Zone B-1 is located in Del Norte and portions of Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Siskiyou and Trinity counties along the West California coast north of Zone A. B-1 is the largest of the B zones. There is plenty of National Forest in this zone to hunt. B zones are known to be Blacktail trophy country.
As with many zones in California the natural cycle of wildfire aids the deer habitat creating additional edge cover and young sprouts providing food.Due to the lush nature of vegetation in this area many illegal, outdoor cannabis operations are present on public land. Keep aware of your surroundings. If a garden is discovered, back away quietly and notify authorities.
The terrain is very steep and rugged and vegetation can be extremely dense. As with all of the mountains in the lush B zone, heavy rainfall over the history of the mountain range has eroded much of his area creating steep mountain ranges.
The vegetation is highly varied throughout Zone B1 ranging from coastal scrub, oak-woodland, hardwood-conifer, and dense conifer forests to some alpine habitats. Areas where oaks are producing acorns may attract deer.
Zone B1 contains a mixture of both public and private lands. Remember you must obtain and have in your possession written permission to hunt on private property. Hunter trespass laws are strictly enforced. Public lands within the zone are administered by the Klamath, Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests and the Bureau of Land Management.
Although there is a lot of private land in Zone B1, there are extensive tracts of public land with excellent access. Primary roadways in Zone B1 are State Highway 101 (western B1), State Highway 96 (northeastern B1), State Highway 199 (northern B1), State Highway 36 (south-central B1) and Highway 162 (southern B1). Many County, USFS and BLM roads branch off of these primary roadways providing access to public lands. Horses are useful in the Board Camp Mountain and Bug Creek Butte area.
There are numerous designated campgrounds within Zone B1. The facilities available at these campgrounds vary from primitive campsites to campsites with running water and showers. Most campgrounds are clearly marked on USFS and BLM maps. Camping outside of designated campgrounds is usually permitted on BLM and USFS lands. However, during fire season special regulations may apply, and it will be necessary to obtain a fire permit from the USFS or BLM.
The weather in this region is highly variable so be prepared. The weather is usually quite hot and dry away from the coast, but early thunderstorms are common. Coastal areas will be cooler and damp with more chance of precipitation in October. Hunting success will likely be limited in hot and dry years.