Hunting

Hunting Northern California

Plumas County offers a variety of challenges for hunters when hunting in northern California. Deer, bear, and duck hunting are the most popular, but hunters also can bag geese, quail, band-tailed pigeons, grouse, chukar, and squirrels. 

Bear Hunting


Plumas County ranks among the top five in the state for annual bear harvests. The Department of Fish and Game issues tags for California black bears by a quota system.

Deer Hunting

Deer hunting spreads throughout the county in three main zones: D3, X6a-b, and C4. Hunters must draw for a limited number of tags in the highly-prized X zones. Both X zones are toward the eastern end of Plumas County and on into Lassen County.

Bird and Waterfowl

Bird and waterfowl hunters can also have a field day in Plumas County. There is some tremendous mountain quail hunting, especially during the first week of the opener. The season begins in the fall and extends through January.

Excellent duck and geese hunting is offered at the north end of Lake Almanor near Chester. Also, good spots for ducks are Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, Antelope Lake, and Round Valley Reservoir.

Sportsmen should check their Department of Fish and Game booklets for the boundaries of these zones and season opening dates. Or visit DFG’s website.

Shooting Ranges

Visitors who might want to practice their marksmanship are invited to join local gun clubs that hold trap and target shooting events and junior trap shoots. These include the Quincy Sports Shooters Association (Gopher Hill Range), (530) 394-8390, www.quincyshooting.com; Sierra Valley Gun Club (Beckwourth Range), (530) 832-5959; and the Westwood Rifle and Pistol Club (Westwood-Lake Almanor Range), (530) 596-4116.

Phase-out of lead ammunition for hunting in California continues on July 1, 2016, when non-lead ammunition will be required when hunting with shotguns for upland game birds (except for dove, quail, and snipe), small game mammals, fur-bearing mammals and nongame birds except for when hunting at licensed game bird clubs. Non-lead ammunition will also be required when taking wildlife with shotguns for depredation purposes anywhere in the state.

Starting July 1, 2019, hunters must use non-lead ammunition when taking any animal anywhere in the state for any purpose.
More information on the phase-out of lead ammunition for hunting in California can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/lead-free/.

Know Before You

  • Follow the state laws and regulations pertaining to hunting
  • Be aware  of opening and closing dates for season you are hunting
  • Forests and grasslands may place some areas as off limits to hunting
  • If you are sure of the rules check with local forest rangers
  • If hunting on private property make sure to have permission

Additional Resources

Big Game Hunting Plumas National Forest
Small Game Hunting Plumas National Forest
Almanor Ranger District: 530-258-2141
Lassen National Forest

 

 

Discover more of Plumas County
Places to stay in Plumas County
Quincy

Beautiful treed park with great internet tucked away from Highway 70 in Quincy, with rivers, lakes, and recreation areas not far outside of town.

Quincy

At bucks lake a quarter mile from marina. We are up in the northern Sierras Many places to fish and bike in the mountains. Close to the PCT trail

Quincy

Has a small-town atmosphere that will refresh your spirit. Enjoy watching the sunset over Spanish Peak from your own porch.