Unit C2 Zone C2
Resident Cascade blacktail in the timbered wedge between Mount Shasta, Shasta Lake and the Pit River
Southern Cascades — Upper Sacramento & McCloud River country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
927
sq mi
Public land
—
approx.
Elevation
1,000–6,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone C-2 covers portions of eastern Siskiyou and northern Shasta counties, a wedge of Shasta-Trinity National Forest country bounded by Interstate 5 on the west, Highway 89 on the north and east, and the Pit River / Shasta Lake on the south. This is McCloud River and upper Sacramento River canyon terrain on the southwest flank of the southern Cascades, running from the arms of Shasta Lake up into fir and pine timber below Mount Shasta. Unlike the migratory herds farther east, C-2 deer are primarily resident Columbian black-tailed deer that move up and down the slopes with weather rather than making long seasonal migrations, so early-season hunts stay higher and cover pushes deer down after the first fall storms.
Terrain
Steep, dissected Cascade slopes and river canyons rising from Shasta Lake and the Pit/McCloud rivers up to timbered benches and volcanic ridges below Mount Shasta.
Cover: Mixed and montane chaparral, oak-woodland and hardwood on lower canyons, grading up through hardwood-conifer to dense fir and pine timber; brushfields of buckbrush, deerbrush and bitter cherry in old burns and cuts are the productive feed.
Landmarks: McCloud River · Upper Sacramento River canyon · Lake Britton · Shasta Lake · Grizzly Peak · Dead Horse Summit · Iron Canyon Reservoir · Hatchet Mountain
Access
A mix of public and private ground. Public lands are administered by the Shasta-Trinity and Lassen national forests and BLM, but this is Sierra Pacific Industries timber country, so the forest is a checkerboard of national forest and private industrial timberland — confirm ownership before you hunt and get written permission on private parcels. Interstate 5 frames the west, Highway 89 the north and east, and a dense web of USFS and BLM spur roads branch off into the timber.
Managers: USFS Shasta-Trinity NF, USFS Lassen NF, BLM Redding Field Office, Sierra Pacific Industries (private timber), private ranch
Access points: Interstate 5 corridor (McCloud, Dunsmuir, Shasta Lake City) · Highway 89 north and east (McCloud, Bartle, Lake Britton) · USFS roads off Highway 89 into McCloud River / Bartle Gap country · Iron Canyon Reservoir and Squaw Creek roads north of Shasta Lake
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityResident Columbian black-tailed deer are the primary quarry, holding on timbered slopes and brushfields and shifting elevation with weather rather than migrating; expect an opportunity-grade general C-zone hunt where legwork away from roads pays off.
- →Glass brushfields, old burns and clearcuts that have re-sprouted with buckbrush and deerbrush at first and last light
- →Early season work the higher timber along Highway 89 and Red Mountain; after storms drop to Lake Britton and the ridges around Shasta Lake
- →Hunt oak/shrub transitions and get well off the road system — few deer are killed from the truck here
- →Still-hunt canyon-side cover in the McCloud and upper Sacramento drainages
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in the Shasta-Trinity timber, working berry patches, oak flats and riparian draws.
- →Glass open brush and berry slopes morning and evening
- →Hunt acorn-bearing oak stands in fall
- →Check riparian corridors and old burns for feeding bears
Pro tips
- →Treat the whole zone as huntable — CDFW notes hunting is good throughout, so don't stack up only on the named landmarks.
- →Chase weather, not the calendar: stay high early, then follow the deer down after the first storm.
- →Focus on regenerating brush in old burns, clearcuts and along roads where buckbrush and deerbrush provide feed.
- →Sort out the national-forest-vs-Sierra-Pacific checkerboard on a good ownership map before opening morning.
- →Get off the road system on foot — the more successful hunters here do the most hiking.
Watch out for
- !Sierra Pacific Industries and other private timber interlaced with national forest — carry an ownership map and get written permission before hunting private
- !Steep, rugged Cascade canyons and dense brush that punish careless off-trail travel
- !Fire-season closures and campfire restrictions on USFS/BLM land
- !Statewide non-lead ammunition requirement for all big game
- !Limited water and cell coverage on the backcountry spur roads
Logistics
McCloud and Mount Shasta on the I-5 corridor cover fuel, groceries and lodging on the west side; Burney serves the east side and Redding is the full-service hub to the south. Numerous USFS campgrounds are scattered through the zone, from primitive sites to developed ones with water. Bring a good spare, extra water and recovery gear — the spur roads are rough and remote.
Nearest towns: McCloud, Mount Shasta, Dunsmuir, Burney, Redding
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone C-2 and Area-Specific Archery A-1 General Deer Hunt Information · CDFW Deer Hunting · USFS Shasta-Trinity National Forest — Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit C2 in California?
- Unit C2 (Zone C2) covers about 927 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit C2?
- 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 C2 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.