Doyle Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Doyle Wildlife Area is 10,424 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 X6b, where CDFW estimates 134 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 landDoyle WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 10,424 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 X6b |
| Pronghorn zone | Pronghorn Zone 4 (Lassen) |
| Nearest towns | Patton Village (next to it), Herlong (next to it) and Doyle (2 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Doyle Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Doyle WA needs no hunting pass.
CDFW lists no rules for Doyle Wildlife Area beyond those for every wildlife area (Sections 550 and 551).
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Doyle 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 Doyle Wildlife Area?
This wildlife area gets its name from the nearby town of Doyle. It was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1968. It is made up of approximately 10,400 acres of foothills and alluvial terraces. The habitats present include Great basin shrub types, with riparian habitat along Long Valley Creek. Common plant species includes bitterbrush, curl-leaf mountain mahogany, big sage, and California juniper. Many of these plant species are important in the diet of the local deer population. Wildlife includes waterfowl, bobcats, coyotes, badgers, and various raptor species.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Deer, rabbit, waterfowl, quail, and dove may be present.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Doyle Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Doyle Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Doyle WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X6b | 10,395 | 134 deer taken in 2025, 47.7% hunter success; 2026 general season October 3 to 18 |
| Pronghorn Zone 4 (Lassen) | 10,395 | 65 pronghorn taken in 2023 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Doyle WA: hunt A-12 (Zone X-6b Archery Hunt) and hunt M-3 (Doyle 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 Doyle Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 25,565 acres of BLM land, 10,525 acres of CDFW land, 10,086 acres of other state or federal land and 8,671 acres of national forest.
How do you get to Doyle Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: 2 miles north of Doyle at Laver Crossing, County Road 346, east of Hwy 395 to Hackstaff Rd.
CDFW's location note: Just southeast of Honey Lake off Highway 395. Highways within 8 miles: US 395. Nearest towns: Patton Village (next to it), Herlong (next to it), Doyle (2 miles) and Milford (9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Doyle 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 Doyle Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Doyle Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Doyle Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone X6b, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 134 deer were taken in Zone X6b in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Doyle Wildlife Area?
Patton Village (next to it), Herlong (next to it) and Doyle (2 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
Get a California hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for California are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, California included.
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, Doyle 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.