Butte Valley Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Butte Valley Wildlife Area is 13,325 acres of CDFW land in Siskiyou County, in CDFW's Northern Region. Title 14, Section 551 lists it as Type B: hunter access is restricted in waterfowl season and a hunting pass is needed. It lies in deer Zone C1, where CDFW estimates 284 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 landOther state or federal landButte Valley WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 13,325 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
| County | Siskiyou |
| Wildlife area type | Type B |
| Camping | Allowed. |
| Deer zone | Zone C1 |
| Elk zone | Siskiyou |
| Pronghorn zone | Pronghorn Zone 1 (Mount Dome) |
| Nearest towns | Macdoel (2 mi), Mount Hebron (4 mi) and Dorris (8 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
As a Type B area, Butte Valley WA needs a Type A or Type B season hunting pass in waterfowl season, with set shoot days (Section 551(e)).
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | Whole area | Allowed. |
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to boating and water-related activity from March 1 through September 1. |
| Shoot days and hours in waterfowl season | Whole area | Pheasant hunting is allowed only on Sundays during pheasant season. Dove may be taken daily during the September dove season, and only on waterfowl hunt days during the late dove season. |
| Additional hunting: Pronghorn antelope | Whole area | Allowed only with an apprentice tag available through the big game drawing. |
| 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 Butte Valley 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 Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
Butte Valley Wildlife Area is approximately 13,400 acres of wetlands, sage flats, and farmlands, including the 4,000-acre Meiss Lake. It is a great area for viewing waterfowl, bald eagles and sandhill cranes.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Waterfowl, coots, moorhens, snipe, and doves may be present.
CDFW lists upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing, camping, hiking trails and fishing.
From CDFW's page for Butte Valley Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Butte Valley Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Butte Valley WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone C1 | 13,325 | 284 deer taken in 2025, 30.1% hunter success; 2026 general season September 19 to October 18 |
| Siskiyou elk zone | 13,325 | 20 elk taken in 2022 |
| Pronghorn Zone 1 (Mount Dome) | 13,325 | 1 pronghorn taken in 2023 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Butte Valley WA: hunt A-1 (C Zones Archery Only Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025); CDFW Elk Hunt Statistics; CDFW Pronghorn Hunt Statistics. Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 34,304 acres of national forest, 13,327 acres of CDFW land and 1,755 acres of BLM land.
How do you get to Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: From Highway 97 just south of Macdoel, go 5 miles west on Meiss Lake Road.
CDFW's location note: 5 miles west of Macdoel and Highway 97. Highways within 8 miles: US 97. Nearest towns: Macdoel (2 miles), Mount Hebron (4 miles), Dorris (8 miles) and Tennant (18 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type B.
Can you camp on Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
CDFW's rule: Allowed. Where camping is allowed, a visitor may stay up to seven nights in a row and fourteen nights a year (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Butte Valley Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone C1, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 284 deer were taken in Zone C1 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Butte Valley Wildlife Area?
Macdoel (2 miles), Mount Hebron (4 miles) and Dorris (8 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, Butte Valley 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.