Unit A (North Unit 160) Zone A (North Unit 160)
Early-season Columbian blacktail across the inner North Coast Ranges
North Coast Ranges — Zone A (North Unit) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
9,068
sq mi
Public land
25%
approx.
Elevation
200–7,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Zone A is California's largest deer zone and its top overall blacktail producer, running the Coast Ranges from the Oregon border south to Santa Barbara County. This northern unit covers the inner Coast Ranges around Clear Lake, the Napa and Mendocino highlands, and the Cache Creek country — a mosaic of oak savanna, chamise chaparral, and Douglas-fir/tanoak ridges. It is heavily private (cattle ranch and vineyard country) with important pockets of Mendocino National Forest, BLM, and the Cache Creek Wildlife Area available to public hunters. Zone A opens one of the earliest general rifle seasons in the West.
Terrain
Steep, folded inner Coast Range ridges and canyons rising from oak-grass valleys to fir-clad crests; the Mendocino NF backbone tops out near Snow Mountain and Anthony Peak.
Cover: Blue-oak and interior-live-oak savanna and woodland on the lower slopes, dense chamise-manzanita chaparral on south faces, and Douglas-fir, tanoak, and ponderosa on the higher north slopes. Grassy ranch flats and vineyard edges hold early-season deer.
Landmarks: Clear Lake · Cache Creek Wildlife Area · Snow Mountain Wilderness · Cow Mountain (BLM) · Mendocino National Forest · Napa/Lake county highlands
Access
The valleys and lower foothills are almost entirely private ranchland — knock on doors, buy trespass access, or hunt a Private Lands Management (PLM) ranch. The reliable public ground is the Mendocino NF crest, BLM Cache Creek/Cow Mountain/Knoxville blocks, and the Cache Creek Wildlife Area, all reachable by forest and BLM roads. Verify boundaries against a parcel layer; private inholdings are common inside the forest.
Managers: Private ranch and vineyard land, USFS Mendocino NF, BLM (Ukiah Field Office / Cache Creek, Cow Mountain, Knoxville), CDFW Wildlife Areas (Cache Creek)
Access points: Mendocino NF roads off Hwy 20 and Elk Mountain · Cache Creek Wildlife Area (Hwy 20 corridor) · BLM Cow Mountain Recreation Area near Ukiah · Knoxville / Berryessa BLM off Hwy 128
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
abundant opportunityColumbian blacktail are widespread and the reason Zone A leads the state in total harvest; roughly a 30% success rate. Bucks are mostly forked-horn to small 3-points, with heavier bucks in low-pressure private chaparral. Early September heat keeps deer nocturnal and tied to water and shade.
- →Hunt the first legal light on oak-grass benches and chaparral edges before the heat pushes deer into brush
- →Glass north-facing brush pockets and burn/regrowth from a high vantage at dawn and last light
- →Work water sources, seeps, and stock ponds during the hot early season
- →Focus on chaparral-to-oak transition lines where deer feed and bed within a short move
- →Chase a PLM ranch tag for older-age-class bucks and low competition
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears occupy the timbered Mendocino NF crest and brushy canyons and can be taken on a general bear tag during the fall.
- →Glass mast-heavy oak slopes and berry patches in early fall
- →Watch acorn flats on the forest fringe once nuts drop
Pro tips
- →Secure private access early — the best low-elevation blacktail ground is behind gates and PLM ranches book up
- →Scout water: in the September heat, deer patterns collapse onto seeps, ponds, and creek shade
- →Use the forest crest and BLM blocks as your public fallback and glass the surrounding brush at first light
- →Look for recent burns and regrowth chaparral — new browse concentrates deer
- →Pack meat out fast and get it on ice; early-season warmth spoils game quickly
Watch out for
- !Extensive private ranch and vineyard land — trespass boundaries are strict, confirm with a parcel map
- !Extreme early-season fire danger and possible forest/road closures
- !Water is scarce and temperatures high at the opener
- !Rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak are abundant in the chaparral
- !Private inholdings scattered inside the Mendocino NF
Logistics
Base out of Ukiah, Lakeport, or Willits for lodging, fuel, and groceries; the Mendocino NF and Clear Lake area is a 2-3 hour drive from the Bay Area. Carry water for the early heat, a good chainsaw/tire kit for rough forest roads, and coolers to protect meat in warm September temperatures.
Nearest towns: Ukiah, Lakeport, Clearlake, Willits, Williams
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone A Deer Hunting Zone Description · CDFW Deer Hunting · USFS Mendocino National Forest · BLM Ukiah Field Office - Cache Creek / Cow Mountain
FAQ
- How big is Unit A (North Unit 160) in California?
- Unit A (North Unit 160) (Zone A (North Unit 160)) covers about 9,068 square miles, ranging from roughly 200 to 7,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit A (North Unit 160)?
- Approximately 25% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch and vineyard land, USFS Mendocino NF, BLM (Ukiah Field Office / Cache Creek, Cow Mountain, Knoxville), CDFW Wildlife Areas (Cache Creek). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit A (North Unit 160)?
- Blacktail Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official California agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit A (North Unit 160) on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.