Unit X3b Zone X3b
A premium limited-draw mule deer zone spanning the Warner Mountains, Devils Garden juniper flats and the high sage of far northeast California.
Northeast California — Warner Mountains & Modoc Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,545
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–9,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone X-3b is a large premium X-zone covering the northeast corner of California in portions of Lassen and Modoc counties, from the Oregon and Nevada lines south to Madeline. Its centerpiece is the Warner Mountains — a north-south fault-block range topped by the South Warner Wilderness — flanked by the sagebrush plateaus and juniper country of the Modoc Plateau. It holds migratory Rocky Mountain mule deer that summer high in the Warners and aspen pockets and drop toward lower sage and juniper as fall storms arrive. At roughly 1,545 square miles this is classic high-desert-meets-timber country and one of the state's better-quality draws, running around 30 percent success.
Terrain
The Warner Mountains rise as a steep fault-block spine — the South Warner Wilderness tops out near 9,900 feet at Eagle Peak — dropping west to the Devils Garden juniper flats and Goose Lake basin and east to Surprise Valley and the Nevada line.
Cover: A full high-desert-to-alpine gradient: low sage, sagebrush and bitterbrush on the flats and lower slopes, juniper woodland across the plateau, aspen stringers and mountain mahogany mid-slope, hardwood-conifer and true fir higher, and alpine near the wilderness crest.
Landmarks: South Warner Wilderness · Eagle Peak / Warner Mountains crest · Goose Lake · Fandango Pass · Likely Tables · Sugar Hill · Blue Lake · Cow Head Lake
Access
Public ground is administered by the Modoc National Forest and BLM and there are extensive tracts with good road access, but the zone is a genuine mix — valley bottoms and ranchland are private, and written permission is required to hunt them. The South Warner Wilderness is foot-and-stock access only and use is permit-regulated. State Game Refuge 1-C and the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge inside the zone are closed to hunting.
Managers: USFS Modoc NF, BLM (Alturas Field Office), BLM (Surprise Field Office), Private ranch and timber
Access points: State Highway 395 (western boundary corridor) · State Highway 299 (east-west through Alturas) · County Road 1 (eastern Surprise Valley side) · Modoc NF roads into the Warners from Likely and Cedarville · Devils Garden plateau BLM/USFS road net
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMigratory Rocky Mountain mule deer are the marquee game and the reason X-3b is a draw-only tag. Success runs around 30 percent — well above general-zone grade — and the zone produces mature bucks for hunters who get away from roads. Deer summer high in the Warners and aspen country and migrate down into sage and juniper as storms push in, often during the season.
- →Glass bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, aspen edges and tall sage at first and last light
- →Hunt the Warner Mountains high country early, then follow deer down as fall storms move them
- →Work the Likely Tables, Sugar Hill and Devils Garden benches
- →Backpack or use stock into the South Warner Wilderness to escape pressure
- →Time later hunts to storm fronts that trigger the downhill migration
Pronghorn
limited qualityThe Modoc Plateau sage flats in and around X-3b are core California pronghorn range. Antelope are hunted here only on a separate, very hard-to-draw tag rather than on the deer tag, but they are a defining part of this northeast-corner country.
- →Reserved for the separate drawn pronghorn tag
- →Glass the open Devils Garden and Surprise Valley sage flats
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds on the open plateau
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered Warner Mountains and are taken incidentally by deer hunters and on their own hunts in the forested and aspen country.
- →Work aspen stands and berry patches in late summer and fall
- →Glass north-slope brush in the Warners
- →Check drainage bottoms and springs in dry years
Pro tips
- →Draw odds and tag quotas are the first hurdle — build preference points before you plan the hunt
- →Warm early conditions mean go high in the Warners; the deer come to you when the weather breaks
- →Get the Modoc National Forest map plus USGS topos — the wilderness and plateau road net is confusing
- →Recent burns and re-sprouted brush grow prime browse; key on regrowth a few seasons after fire
- →Verify boundaries: State Game Refuge 1-C and Modoc NWR are closed, and valley ranchland is private
Watch out for
- !Premium draw-only tag — you cannot buy this over the counter
- !Private ranch and timber ground in the valleys requires written permission; trespass is enforced
- !South Warner Wilderness is non-motorized and permit-regulated
- !Early fall storms can make dirt and plateau roads impassable — carry recovery gear
- !Water is scarce on the sage flats; the artificial-water 200-yard rule applies
Logistics
Alturas is the practical hub for fuel, groceries, lodging and the Modoc NF supervisor's office, with Cedarville serving the Surprise Valley side. Expect long gravel drives and dispersed and developed Modoc NF campgrounds; camping is allowed on most BLM and USFS ground. This is remote country — carry recovery gear, extra water and fuel, and expect little to no cell service off the highways.
Nearest towns: Alturas, Cedarville, Likely, Davis Creek, Fort Bidwell
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW — Zone X-3b and Area-Specific Archery Hunt A-6, 2025 General Deer Hunting Information · CDFW — Deer Hunting Zones and Maps · USFS — Modoc National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit X3b in California?
- Unit X3b (Zone X3b) covers about 1,545 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 9,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit X3b?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Modoc NF, BLM (Alturas Field Office), BLM (Surprise Field Office), Private ranch and timber. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X3b?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 X3b on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.