2023 California Bow Hunting Report and Best Zones, local Hunting Clubs and Ranches
If you’re a bow
hunter and if you buy an archery-only
tag, deer hunters are rapidly
learning that Northern California is the
place to be this fall. And, Hunters
who purchase archery deer tags can actually start hunting deer early in July,
when the Zone A deer season opens. See our hunting map for more deer zone information.
Furthermore, archery only tags allow bow hunters to hunt
deer in nearly every zone in the state, but check with the fish and game to make sure
before going. Rifle hunters, on the other hand, must buy a deer tag for a
certain zone and remain in that zone throughout the season while bow hunters
can cross boundaries, and extend their hunting season
from July until November if they purchase a second archery-only tag.
Compared to other western states, Northern California is a
great choice for deer with a bow
because it’s such a flexible hunting
opportunity. Around mid-August every
year is when all of the North State’s prime bow hunting zones open to archery
hunting, and while most close late September.
According to our hunting report, the top bow hunting counties, in order, are Plumas, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Shasta, Modoc and Tehama:
(Note the prime areas in our hunting map for these zones).
Plumas County: This county is numero uno, as it’s covered with trees and brush and there's a lot of cover
and deer. Plumas County consists of zones X6 and D3 and both are loaded with
mule deer and blacktail cross. The two years dry weather but recent
thunderstorms have brought a little rain which has cooled the forest floor.
Stalking conditions will be much better in the Plumas National Forest this year.
Above Lake Davis around
Crocker Mountain is always good in the Clover Valley area. Another good area is
Grizzly Ridge and the Bucks Lake area is another good bet for bowmen, as
is Mt. Ararat and Lookout Mountain, and finally
the Gold
Lake Basin.
Siskiyou County: This huge zone that borders Oregon offers some excellent mule deer hunting on
public land. Hunters who have access to
horses, or who want to hike in and get away from the road and foot traffic,
should consider the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area. Hunters will find some dandy bucks in this portion of Zone D1 ,
and those with horses will have a big
advantage over those who don’t. Northwest Siskiyou County looks excellent, particularly
along the Klamath River
The eastern half of
Siskiyou County offers good public hunting throughout the Klamath, Modoc and Siskiyou
national forests. Our hunting report concludes water will be a key source as the season progresses and
springs dry up. Traditionally, top hunting areas are Medicine Lake, Indian
Spring Mountain, Harris Mountain and Mt. Dome.
Lassen County Bow hunting Prospects are good in zones X5a,
X5b, X5c, but hunters need special tags
to hunt period one in these.
Archery-only tags are no good here, but
hunters can hunt in X4, X3a and X6, all of which include part of Lassen County.
The deer will be concentrated at the highest
elevations. Then, deer will be on the
move between now and rifle season trying
to locate new water sources as old ones dry up.
The best hunting in X5b will be
in the north half of the zone,
including thc Cottonwood Mountains, Observation
Peak and Shinn Mountain, X5a tag holders will find bucks on top of Snowstorm Mountain, Fredonyer Peak and Shaffer Mountain.
X5c tag holders will
find bucks west of Eagle Lake in the timber
will find bucks west of Eagle Lake in the timber of Lassen
National Forest where there are high deer densities. On the south side,
hunting should be excellent in zone X6 which is open to archery only tag
holders.
Look around Diamond
Mountain and Bass Hill. Deer numbers appear to
be good here.
Trinity County: The biggest blacktail bucks in the
state are grown here, home of the
Weaverville buck herd which boasts the
best buck-to-doe ratios anywhere with more than
40 bucks per 100 does. The hot bow
hunting here is in the Trinity Alps and hunters
willing to put in a little effort will be rewarded with some dandy bucks, including some that make the
Pope & Young record book every
year. Along the Trinity River, sources
are seeing some good bucks during fishing trips. Hayfork and old burns are providing
excellent forage this year and antler growth is good.
Shasta County: Some excellent bucks available this year in
northeastern Shasta County, tipped biologist Dave Smith in Redding. The Cow
Creek herd, you can count on seeing some big, older bucks above Shasta Lake.
Burney, Old Station, Hat Creek, Hat Creek Rim
and local farm bucks in the foothills offer prime hunting this fall.
Don’t overlook the western half of
Whiskeytown Lake’s and its heavy cover, big bucks and good access.
Modoc County: Bow hunters
will find some good animals in the Warner Mountains of X3a . Fort
Bidwell offers big bucks, as does the
South Warner Wilderness. Western Modoc
County offers fair prospects in X2. Much
of the terrain is wide open, sagebrush and juniper that's difficult to bow hunt.
Tehama County: The
Yollo Bolly Wilderness in the Western half of the county offers good hunting
for hunters willing to pack in. Zone C4
and lots of bucks are taken below Lassen Park. That’s where the east Tehama
deer herd frequents. It is the largest
deer hear in the state. Also we suggest you try Mineral, Mill Creek and
Northeastern Plumas County above Lake Almanor.
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