Lake Earl Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Lake Earl Wildlife Area is 5,977 acres of CDFW land in Del Norte 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. CDFW limits hunting here to: Waterfowl, coot, snipe, and moorhen only. It lies in deer Zone B1, where CDFW estimates 3,992 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.
BLMCDFW landNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceState parkLake Earl WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 5,977 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 1, Northern Region |
| County | Del Norte |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Waterfowl, coot, snipe, and moorhen only. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone B1 |
| Elk zone | Northwestern |
| Nearest towns | Fort Dick (next to it), Crescent City (2 mi) and Bertsch-Oceanview (3 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Lake Earl 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 | No dogs off leash on the wave-slope and/or in signed exclusion zones during the snowy plover nesting season March 1 through September 15. |
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. Possession of firearms or archery equipment for waterfowl hunting is permitted only during waterfowl season and only within the first 100 feet inland from the shoreline and on the water surface of Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Waterfowl, coot, snipe, and moorhen only. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Lake Earl 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 Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
Situated upon California's northern coast, Lake Earl Wildlife Area encompasses Lake Earl and Lake Tolowa, two lagoons connected by a deep channel known as the Narrows, and bordered by salt and fresh water marshes. The diverse array of wildlife here includes numerous bird species, beaver and black-tailed deer. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, boating, fishing, hiking and waterfowl hunting.
From CDFW's page for Lake Earl Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Lake Earl Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Lake Earl WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone B1 | 5,977 | 3,992 deer taken in 2025, 32.5% hunter success; 2026 general season September 19 to October 25 |
| Northwestern elk zone | 5,974 | 20 elk taken in 2022 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Lake Earl WA: hunt M-11 (Northwestern California Muzzleloading Rifle Buck Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025); CDFW Elk Hunt Statistics. Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 11,147 acres of state park land, 6,567 acres of CDFW land and 218 acres of National Park Service land.
How do you get to Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
CDFW's directions: From Highway 101 in Crescent City, head west on E Washinton Boulevard. Turn right onto Northcrest Drive. Turn left at Old Mill Road and proceed 1.4 miles to the Wildlife Area information center.
Highways within 8 miles: US 101, US 199 and CA 197. Nearest towns: Fort Dick (next to it), Crescent City (2 miles), Bertsch-Oceanview (3 miles) and Smith River (4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Waterfowl, coot, snipe, and moorhen only.
Can you camp on Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Lake Earl Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Lake Earl Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone B1, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 3,992 deer were taken in Zone B1 in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Lake Earl Wildlife Area?
Fort Dick (next to it), Crescent City (2 miles) and Bertsch-Oceanview (3 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, Lake Earl 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.