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Sacramento River NWR - Hunting

Updated October 7, 2026

Welcome!

On this page you can find all the information you need about hunting the Sacramento River NWR, including:

Click on one of the topics ABOVE or to the RIGHT to jump to that section of this page.

Links to additional Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting Pages: Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting page, Sacramento NWR Complex - Special Hunts/Juniors/Mobility-Impaired Hunting page.

UPDATES

New information for 2026:

ALERTS: no alerts at this time
Butte City Bridge Update, January 6, 2026: The new Butte City Bridge is fully operational, but construction activities are still wrapping up, so expect road and trail access at Sul Norte and Codora Units to shift as needed. The units will still be open through the current parking lot, although road and trail access may be temporarily re-routed to accommodate construction activity. Please follow all signs in the field, as the SAFETY ZONE adjacent the bridge has been expanded by 150 feet during the construction project.
Dairy Fire - the Sacramento River NWR 2021 Dairy Fire affected the southern portion of the La Barranca Unit, the western portion of the Todd Island Unit, and the northern portion of the Mooney Unit. Please continue to use caution when visiting this area as tree health may continue to change.
Dogs: dogs are NOT permitted for use in hunting big game.

Maps and Directions

Please visit our Sacramento River NWR Maps and Recreation page to find a Sacramento River NWR Hunting Access map, Unit Brochures/Maps, and the Sacramento River NWR Brochure.

Visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website for information on some of the neighboring units on the Sacramento River. *Please note that some of the regulations can be different on CDFW properties.

General Information

The Sacramento River NWR is a Type-C hunt area
No recreation fees
No hunter check stations
No hunter quotas

Regulations at Sacramento River NWR:

All Units Are Different! - Each Unit has different regulations and boundaries. Please consult the INDIVIDUAL UNIT BROCHURES on our Sacramento River NWR Maps and Recreation page to be familiar with hunting boundaries and regulations. To see which units you might be interested in, look at the General Hunting Access Map on our Sacramento River NWR Maps and Recreation page.

GENERAL REGULATIONS (remember, all units are different, see above link to unit maps/regulations):

Hours - The units are day use only, open 2 hours before legal sunrise to 1-1/2 hours after legal sunset. Only gravel bar access is allowed at other hours.
Foot/Boat Access - Seven Units have foot access through parking areas.
- Four of these units can be accessed for hunting via the parking area (Capay, Sul Norte, Drumheller, and Drumheller North). Most units must be accessed by boat for hunting.
- Bogg's Bend has foot access through a parking area on adjacent California Department of Fish and Wildlife property.
Hunting - Hunting is allowed only in designated areas for authorized species from August 15 to May 31.
Dogs - dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash except for authorized hunting activities under the immediate control of a licensed hunter. Dogs are no longer permitted to be used while deer hunting on the Sacramento River NWR.
Camping - Camping is allowed only on gravel bars for up to 7 days during a 30 day period. Camping is prohibited on other refuge lands. No overnight stay in parking lots.
Littering - Be a land steward and take out what you bring in. It is unlawful to litter!
Bicycles are permitted on Rio Vista, Pine Creek, Capay, Sul Norte, Packer, and Drumheller between May 15 through August 15 on designated trails. Visit the Bicycling section of our Auto Tours and Trails page for more information.
Firearms - Rifles and pistols are prohibited. Shotguns and archery equipment allowed during hunting season, in hunting areas only. Firearms are not allowed in the parking areas of the Rio Vista and Pine Creek Units - hunting access is only by boat. Target shooting is not permitted. No crossbows.
Ammunition - Lead ammunition is not permitted. Learn more about non-lead ammunition in California on CDFW's website (look under Frequently-Asked Questions).
Fires - Fires are prohibited except for portable gas stoves on gravel bars.
Horses - Horses are prohibited.
Motorized Vehicles - Motorized vehicles are prohibited. Mobility impaired hunters should consult refuge manager for allowed conveyances.
Flooding - Units are prone to flooding. Some county roads may close during flooding events. Do not go through closed areas to access the refuge. "Road closed" means the road is closed!

Species/Bag Limits

Bag Limits

Visit the Bag Limits section on our Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting page to find information on Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits, including:

Big game, waterfowl and upland game season dates
Big game, waterfowl and upland game bag limits
Special junior/youth hunting season dates

What species* can I take?

