Bass Hill Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Bass Hill Wildlife Area is 5,483 acres of CDFW land in Lassen County, in CDFW's Northern Region. Title 14, Section 551 lists it as Type C: open daily for hunting all legal species without a hunting pass, except where CDFW's area rules say otherwise. It lies in deer Zone X6a, where CDFW estimates 247 deer were taken in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: CDFW's 2026-2027 land use regulations (updated July 1, 2026). Boundary and acres: CDFW. Zones: CDFW. Land around it: CPAD 2026a.
National forestBLMCDFW landBass Hill WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 5,483 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
| County | Lassen |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone X6a |
| Pronghorn zone | Pronghorn Zone 4 (Lassen) |
| Nearest towns | Johnstonville (next to it), Janesville (next to it) and Susanville (5 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Bass Hill WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Whole area | Only shotguns, archery equipment, or muzzle loaders may be used on the Egan Management Unit. |
| Lands pass | Whole area | Listed in section 551(w): a visitor must carry a valid Lands Pass, or a valid hunting or fishing license, to enter. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Bass Hill Wildlife Area has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
What does CDFW say about Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
This wildlife area consists of approximately 5,600 acres of rolling hills, mostly of sagebrush and grasslands. The area was acquired to preserve winter range for the Bass Hill sub-herd of the Doyle deer herd. Coyotes, California and mountain quail, and golden eagles can also be seen here. The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1977.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Deer, rabbit, waterfowl, quail, and dove may be present. The Egan Unit, located on the west side of Hwy 395, is open only for the use of shotguns, archery equipment or muzzle-loading weapons, for all hunting seasons.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Bass Hill Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Bass Hill Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Bass Hill WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X6a | 5,483 | 247 deer taken in 2025, 77.2% hunter success; 2026 general season October 3 to 18 |
| Pronghorn Zone 4 (Lassen) | 5,483 | 65 pronghorn taken in 2023 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Bass Hill WA: hunt A-11 (Zone X-6a Archery Hunt), hunt A-26 (Bass Hill Archery Buck Hunt) and hunt M-8 (Bass Hill Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025); CDFW Pronghorn Hunt Statistics. Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 5,771 acres of CDFW land, 5,417 acres of national forest and 4,444 acres of BLM land.
How do you get to Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: From Highway 395, either Byers Pass Road, Sunnyside Road or Bass Hill Road.
CDFW's location note: 6 miles southeast of Susanville, adjacent to Highway 395. Highways within 8 miles: CA 36 and CA 139. Nearest towns: Johnstonville (next to it), Janesville (next to it), Susanville (5 miles) and Litchfield (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Type C areas are open daily for all legal species, unless CDFW's area rules say otherwise.
Can you camp on Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Bass Hill Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Bass Hill Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone X6a, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 247 deer were taken in Zone X6a in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Bass Hill Wildlife Area?
Johnstonville (next to it), Janesville (next to it) and Susanville (5 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
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Where these facts come from
- Rules: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations.
- Boundary and acres: CDFW public access lands (BIOS ds3077); CDFW, Bass Hill Wildlife Area.
- Zones: CDFW BIOS zone layers. Surrounding public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a.
- Deer harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.