Unit X2 Zone X2
Devil's Garden sage-and-rimrock country fed by the Oregon deer migration
Northeast California X-zones — Modoc Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,622
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone X-2 covers the far northeast corner of California — the Devil's Garden and Goose Lake country of the Modoc Plateau, running north to the Oregon line and east to the Warner Mountains fringe. It is a premium limited-draw zone for migratory Rocky Mountain mule deer, many of which pour down out of Oregon after the first fall storms. The zone is a mix of public Modoc National Forest and BLM with extensive, well-accessed tracts and interspersed private ranch and timber, and the broader plateau also holds pronghorn and Rocky Mountain elk on separate limited draws.
Terrain
Rolling high-desert plateau of sage flats, junipered rims, and buttes broken by steep, rugged, brushy canyons and timbered mountains. Big open country with rimrock breaks and reservoirs.
Cover: Highly varied — low sage, big sagebrush, and bitterbrush on the flats grading into juniper woodland, aspen pockets, and hardwood-conifer to mixed-conifer forest in the higher and western reaches.
Landmarks: Devil's Garden · Goose Lake · Doublehead Mountain · Blue Mountain · Crowder Flat · Lost River · Boles Creek rims · Duncan Reservoir
Access
Extensive tracts of public forest and BLM with excellent road access, interspersed with private ranch and irrigated farmland. Written permission is required to hunt private and trespass is strictly enforced. County, USFS, and BLM roads branch off the main highways to reach public country; PLM ranches add licensed opportunity.
Managers: Modoc NF (Devil's Garden Ranger District), BLM Alturas Field Office, BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Private ranch and farmland, Private timber
Access points: Highway 139 (western zone) · Highway 299 (southern zone, via Alturas) · US-395 (eastern zone) · County Road 73 / Crowder Flat Road north from Alturas · County Road 48 west from Davis Creek
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMigratory Rocky Mountain mule deer. A premium draw prized for fewer tags and lower harvest pressure than neighboring zones. A large share of the deer migrate down from Oregon after stormy weather, so the herd builds late — hunters should chase the downward push as snow lowers.
- →Hunt bitterbrush stands, mountain mahogany near rimrock, and tall sagebrush
- →Glass the western shore of Goose Lake, Doublehead and Blue mountains, and buttes along Boles Creek and Lost River rims
- →Work recent burns and clearcuts that have re-sprouted into brush
- →Late-season, be ready to shift lower after storms as Oregon deer migrate in
- →Get off the roads and hike — most deer aren't visible from the truck
Pronghorn
common qualityThe Modoc Plateau / Devil's Garden holds one of California's strongest pronghorn populations; a separate, highly sought limited draw rather than a deer opportunity.
- →Glass open sage flats and low plateau country
- →Separate premium pronghorn draw — apply well ahead
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityRocky Mountain elk range the Devil's Garden country; a separate very limited elk draw exists for the area.
- →Locate elk in timber-and-meadow mosaics off the plateau
- →Separate limited elk tag — not covered by a deer tag
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the timbered southwestern and higher-elevation portions of the zone.
- →Hunt conifer edges and brushy re-sprouted burns
- →Focus on riparian and mast-producing pockets
Pro tips
- →Time and effort late in the season pays — this zone fills up as Oregon deer migrate in behind storms
- →Hunt the rims: mountain mahogany and bitterbrush near rimrock along Boles Creek and Lost River are classic buck country
- →Burns that have re-sprouted into brush are magnets — deer respond strongly to fire and timber-harvest disturbance here
- →Cover ground on foot with good glass; deer densities are low and road-visible deer are scarce
- →Consider stacking a pronghorn or elk application for the same plateau — it's premier antelope country
Watch out for
- !Interspersed private ranch and farmland — get written permission, trespass enforced
- !Heavy rain makes plateau roads impassable
- !Low deer density means lots of scouting and hiking
- !Wildlife-water setback rules (200 yards / 30 minutes; special quarter-mile guzzler rules in Lassen)
- !Fire-season open-flame restrictions
Logistics
Alturas is the hub for fuel, food, and lodging, with the plateau spreading north and east from there. Weather is usually hot and dry but early storms hit; snow is rare but heavy rain turns roads to gumbo, so carry a shovel, good spare, and extra water and use care off-road. Numerous designated campgrounds range from primitive to full-service, and dispersed camping is generally allowed on BLM and USFS land with a fire permit.
Nearest towns: Alturas, Davis Creek, Canby, Cedarville, Tulelake
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone X-2 and Area-Specific Archery Hunt A-4 (2025) · CDFW Deer Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit X2 in California?
- Unit X2 (Zone X2) covers about 1,622 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit X2?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Modoc NF (Devil's Garden Ranger District), BLM Alturas Field Office, BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Private ranch and farmland, Private timber. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X2?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain 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 X2 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.