*species not listed below are CLOSED to hunting on Sacramento River NWR

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS:
- Hunting of Goose, Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Snipe, and Dove is permitted on designated areas of the Sacramento River NWR in accordance with State regulations.
  - See the Maps section, above, for areas open to hunting and unit maps with specific regulations
  - Goose, Duck, Coot, Moorhen and Snipe Hunting: is also permitted on the Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa, and Sutter NWRs. Visit the Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting page for more information.
  - Dove Hunting: Information from USFWS about hunting and baiting doves
  - Firearms: Shotguns and archery equipment are permitted during the hunting season in hunting areas only, but must be transported "unloaded" (meaning no ammunition in the chamber or magazine) through safety zones from the parking to hunting areas. Rifles, pistols, and crossbows are prohibited.
BIG GAME:
- Hunting of Black-tailed Deer and Wild Pig is permitted on designated areas of the Sacramento River NWR in accordance with State regulations.
  - See the Maps section, above, for areas open to hunting and unit maps with specific regulations
  - Deer Hunting:
    - See CDFW's Deer Hunting webpage for more information
    - Find a map of deer hunting zones on the CDFW's website
    - Sacramento River NWR Units fall in the following zones: C4 (north of Highway 162, Sul Norte Unit and north) and D3 (south of Highway 162, Codora Unit and south)
  - Wild Pig Hunting:
    - See CDFW's Wild Pig Hunting webpage for more information, including tag return map, guidelines, etc
  - Dogs: Dogs are NOT permitted while hunting deer and wild pigs
  - Firearms: Shotguns and archery equipment are permitted during the hunting season in hunting areas only, but must be transported "unloaded" (meaning no ammunition in the chamber or magazine) through safety zones from the parking to hunting areas. Rifles, pistols, and crossbows are prohibited.
UPLAND GAME BIRDS:
- Hunting of Pheasant, turkey, and Quail on designated areas of the Sacramento River NWR is permitted in accordance with state regulations.
  - See the Maps section, above, for areas open to hunting and unit maps with specific regulations
  - Pheasant and Turkey Hunting: is also permitted on the Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa, and Sutter NWRs. Visit the Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting page for more information.
  - Firearms: Shotguns and archery equipment are permitted during the hunting season in hunting areas only, but must be transported "unloaded" (meaning no ammunition in the chamber or magazine) through safety zones from the parking to hunting areas. Rifles, pistols, and crossbows are prohibited

Frequently-Asked Questions

Visit the Frequently-Asked Questions section on our Sacramento NWR Complex Hunting page to find answers to common questions

Junior & Youth Hunting

Visit the Junior and Youth Hunting section on our Sacramento NWR Complex - Special Hunts/Juniors/Mobility Impaired Hunting page to find information about:

Junior and Youth hunting opportunities at Sacramento NWR Complex
Junior and Youth hunting permits and regulations
Junior-only Hunting opportunities at the Codora Unit

Mobility-Impaired Hunting

Visit the Mobility-Impaired Hunting section on our Sacramento NWR Complex Special Hunts/Juniors/Mobility Impaired Hunting page to find information about:

Hunting blinds and reservations available for mobility-impaired hunters, including Rio Vista and Sul Norte units
Reservation Application for Rio Vista and Sul Norte mobility-impaired hunting blinds
Admission procedures for mobility-impaired hunters at Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter NWR

A "mobility impaired hunter” is defined as a person who has been issued one of the following:

A Department of Motor Vehicles Mobility Impaired License Plate
A Permanent Parking Placard Identification Card
A “Mobility Impaired Veteran” License Plate
A valid “Mobility Impaired Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License” (FG Form 1460)

**The blue plastic “Mobility Impaired Parking Placard” may not be substituted for the required identification which bears the name of the mobility impaired person. Mobility impaired hunters must provide the registration certificate for DMV issued mobility impaired license plates.

Be Safe!

Exercise caution at all times! Pond and river bottoms can make wading hazardous. Be familiar with the Sacramento River's banks and underwater hazards. Be aware of the locations of nearby hunters and visitors when shooting.

This is a natural and wild area, be alert! You may encounter ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, yellow-jackets, bees, poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, rattle snakes, feral pigs, and mountain lions.

Mountain lions have been sighted on Sacramento River NWR. Immediately report all encounters or attacks by calling the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) 24-hour dispatch center (916) 445-0045 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Sacramento NWR Complex at (530) 934-2801.

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