Unit X3a Zone X3a
Big brushy plateau and timbered mountain country south of Alturas
Northeast California X-zones — Modoc Plateau / Warner front · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,535
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone X-3a sits on the Modoc Plateau south of Alturas, straddling Modoc and Lassen counties along the Highway 139/299/395 triangle. It is a premium limited-draw zone for migratory Rocky Mountain mule deer, ranging from open sage-and-juniper flats up into rugged, heavily timbered mountains. Public Modoc and Lassen National Forest and BLM tracts have excellent access despite substantial interspersed private ranch and timber land, and the surrounding plateau also supports pronghorn and Rocky Mountain elk on separate limited draws.
Terrain
High-desert plateau of sage flats, juniper rims, buttes, and reservoirs rising into steep, rugged, brushy canyons and densely timbered mountains and lookout peaks. Terrain and vegetation can be very rough and thick.
Cover: Highly varied — low sage, big sagebrush, and bitterbrush grading through juniper woodland and aspen into hardwood-conifer and dense mixed-conifer forest on the higher mountains.
Landmarks: Adin Mountain · Ash Valley · Likely Mountain · Fox Mountain · Knox Mountain · Washington Mountain · Cal Pines · Bullard Ridge
Access
A lot of private land is scattered through the zone, but extensive tracts of public Modoc and Lassen forest and BLM offer excellent access. Written permission is required for private and trespass is strictly enforced. County, USFS, and BLM roads branch off the main highways into public country; PLM ranches provide additional licensed opportunity.
Managers: Modoc NF, Lassen NF, BLM Alturas Field Office, BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Private ranch and timber
Access points: Highway 139 (central zone) · Highway 299 (northern zone, via Alturas/Adin) · US-395 (eastern zone, via Likely) · Forest and BLM roads off the highway triangle
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMigratory Rocky Mountain mule deer. A premium draw with a solid success reputation for the plateau. Deer move to higher elevations in late spring and drop below the snowline when the first hard fall storms hit — often mid-season — so hunters should be ready to follow deer to lower country after weather.
- →Hunt stands of bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, and tall sagebrush
- →Focus recent burns that have re-sprouted with brush — prime forage magnets
- →Work productive areas like Adin Mountain, Likely Mountain, Fox Mountain, Ash Valley, and Bullard Ridge
- →Glass and hike away from roads; deer densities are low and road-visible deer are few
- →Late-season, shift lower after storms as deer drop below the snowline
Pronghorn
common qualityThe Modoc Plateau holds strong pronghorn numbers on the open sage country around the zone; a separate premium limited draw rather than a deer opportunity.
- →Glass open sage flats and valley bottoms like Ash Valley
- →Separate pronghorn draw — apply well ahead
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityRocky Mountain elk range portions of the Modoc/Lassen plateau; a separate very limited elk draw covers the area.
- →Locate elk in timber-and-meadow mosaics
- →Separate limited elk tag — not a deer tag
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the timbered mountains and brushy burns through the western and higher portions of the zone.
- →Hunt conifer edges, aspen, and re-sprouted burns
- →Glass mast and berry pockets at first and last light
Pro tips
- →Build a list of the named producers — Adin Mountain, Likely Mountain, Fox Mountain, Ash Valley — and scout them before the season
- →Chase the burns: brush re-sprouting after fire or logging concentrates deer better than mature timber or decadent brush
- →Cover ground on foot with good optics; road glassing alone won't cut it on this low-density plateau
- →Watch mountain mahogany and bitterbrush pockets near timber edges for bedded bucks
- →Time your effort to weather — a mid-season storm can move deer down and turn a slow hunt around
Watch out for
- !Substantial scattered private ranch and timber — get written permission, trespass enforced
- !Heavy rain makes plateau and forest roads difficult to impassable
- !Low deer density demands real scouting and hiking
- !Wildlife-water setback rules (200 yards / 30 minutes)
- !Fire-season open-flame restrictions
Logistics
Alturas anchors services to the north with Adin, Likely, and Bieber closer in along the highway triangle. Weather is usually hot and dry but early storms occur; snow is rare but heavy rain can make plateau and forest roads very difficult, so carry a shovel, good spare, and extra water. Designated campgrounds range from primitive to developed, and dispersed camping is generally allowed on BLM and USFS land with a fire permit.
Nearest towns: Alturas, Adin, Likely, Canby, Bieber
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone X-3a and Area-Specific Archery Hunt A-5 (2025) · CDFW Deer Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit X3a in California?
- Unit X3a (Zone X3a) covers about 1,535 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 X3a?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Modoc NF, Lassen NF, BLM Alturas Field Office, BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Private ranch and timber. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X3a?
- 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 X3a on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.