Zone X5b, California

CDFW describes Zone X-5b as covering a large geographic area where the terrain can be very steep and rugged. The zone lies in northeastern California (eastern Lassen County). Deer move to higher elevations in the northwestern portion of the zone in late spring and drop to the lower southeastern portion below the snowline with the first heavy fall storms. CDFW names some of the more popular and productive areas as the Cottonwood Mountains, McDonald Peak, Observation Peak, Shinn Mountain, Spanish Springs Peak, and the Skedaddle Mountains. (CDFW does not publish specific elevation figures in the zone information sheet; specific elevations not stated.)

Zone X-5b is managed almost entirely by the BLM (Eagle Lake Field Office, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130; 530-257-0456) with a mix of private inholdings — written permission is required on all private land. U.S. Highway 395 is the primary route through and along the western edge of the unit; numerous Lassen County roads and unnamed BLM roads branch east off Highway 395 to reach public-land hunting areas throughout the zone. Two BLM improved campgrounds serve as the main staging areas: Rye Patch Springs (reached via BLM Road 26000, approximately 2 miles east of US-395 and 9 miles south of Ravendale) and Dodge Reservoir (take Lassen County Road 502 east from US-395 at Ravendale for 12 miles, then County Road 506 south for 11 miles — an unimproved dirt road that can become impassable in wet weather). From Ramhorn Springs / Rye Patch Road, hunters access BLM land toward Shinn Mountain; from Dodge Reservoir, open BLM terrain extends east toward the Cottonwood Mountains. The Skedaddle Mountains and Skedaddle Wilderness Study Area (BLM, ~62,000 acres) in the southeastern portion of the unit are accessible via Skedaddle Ranch Road off US-395 but are limited to designated routes — cross-country motorized travel is prohibited. Most secondary roads are unimproved dirt and can require high-clearance or 4WD; snow or rain can close them without warning, particularly later in the season. Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM land outside designated campgrounds except during fire-season permit restrictions. Additional private-land access may be available through CDFW's Private Lands Management (PLM) program.

Per CDFW, vegetation is highly varied throughout the zone, ranging from low sage, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and aspen to juniper habitats. Riparian areas along watercourses, mountain mahogany patches, and aspen are noted as good areas to hunt. Lower deer densities occur in more densely forested juniper areas and in older, more decadent brushlands. Juniper expansion and invasion is a chronic problem reducing forage production. Vegetation can be extremely dense in places.

The subspecies is Rocky Mountain mule deer, considered migratory. Deer generally move to higher elevations in the northwestern portion of the zone in late spring and remain there until the first heavy fall storms force them down below the snowline to the southeast; this downward movement often occurs during the hunting season. CDFW reports the herd is at low density and considered stable to slightly declining, well below levels seen in the late 1960s and 1970s, consistent with a long-term western mule deer decline driven by large intense wildfires, more mature and less diverse habitat, and reduced habitat quality and quantity. (CDFW's X-5b sheet does not state specific rut dates; HuntScore reports the rut can start as early as late October and run through late December - flagged as a non-CDFW source.)