Feather River Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Feather River Wildlife Area is 2,433 acres of CDFW land in Sutter and Yuba counties, in CDFW's North Central 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 D4, where CDFW estimates 905 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.
CDFW landFeather River WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 2,433 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 2, North Central Region |
| Counties | Sutter and Yuba |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Closures | Closed to hunting February 1 through June 30 except for the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone D4 |
| Nearest towns | Nicolaus (next to it), Plumas Lake (next to it) and East Nicolaus (2 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Feather River Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Feather River WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Closures and restrictions | Whole area | Closed to hunting February 1 through June 30 except for the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. The Shanghai Bend Unit is closed to hunting. No person shall enter that portion of the O'Connor Lakes Management Unit marked as closed to entry from March 1 through June 30. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Feather River 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 Feather River Wildlife Area?
The Feather River Wildlife Area is approximately 2,800 acres of dense riparian overstory of valley oaks and cottonwoods, with an understory of wild grape, pipevine, and California rose. This riparian habitat supports a wide variety of wildlife, including coyotes, river otters, ash-throated flycatchers, warblers, phoebes, and numerous waterfowl species. Abbott and O'Connor Lakes are within this area. The area includes six units: Abbot Lake, O'Connor Lakes, Star Bend, Nelson Slough, Lake of the Woods, and Shanghai Bend.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Game species include deer, rabbit, tree squirrel, waterfowl, wild turkey, pheasant, quail, and dove.
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing, fishing and hiking trails.
From CDFW's page for Feather River Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Feather River Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Feather River WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D4 | 2,433 | 905 deer taken in 2025, 19% hunter success; 2026 general season September 26 to November 1 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Feather River WA: hunt J-17 (Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt G-19 (Sutter-Yuba Wildlife Areas Either-Sex Deer Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Feather River Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 3,854 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Feather River Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: Access from Star Bend fishing access on Feather River Blvd.
CDFW's location note: 10 miles south of Marysville and Yuba City on the Feather River. Highways within 8 miles: CA 70, CA 99, CA 113, CA 65 and CA 20. Nearest towns: Nicolaus (next to it), Plumas Lake (next to it), East Nicolaus (2 miles) and Rio Oso (2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Feather River 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. CDFW's closure: Closed to hunting February 1 through June 30 except for the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted. The Shanghai Bend Unit is closed to hunting. No person shall enter that portion of the O'Connor Lakes Management Unit marked as closed to entry from March 1 through June 30.
Can you camp on Feather River Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Feather River Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Feather River Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone D4, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 905 deer were taken in Zone D4 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Feather River Wildlife Area?
Nicolaus (next to it), Plumas Lake (next to it) and East Nicolaus (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, Feather River 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.