Truckee River Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Truckee River Wildlife Area is 5,369 acres of CDFW land in Nevada, Placer and Sierra 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 X7b, where CDFW estimates 32 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 forestCDFW landState parkOther state or federal landTruckee River WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 5,369 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 2, North Central Region |
| Counties | Nevada, Placer and Sierra |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone X7b |
| Nearest towns | Floriston (next to it), Truckee (2 mi) and Verdi (4 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Truckee River Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Truckee River WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. All firearms and archery equipment are prohibited on the Boca, Polaris and West River units. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Truckee 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 Truckee River Wildlife Area?
The Truckee River Wildlife Area was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1996. It includes five units (Canyon, Union Ice, Boca, Polaris) that total approximately 5,300 acres. These units consist of gently sloping river banks, and uplands scattered with lodgepole and Jeffrey pines. The open areas are covered with sage and bitterbrush. Alder and willow are clustered along the gravel bars in the river. This area was acquired primarily for fishing access. Natural reproduction supports a good trout fishery in the Truckee River.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Legal species include deer, bear, rabbit, squirrel, waterfowl, quail, and dove, however opportunities are limited due to the sizes of the parcels.
CDFW lists big game and upland game birds hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing and fishing.
From CDFW's page for Truckee River Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Truckee River Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Truckee River WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone X7b | 5,365 | 32 deer taken in 2025, 25% hunter success; 2026 general season October 3 to 18 |
CDFW deer hunts whose ground includes part of Truckee River WA: hunt J-20 (Zone X-7b Apprentice Either-Sex Deer Hunt) and hunt A-14 (Zone X-7b Archery Hunt).
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Truckee River Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 42,322 acres of national forest, 2,611 acres of other state or federal land and 1,814 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Truckee River Wildlife Area?
CDFW's location note: Approximately 2 to 7 miles east of Truckee. Highways within 8 miles: I-80, CA 89, CA 267 and CA 28. Nearest towns: Floriston (next to it), Truckee (2 miles), Verdi (4 miles) and Kings Beach (5 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Truckee 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.
Can you camp on Truckee River Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Truckee River Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Truckee River Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone X7b, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 32 deer were taken in Zone X7b in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Truckee River Wildlife Area?
Floriston (next to it), Truckee (2 miles) and Verdi (4 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, Truckee 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.