The Sierra Nevada mountain range offers a unique blend of diverse habitats and breathtaking scenery, making it a rewarding destination for hunters seeking a challenge. From high alpine ridges and oak woodlands to sagebrush flats and pine forests, the region supports a variety of game across national forests and extensive Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. These public lands provide opportunities for hunters to pursue deer, bear, upland birds, and small game while experiencing the rugged beauty of the Sierra on foot, horseback, or with a well-planned basecamp.
If you’re interested in exploring new destinations, here are the five great hunting regions in the Sierra Nevada. Grab your gear, and get ready to explore some of the area’s top outdoor destinations.
1. Yosemite National Park’s Borderlands
While hunting is prohibited within Yosemite National Park, hunters can access opportunities in the national forests and wilderness areas that directly border the park. The Sierra, Stanislaus, and Inyo National Forests, along with adjacent wilderness areas like Emigrant, Hoover, Ansel Adams, and John Muir, all allow hunting under California regulations. These areas offer access to mule deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and upland birds across varied terrain, from high alpine ridges to forested slopes, providing a challenging and rewarding hunting experience near the park’s boundary without crossing into its protected interior.
2. Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe National Forest spans over 850,000 acres in the northern Sierra, offering hunters a landscape of deep river canyons, rolling foothills, and high-altitude woodlands to explore. Known for its accessibility, the forest’s network of roads and trails makes it easier to reach diverse hunting grounds compared to many remote Sierra regions. The forest is home to black-tailed and mule deer, black bears, upland birds, and small game, with reservoirs and river corridors providing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Notably, the area now supports a growing elk herd near the Truckee region—a sign of healthy habitat—though hunting elk here might not yet be available and or require a rare, hard-to-draw California tag. For hunters seeking a mix of adventure and accessibility with the chance to explore canyons, meadows, and ridgelines in a single trip, Tahoe National Forest offers a rewarding Sierra hunting experience.
3. Eldorado National Forest
Located just east of Sacramento, Eldorado National Forest offers hunters convenient access to Sierra hunting grounds without requiring a long drive from the city. The forest is known for its black-tailed deer hunting, particularly in the Crystal Basin area near Union Valley Reservoir and in the hidden slopes south of Lake Tahoe, where hunters willing to explore off-trail can find secluded basins and ridgelines. While upland bird opportunities include quail, grouse, and band-tailed pigeons, waterfowl hunting here is limited and typically not the primary draw. The forest’s diverse landscape—featuring conifer forests, granite ridges, rivers, and alpine lakes—provides a rewarding backdrop for those pursuing both big and small game, particularly during the early autumn hunting seasons.
4. The Eastern Sierra
For hunters seeking a true backcountry challenge, the Eastern Sierra offers vast public lands and rugged wilderness teeming with wildlife, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Crest and White Mountains. This region, stretching from Lone Pine and Bishop to Bridgeport and Walker, includes extensive Bureau of Land Management lands and portions of the Inyo and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests, providing ample access for those ready to explore. Mule deer are the primary draw here, with hunting opportunities in X zones that require advanced planning and a draw tag, while upland bird hunters can pursue quail and chukar across the sagebrush basins and rocky hillsides of places like Chalfant Valley and the Adobe Valley. The high-country lakes of Virginia Lakes, Rock Creek, and Sabrina Basin offer opportunities to combine scouting trips with backcountry hunting, while the lower elevations around Owens Valley provide accessible routes for day hunts. Cooler summer temperatures at higher altitudes require hunters to pack layers and be prepared for rapid weather changes. For those seeking solitude and a connection to the raw beauty of the Sierra, the Eastern Sierra’s mix of sagebrush plains, granite peaks, and hidden alpine waters delivers a deeply rewarding hunting experience.
5. Plumas National Forest
Plumas National Forest, stretching across the northern Sierra, is one of California’s best-kept secrets for hunters seeking a mix of rugged adventure and diverse wildlife. This region’s landscape ranges from oak woodlands and mixed conifer forests to alpine lakes, high ridges, and the winding canyons of the Feather River. Plumas County is also home to Lake Almanor, Butt Valley Reservoir, and the marshes of Sierra Valley, providing opportunities for waterfowl and upland bird hunting during the fall season. Deer hunting is a major draw here, with alpine lake basins and river corridors offering prime habitat for mule deer and black-tailed deer, while black bear season adds another layer of challenge for hunters willing to explore deeper into the forest. The area even supports a growing elk population near Lake Almanor and Indian Valley, although hunting elk here requires a rare, limited California tag. Plumas County has also become home to a sustained population of wolves—a notable sign of a healthy ecosystem, even if they remain off-limits for hunters. For those looking for a region that pairs abundant wildlife with the beauty of high Sierra terrain, Plumas offers a rich hunting experience worth the drive.
For anyone looking for a vast wilderness with limited hunting pressure, this is the place to visit. The area is teeming with black-tailed deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and band-tailed pigeons. If you’re having trouble with smaller fowl, laser sights are often worth it for beginners as well as expert shooters.
From the dense forests of Tahoe National Forest to the rugged ridges of the Eastern Sierra, exploring the five best hunting spots in the Sierra Nevada is a great experience for hunters of all skill levels. With its challenging terrain and diverse game species, the region is a paradise for hunters and wilderness enthusiasts alike.
