Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area is 4,110 acres of CDFW land in Sutter County, 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 landNational wildlife refugeSutter Bypass WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 4,110 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 2, North Central Region |
| County | Sutter |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Closures | Those portions of the east and west levees of the area adjacent to the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) are closed to hunting. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone D4, Zone D3 |
| Nearest towns | Nicolaus (next to it), East Nicolaus (2 mi) and Sutter (3 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Sutter Bypass 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 | Those portions of the east and west levees of the area adjacent to the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) are closed to hunting. The west levee of the area is closed to hunting from the northern boundary of the SNWR south to Oswald/Hughes Road. The east levee of the area is closed to hunting from the northern boundary of the SNWR south to the SNWR checking station parking lot. The remaining portion of the east levee from the SNWR parking lot south to the southern boundary of the SNWR is closed to hunting pursuant to Section 625 of these regulations. |
| 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 Sutter Bypass 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 Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
The Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1968. It consists of the Tisdale Bypass and two long, narrow parcels on either side of the Sutter Bypass, for a total of approximately 3,200 acres.
Typical riparian tree growth occurs within the boundaries of the area. These trees include black willow, Fremont cottonwood, button willow, blue elderberry, white alder, and others. The understory consists mainly of roundstem bulrush, California blackberry, California wild grape, western raspberry, and others. Grasses such as wild rye form dominant ground cover in many places. Animal species include deer, skunk, beaver, fox, rabbit, bats, salmon, catfish, and others. Both Sutter Bypass channels have catfish, bullheads, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, black crappie and chinook salmon.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Good populations of deer (Zone D-4), waterfowl, and mourning dove. Valley quail, pheasant, rabbits, and turkeys may also be found in the wildlife area. The best opportunity is at the Tisdale Bypass in the brushy/weedy habitat.
CDFW lists big game, small game, upland game birds and waterfowl hunting for the area, and also fishing and wildlife viewing.
From CDFW's page for Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Sutter Bypass WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone D4 | 4,098 | 905 deer taken in 2025, 19% hunter success; 2026 general season September 26 to November 1 |
| Deer Zone D3 | 11 | 2,509 deer taken in 2025, 19% hunter success; 2026 general season September 26 to November 1 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Sutter Bypass WA: hunt J-17 (Blue Canyon Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt), hunt G-19 (Sutter-Yuba Wildlife Areas Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt J-16 (Bucks Mountain-Nevada City Apprentice 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 Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 6,857 acres of CDFW land and 2,594 acres of national wildlife refuge.
How do you get to Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: CA 99, CA 70, CA 45, CA 113 and I-5. Nearest towns: Nicolaus (next to it), East Nicolaus (2 miles), Sutter (3 miles) and Meridian (3 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Sutter Bypass 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: Those portions of the east and west levees of the area adjacent to the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) are closed to hunting. The west levee of the area is closed to hunting from the northern boundary of the SNWR south to Oswald/Hughes Road. The east levee of the area is closed to hunting from the northern boundary of the SNWR south to the SNWR checking station parking lot. The remaining portion of the east levee from the SNWR parking lot south to the southern boundary of the SNWR is closed to hunting pursuant to Section 625 of these regulations.
Can you camp on Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area in?
Zone D4 (4,098 acres) and Zone D3 (11 acres), 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 Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area?
Nicolaus (next to it), East Nicolaus (2 miles) and Sutter (3 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, Sutter Bypass 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.