Unit X4 Zone X4
A big premium X-zone straddling the Cascade-Modoc transition, from Eagle Lake mule deer country to the blacktail rims of Hat Creek.
Northeast California — Lassen & Eagle Lake / Hat Creek Country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,117
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
3,500–8,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone X-4 is a large premium X-zone in portions of Lassen and Shasta counties, spanning the country around Eagle Lake, the Hat Creek and Butte Creek rims, and the volcanic uplands where the Cascades meet the Modoc Plateau. It holds mostly migratory Rocky Mountain mule deer, with Columbian blacktail present in the western portion where the two subspecies intergrade. Deer summer high in the southern half of the zone and drift down and northwest as fall storms force them below snowline. At roughly 1,117 square miles it covers steep, brushy, volcanic terrain with extensive public forest and BLM ground, and runs a solid ~36 percent success on a draw-only tag.
Terrain
Volcanic tableland and steep, rugged rims — the Hat Creek and Butte Creek rims, lava benches and buttes — rising south toward the higher timbered mountains near the Lassen forest, with dense brush and conifer throughout.
Cover: Highly varied: low sage, sagebrush, bitterbrush and montane chaparral on the drier ground, aspen and juniper in the transition, and hardwood-conifer forest with oak stands higher and to the west. Deer respond strongly to burns, clearcuts and re-sprouted brush.
Landmarks: Eagle Lake · Upper & Lower Hat Creek Rim · Butte Creek Rim · Antelope Peak · Harvey Mountain · Crater Lake (Caribou area) · Ladder Butte · Little Valley
Access
There are extensive tracts of public land with excellent access administered by the Lassen and Shasta-Trinity National Forests and BLM, laced with county, Forest Service and BLM roads. It remains a public/private mix — ranch and private timber ground is scattered through the zone and written permission is required to hunt private property. Private timber-company land is generally open to public hunting but closed to camping at all times.
Managers: USFS Lassen NF, USFS Shasta-Trinity NF, BLM (Eagle Lake Field Office), BLM (Redding Field Office), Private ranch and timber
Access points: State Highway 139 (eastern X-4) · State Highway 44 (southwestern X-4) · State Highway 299 (northwestern X-4) · Eagle Lake road system · Hat Creek / Highway 89 corridor to the rims
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMigratory Rocky Mountain mule deer are the primary game and drive the draw-only X-4 tag. Success runs around 36 percent — strong for California — and the best early hunting is around Crater Lake, Eagle Lake, Antelope Peak and Harvey Mountain, shifting to Ladder Butte, Coble Mountain and the lower Hat Creek Rim as the season and storms progress.
- →Glass bitterbrush, mountain mahogany and tall sage stands at first and last light
- →Hunt the southern high country early, then follow deer down and northwest after storms
- →Work rim edges, burns and clearcut regrowth for concentrated browse
- →Get well off the road net — the more successful hunters do more hiking
- →Time later hunts to the first heavy fall storms that trigger migration
Blacktail Deer
limited opportunityColumbian black-tailed deer occur in the western portion of the zone where the mule deer range intergrades toward the Cascades. Best blacktail spots historically include the Upper Hat Creek Rim and Butte Creek Rim.
- →Hunt the western rims and brushier Cascade-side timber
- →Work oak flats during the acorn drop
- →Still-hunt dense brush edges at dawn where blacktail hold tight
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common through the timbered western and southern portions of the zone and are frequently taken incidentally by deer hunters.
- →Work oak flats during the fall acorn drop
- →Glass north-slope brush and berry patches
- →Check drainage bottoms and springs in dry years
Pro tips
- →Build preference points — X-4 is draw-only and quotas are limited
- →Plan around storm fronts; a hunt timed to the first migration push far outperforms a fixed date
- →The Lassen National Forest map is the single most useful map; add BLM Eagle Lake/Susanville/Burney/McArthur sheets to cover the whole zone
- →Recent burns and re-sprouted clearcuts grow prime browse — key on them a few seasons after fire
- →Know which subspecies you're hunting: mule deer dominate, blacktail hold the western rims
Watch out for
- !Premium draw-only tag — cannot be bought over the counter
- !Public/private checkerboard; private ranch ground needs written permission and timberland is closed to camping
- !Steep, rugged terrain with dense brush makes pack-outs hard — plan the retrieve
- !Early fall storms and heavy rain turn dirt roads treacherous
- !Water is scarce on the drier benches; the 200-yard artificial-water rule applies
Logistics
Susanville anchors the east side (Lassen NF supervisor's office and BLM Eagle Lake Field Office are both here) while Burney, Fall River Mills and McArthur serve the west. Expect numerous developed and dispersed campgrounds on Lassen and Shasta-Trinity NF and BLM ground; private timberland is open to hunting but never to camping. Terrain is steep, rugged and brushy — carry a shovel, spare tire, extra water and recovery gear, and expect thin cell coverage off the highways.
Nearest towns: Susanville, Burney, Fall River Mills, McArthur, Old Station
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW — Zone X-4 and Area-Specific Archery Hunt A-7, 2025 General Deer Hunting Information · CDFW — Deer Hunting Zones and Maps · USFS — Lassen National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit X4 in California?
- Unit X4 (Zone X4) covers about 1,117 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,500 to 8,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit X4?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Lassen NF, USFS Shasta-Trinity NF, BLM (Eagle Lake Field Office), BLM (Redding Field Office), Private ranch and timber. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X4?
- Mule Deer, 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 X4 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.