riverHighway
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lassen and Modoc |
| Size | 987,590 acres (1,543 square miles) |
| Public land | 61.6% (608,483 acres) |
| Tag quota, 2026 | 500 |
| Archery, 2026 (hunt A-6) | 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 | 161 (CDFW estimate) |
| Hunter success, 2025 | 34.5% (CDFW) |
| Towns in and near it | Lake City, Cedarville, Fort Bidwell, Alturas and Madeline |
How many deer are taken in Zone X3b?
CDFW estimates 161 deer were taken in Zone X3b in 2025, up from 143 in 2024. Hunters reported 109 of them; CDFW adds an estimate for the 32.1% 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 | 499 | not printed | 109 | 0 | 161 | 34.5% | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 499 | not printed | 108 | 0 | 143 | 31.1% | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 499 | not printed | 98 | 0 | 116 | 25.1% | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 499 | 462 | 98 | 0 | 118 | 25.5% | 17.3% |
| 2021 | 500 | 490 | 135 | 0 | 158 | 32.2% | 14.9% |
| 2020 | 794 | 741 | 173 | 0 | 208 | 28.1% | 16.9% |
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 X3b?
Of the 109 bucks hunters reported with points recorded in 2025, 48 (44%) had 4 points or more and 30 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%) | 31 (28.4%) | 30 (27.5%) | 39 (35.8%) | 9 (8.3%) | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 (0%) | 41 (38%) | 34 (31.5%) | 29 (26.9%) | 4 (3.7%) | 108 |
| 2023 | 0 (0%) | 39 (39.8%) | 28 (28.6%) | 25 (25.5%) | 6 (6.1%) | 98 |
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 X3b in 2026?
General season: October 3 to 18, 2026. CDFW's rule for the season: The season in Zone X-3b shall open on the first Saturday in October and extend for 16 consecutive days.
In CDFW's 2026 Big Game Drawing, 1,372 hunters put Zone X3b first for 499 tags (450 by preference points, 49 by draw-by-choice). For archery hunt A-6: 112 first-choice applicants for 70 tags. Source: CDFW 2026 Big Game Drawing statistics.
Archery hunting in Zone X3b is CDFW hunt A-6, Zone X-3b Archery Hunt: August 15 to September 6, 2026, 70 tags. In 2025 archers reported 12 deer taken in Zone X3b on that hunt.
Deer taken in Zone X3b in 2025 on other hunts' tags, as hunters reported them: hunt A-6: 12.
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 X3b?
61.6% of Zone X3b is national forest, BLM or CDFW land: 608,483 of its 987,590 acres. The largest piece is Modoc National Forest (345,904 acres).
| Manager | Acres | Share of Zone X3b |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 345,904 | 35% |
| BLM | 255,934 | 25.9% |
| CDFW land | 6,645 | 0.7% |
| National wildlife refuge | 6,278 | 0.6% |
| Other state or federal land | 5,393 | 0.5% |
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 X3b: Fitzhugh Creek Wildlife Area (2,135 acres here), Pine Creek Wildlife Area (2,011 acres here), Silver Creek Wildlife Area (2,007 acres here) and Surprise Valley Wildlife Area (464 acres here).
Which elk and pronghorn zones overlap Zone X3b?
Elk zones: Northeastern elk zone (987,361 acres inside Zone X3b). Pronghorn zones: Pronghorn Zone 6 (Surprise Valley) (522,856 acres) and Pronghorn Zone 3 (Likely Tables) (464,710 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 X3b?
Numbered highways through it, longest stretch first: CA 299 and US 395. Towns inside: Lake City, Cedarville, Fort Bidwell, New Pine Creek, Likely and Eagleville. Nearby: Alturas (on the line), Madeline (on the line), Daphnedale Park (on the line) and California Pines (6 miles).
Which deer zones border Zone X3b?
Zone X3b touches 3 other deer zones. Their size, public land and CDFW's 2025 numbers:
| Zone | Square miles | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | Hunter success, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone X2 | 1,620 | 72.3% | 78 | 46.7% |
| Zone X3a | 1,533 | 52.4% | 209 | 63% |
| Zone X5b | 933 | 73.1% | 30 | 68.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer tags are there for Zone X3b?
CDFW's 2026 tag quota is 500. In 2025 the quota was 499 and CDFW estimates 161 deer were taken here.
What is the hunter success rate in Zone X3b?
CDFW puts 2025 hunter success at 34.5%. CDFW works it out as its estimated deer kill divided by tags issued. In 2024 it was 31.1%.
When does deer season open in Zone X3b in 2026?
The general season runs October 3 to 18, 2026. Archery hunting here is a separate hunt, A-6, August 15 to September 6. CDFW's rule: The season in Zone X-3b shall open on the first Saturday in October and extend for 16 consecutive days.
How much public land is in Zone X3b?
61.6% of Zone X3b, 608,483 acres, is national forest, BLM or CDFW land by CPAD 2026a. The largest piece: Modoc National Forest (345,904 acres).
Which CDFW lands are in Zone X3b?
Fitzhugh Creek Wildlife Area (2,135 acres here), Pine Creek Wildlife Area (2,011 acres here), Silver Creek Wildlife Area (2,007 acres here) and Surprise Valley Wildlife Area (464 acres here), by CDFW's land boundaries.
CDFW's boundary of Zone X3b
In those portions of Lassen and Modoc counties within a line beginning at the east shoreline of Goose Lake and the California-Oregon state line; east along this state line to the California-Nevada state line; south along the California-Nevada state line to the Clarks Valley-Red Rock-Tuledad Road (Lassen County Roads 512, 510 and 506); west along the Tuledad Red Rock-Clarks Valley Road to Highway 395 at Madeline; north on Highway 395 to Westside Road (Modoc County 48) in Davis Creek; west and north along Westside Road to the south shoreline of Goose Lake; east and north along the south and east shoreline of Goose Lake 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.