Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area is 5,099 acres of CDFW land in Siskiyou 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 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 landHorseshoe Ranch WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 5,099 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
| County | Siskiyou |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Camping | Allowed. |
| Deer zone | Zone C1 |
| Elk zone | Siskiyou |
| Pronghorn zone | Pronghorn Zone 1 (Mount Dome) |
| Nearest towns | Hornbrook (4 mi), Montague (16 mi) and Yreka (17 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Horseshoe Ranch WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | Whole area | Allowed. |
| Firearms | Whole area | During spring turkey season only shotguns and archery equipment may be used. |
| 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 Horseshoe Ranch 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 Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area?
The Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area is comprised of approximately 5,000 acres of CDFW property, supplemented by an additional 4,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands. Formerly a working cattle ranch, the terrain consists of rolling to steep hills of shrubs, oaks, and conifers surrounding Scotch Creek and several of its tributaries. Bobcats, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, and golden eagles are among the many species that can be seen here.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Dove, quail, turkey, and deer may be present
CDFW lists big game, small game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing and camping.
From CDFW's page for Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Horseshoe Ranch WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone C1 | 5,098 | 284 deer taken in 2025, 30.1% hunter success; 2026 general season September 19 to October 18 |
| Siskiyou elk zone | 5,097 | 20 elk taken in 2022 |
| Pronghorn Zone 1 (Mount Dome) | 5,098 | 1 pronghorn taken in 2023 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Horseshoe Ranch 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 Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 6,132 acres of BLM land, 5,038 acres of CDFW land and 694 acres of national forest.
How do you get to Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: Take the Hornbrook exit off Interstate 5 and proceed east (right) on Copco Road for 10 miles to the confluence of Scotch and Camp creeks; turn left into the entrance of the Wildlife Area.
Highways within 8 miles: I-5. Nearest towns: Hornbrook (4 miles), Montague (16 miles), Yreka (17 miles) and Grenada (22 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Horseshoe Ranch 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 Horseshoe Ranch 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 Horseshoe Ranch 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 Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area?
Hornbrook (4 miles), Montague (16 miles) and Yreka (17 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, Horseshoe Ranch 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.