Unit B4 Zone B4
The Lost Coast blacktail zone — steep King Range wilderness rising straight from the Pacific, mostly private with a few hard-won BLM tracts.
Northwest California — The Lost Coast & King Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
936
sq mi
Public land
15%
approx.
Elevation
0–4,100
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Zone B-4 is the coastal Lost Coast block in Mendocino and Humboldt counties, running from Hardy Creek north up the Pacific shoreline to the mouth of the Eel River and inland to the South Fork Eel and Highway 101. Its heart is the King Range National Conservation Area, where the ridgeline climbs to over 4,000 feet within a couple miles of the surf. This is a heavily private, low-tag-density blacktail zone: except for BLM lands, public access is extremely limited, and the southern half is so steep that most hunting concentrates on the coast, the King Range and the country around Honeydew, Ettersburg and Shelter Cove.
Terrain
Precipitous Lost Coast terrain — the King Range crest rises from sea level to King Peak (about 4,088 ft) in just a few miles. Very steep, dense, fog-swept coastal mountains cut by the Mattole and Eel river drainages; the northern portion is gentler than the near-vertical south.
Cover: Coastal scrub and grassland on the exposed slopes and marine terraces, mixed chaparral and oak-woodland inland, and hardwood-conifer to dense conifer (Douglas-fir, redwood) in the sheltered drainages.
Landmarks: King Range National Conservation Area · King Peak · Mattole River / Honeydew · Shelter Cove · Eel & South Fork Eel rivers · Humboldt Redwoods State Park (closed to hunting)
Access
Overwhelmingly private, and except for BLM ground public access is extremely limited — written permission is essential and trespass laws are strictly enforced. The King Range NCA is the primary public opportunity; best reached from Honeydew, though most BLM roads are unmarked. Humboldt Redwoods State Park is closed to hunting, and overnight use of the King Range Wilderness requires a permit under a daily quota (via recreation.gov).
Managers: private timber & ranch, BLM — King Range NCA (Arcata & Ukiah field offices), state park (closed to hunting)
Access points: Highway 101 (eastern edge) · Mattole Road (Ferndale–Petrolia–Honeydew) · Honeydew (best King Range access) · Shelter Cove / Ettersburg roads · Wilderness trailheads (foot access)
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian black-tailed deer, resident coastal animals that move up and down the slopes with weather rather than migrating far. General-season B-zone hunt with an early late-August opener typical of the coast; total harvest is low because so little of the zone is public. The best odds are on the King Range and coastal fringe where deer work scrub, brush and oak edges.
- →Concentrate on the King Range NCA and the coastal marine terraces — glass open scrub and grass slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the gentler northern portion; the southern half is brutally steep
- →Work brush fields, burns and oak edges where deer feed
- →Chase acorn drops in the inland oak-woodland
- →Secure written permission on private ground around Honeydew, Ettersburg and Petrolia well ahead of the season
Roosevelt Elk
limited qualityRoosevelt elk range the Lost Coast, the Eel River lowlands and the King Range fringe; this is a separate, very hard-to-draw limited elk tag, not part of the general deer hunt, but the zone sits in the heart of northwest California's Roosevelt elk country.
- →Glass coastal grasslands, river bottoms and marine terraces at first and last light
- →Focus on the Eel River lowlands and King Range edge
- →Treat it as a draw-only, scout-intensive opportunity
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in the wet, brushy coastal timber and are taken by deer hunters working the King Range and the forested drainages.
- →Glass brush fields, berry pockets and open slopes in the King Range mornings
- →Check acorn-bearing oak stands and creek bottoms
- →Hunt the sheltered conifer drainages away from the coast
Pro tips
- →Lock down private-land permission early — public ground is scarce and the King Range gets the pressure
- →Favor the northern half and the coastal terraces; the southern King Range is punishingly steep
- →Glass open scrub and grass slopes at first and last light where blacktail feed in the open
- →Reserve King Range Wilderness overnight permits ahead via recreation.gov
- →Plan meat-packouts carefully — country climbs thousands of feet straight off the beach
Watch out for
- !Mostly private land with strictly enforced trespass laws — no permission, no hunt
- !Humboldt Redwoods State Park is closed to hunting
- !King Range Wilderness overnight use is permit- and quota-limited
- !Extremely steep southern terrain and difficult packouts
- !Coastal fog, rain and slick unmarked BLM roads; fire-season closures
Logistics
Ferndale and Fortuna/Eureka on the north end and Garberville on Highway 101 to the south are the service hubs; Petrolia, Honeydew and Shelter Cove are the tiny gateway communities into the Lost Coast. Access is via the winding Mattole Road and unmarked BLM spurs — a spare tire, shovel and extra water are essentials, and fog, rain and slick steep roads are constant coastal hazards. Wilderness overnight use needs a quota permit.
Nearest towns: Ferndale, Petrolia, Honeydew, Shelter Cove, Garberville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone B-4 General Deer Hunting Information (2025) · CDFW Deer Hunting Zones · BLM King Range National Conservation Area
FAQ
- How big is Unit B4 in California?
- Unit B4 (Zone B4) covers about 936 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 4,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit B4?
- Approximately 15% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private timber & ranch, BLM — King Range NCA (Arcata & Ukiah field offices), state park (closed to hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit B4?
- Blacktail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, 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 B4 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.