Mother Lode Field Office

Target Shooting and Hunting Rules and Restrictions
All California game species are regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) 

Rules, regulations, and seasons are controlled by DFG, and it is the hunter’s responsibility to verify and comply with proper species, seasons, zones, regulations, and legal location if hunting the public lands.

FGC 3004 – It is unlawful for any person to hunt or discharge while hunting, any firearm or other deadly weapon within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or other building or any barn or other outbuilding used in connection therewith. The 150 yard area is a "Safety Zone."

Public Land Closures and Restrictions

man shooting a rifle Final Supplementary Rules for Public Lands

South Yuba River

  • Archery is permissible
  • NO DISCHARGE OF FIRE ARMS 1/4 mile each side of the river

South Fork American River Area

Cronan Ranch  (1,400 acres – Zone D 5)

Cronan Ranch Hunting Map (pdf 1.5 mb)

Hunting weapons limited to bow and arrows, smooth bore shotguns and muzzleloaders.  Muzzleloaders allowed only after fire season is declared over.

Deer Hunting:
  • Fall season w/smooth bore shotgun & slugs only
  • Summer season - archery only
Turkey Hunting:
  • Fall season w/smooth bore shotgun & shot shells only
  • No SPRING SEASON turkey hunting

Quail and Dove hunting during correct season.  No hunting for bear, squirrels, rabbits, jackrabbits, waterfowl, furbearers, or non game species.

Dave Moore Nature Area - Closed to all hunting

Ponderosa Parcel - Closed to all hunting (small parcel on Marshall Grade east of Coloma club)

Parcel C - Closed to all hunting (parcel between Hwy 49 bridge & Lotus Park)

Pine Hill Preserve - No closure, but we discourage hunting because of minimal public access and the high density of people and homes surrounding the parcels. (Lotus & Cameron Park parcels)

Consumnes River Preserve

  • Closed to hunting
  • Special scheduled hunts available by permit
  • Youth and mobility-impaired hunters contact CRP @ (916) 684-2816

 Merced River Canyon

  • Archery is permissible
  • NO DISCHARGE OF FIRE ARMS 1/4 mile each side of the river

Other locations:

Sunrise Blvd & Douglas Rd. - Closed to hunting (within Rancho Cordova City limits)

Additional information:  the following rules apply to all lands managed by the Mother Lode Field Office:  Target shooting and hunting (in accordance with State law) is allowed on public lands unless the area is signed closed by the BLM or the area is closed by another rule. 

The below rules and information are taken from the Final Supplementary Rules for Public Lands - for ease of reading, only Target Shooting and Hunting rules are noted:

All public lands in MDM, T. 4 N., R. 10 E., Sec. 3 NE \1/4\ and MDM, T. 5 N., R. 10 E., Sec. 34 SE \1/4\, near Campo Seco, are closed to target shooting.

All public lands in MDM, T. 7 N., R. 13 E., Sec. 27, Sec. 34 (north of the Mokelumne River), Sec. 26 (north of the Mokelumne River) and Sec. 23 (north of the Mokelumne River) are closed to target shooting.

The following rules apply to the Hoyt Crossing, Purdon Crossing, and Edwards Crossing day use areas/high use zones within the South Yuba River Special Recreation Management Area:  Hunting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to the Round Mountain Forest Management Area: Target shooting is not allowed.
   
The following rules apply to the North Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:  Target shooting is allowed, in accordance with State law, unless a specific area is signed closed by the BLM. All public lands located in MDM, T. 15 N., R. 9 E., Sec. 26 are closed to target shooting.

The following rules apply to the South Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:  Target shooting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to the Cronan Ranch parcel within the South Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:

  • Hunting is allowed only with the following types of firearms: bow and arrows, smoothbore shotguns, and muzzleloaders. Muzzleloaders are allowed only after fire season is declared over by the BLM.
  • Hunting for bear, squirrels, rabbits, jackrabbits, waterfowl, furbearers, or non-game species is not allowed.
  • Deer hunting is allowed only during the summer open season with bows and arrows and during the fall open season with smoothbore shotguns and slugs.
  • Turkey hunting is allowed only during the fall open season with smoothbore shotguns and shot shells.

The following rules apply to the Ponderosa parcel within the South Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:  Hunting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to Parcel C within the South Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:  Hunting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to the Dave Moore Nature Area within the South Fork American River Special Recreation Management Area:  Hunting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to the Pine Hill Preserve ACEC: Target shooting is not allowed.

The following rules apply to the Cosumnes River Preserve ACEC: Target shooting is not allowed.  Hunting is not allowed without a special recreation use permit issued by the BLM.

The following rules apply to the Red Hills ACEC:  Target shooting is not allowed.