Unit X5b Zone X5b
Premium limited-draw mule deer in the open sage-and-juniper high desert east of Eagle Lake
Northeast California — Modoc Plateau & Madeline Plains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
934
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–6,500
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Zone X-5b covers the high, wide-open northeast corner of Lassen County (spilling toward the Modoc line), from the east shore of Eagle Lake across the Madeline Plains to the Nevada border near Ravendale and Termo. This is classic Great Basin country — big sage basins, juniper benches, and scattered rimrock timber holding a migratory mule deer herd plus resident deer and pronghorn. Tag numbers are low and success is high (about 63% over the last five years, roughly 31 deer taken annually), making it a genuine trophy-quality draw. Land is largely public — BLM plus Modoc and Lassen National Forest — with substantial private ranch checkerboard, so it hunts open and accessible for those who draw.
Terrain
Rolling basin-and-range high desert: broad sage flats and dry lakebeds (Madeline Plains, Grasshopper) rising to juniper benches, low volcanic buttes, and pine-topped rims. Hot dry days, cold nights, and the real chance of an early fall snow.
Cover: Big sagebrush, low sage, and bitterbrush across the flats grading into western juniper, mountain mahogany, and scattered ponderosa and Jeffrey pine on the higher rims and buttes.
Landmarks: Madeline Plains · Eagle Lake (east shore) · Dodge Reservoir · Horse Lake · Grasshopper Road country · Ravendale · Termo
Access
Extensive BLM and National Forest tracts interlaced with private ranch in a checkerboard pattern — verify boundaries carefully because the open sage makes it easy to drift onto private ground. County and BLM dirt roads branch off US 395 and Highway 139 throughout the zone; most public country is reachable by high-clearance vehicle. Written permission is required and enforced on private land.
Managers: BLM (Eagle Lake Field Office), Modoc National Forest (USFS), Lassen National Forest (USFS), Private ranch
Access points: US Highway 395 (Ravendale/Termo corridor) · State Highway 139 (northwest) · Grasshopper Road and BLM road network · County roads off Eagle Lake and Madeline
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMigratory Great Basin mule deer are the marquee draw, with the herd summering high and moving through the sage transition zones as fall weather builds. Scarce tags and big open public country produce well-above-average success and legitimate trophy potential.
- →Glass big — cover the sage basins and juniper benches with a spotting scope from vantage points rather than still-hunting
- →Focus on the sage/bitterbrush transition between summer and winter range where migrating bucks stage
- →Hunt water and the greener draws and springs in the dry early-season country
- →Time later hunts to storm fronts that push deer down and concentrate them
Pronghorn
common qualityThe Madeline Plains and surrounding sage are core California pronghorn range; antelope share the flats here under a separate, very limited draw.
- →Glass the wide-open basins and dry lakebeds at first and last light
- →Locate a buck the evening prior, then use terrain folds and rimrock to close the stalk
- →Watch the ranch alfalfa edges and water sources
Pro tips
- →Hunt the weather — the first hard fall front is the biggest single driver of deer movement in this open country
- →Optics over boot-miles: glass the basins and benches thoroughly before committing to a stalk
- →Key on water and the few green draws early season, then shift to sage transition zones later
- →Study the BLM/private checkerboard on a mapping app before you hunt — boundaries are invisible on the ground
- →Scout Dodge Reservoir, Horse Lake, and the Madeline Plains rims for staging deer
Watch out for
- !Checkerboard private ranch inholdings with no fences or signs — verify boundaries and get written permission
- !Long distances between fuel, water, and help — full self-sufficiency required
- !Early snow and mud that can strand vehicles on the dirt road network
- !Extreme day-to-night temperature swings at elevation
- !Fire-season closures and restrictions
Logistics
Susanville to the south and Alturas to the north are the practical supply hubs; Ravendale and Termo on US 395 are little more than a stop but put you in the middle of the zone. This is remote, big-mileage high desert — carry extra fuel, plenty of water, and be self-sufficient. Cell coverage is poor off the 395 corridor and roads turn to greasy mud fast when it rains or snows.
Nearest towns: Susanville, Alturas, Ravendale, Termo, Madeline, Bieber
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official California sources:
Research sources: CDFW Zone X-5b Deer Hunt Map (Wildlife Branch) · CDFW Deer Hunting Zones · CDFW Region 1 (Northern) Deer Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit X5b in California?
- Unit X5b (Zone X5b) covers about 934 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 6,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit X5b?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Eagle Lake Field Office), Modoc National Forest (USFS), Lassen National Forest (USFS), Private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit X5b?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official California agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit X5b on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.