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Hunting & Fishing at Lake Tahoe
Nevada's wide open spaces provide excellent hunting opportunities for big game, small game, waterfowl, furbearers and fish.
This Lake Tahoe hunting guide brings together current information from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help you prepare for a safe, legal, and successful hunting trip in the Tahoe region. You will also find some links and info. of interest to fishing enthusiasts, since the California and Nevada departments we link to manage fishing as well as hunting.
Hunting at Tahoe > Nevada
The Nevada Department of Wildlife manages hunting throughout Nevada, including the Lake Tahoe region. Nevada's big game species include mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, three subspecies of bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and mountain goat.
Big game hunts are issued through a random draw system for hunters age 12 and older. Applications typically open in mid-March with a deadline in mid-April. A second draw takes place in June, and any remaining tags may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mountain lion tags are available over the counter. Furbearers may be hunted or trapped with a valid trapping license.
Upland game birds include chukar partridge, California and Gambel's quail, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, dove, and the Himalayan snowcock. Waterfowl and certain migratory birds are also available during established seasons.
Unprotected species such as coyote and black-tailed jackrabbit may be hunted without a hunting license by residents and nonresidents. A trapping license is required to trap them.
Going Hunting in Nevada? You Will Need...
Nevada Hunting Requirements
Going Hunting in California? You Will Need...
California Hunting Info.
All California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Publications and Brochures
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Featured Places to Hunt at Tahoe
Hunting at Tahoe > California > Hope Valley
Hope Valley Wildlife Area in Alpine County lies about 12 miles south of South Lake Tahoe near the junction of Highways 88 and 89 at Pickett's Junction. Expansion areas extend south along Highway 88.
Information below is provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more details, call (916) 358-2900.
Area Regulations
- Backpack camping east of Highway 89 only
- No trailers or open fires
- Access limited to non-motorized uses
Special Restrictions
Hunting is allowed only from the opening of archery deer season through January 31.
Access: The Wildlife Area spans Highway 89 at its junction with Highway 88. Expansion parcels lie south along Highway 88.
Description: The area includes 2,869 acres of high-elevation wet meadow, montane chaparral, Jeffrey pine forest, and aspen-lodgepole pine communities. Wildlife includes mule deer, black bear, bobcat, blue grouse, northern goshawk, Clark's nutcracker, and white-headed woodpecker. The west fork of the Carson River supports beaver and occasional willow flycatcher.
Recreational Use: Type C Wildlife Area - no passes or reservations required.
- Nature walks, birdwatching, and photography
- Fishing during open season
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter
- Backpack camping east of Highway 89
Hunting: Deer, bear, rabbit, tree squirrel, quail, grouse, and dove.
Facilities: Accessible parking and restrooms are located on the west side of Pickett's Junction on Highway 88. Accessible fishing piers are north of the restroom.
More Hope Valley Information
CDFW Hope Valley page and maps
Features for Anglers at Lake Tahoe
Here's a scrolling display of useful guides and some fun publications for those who like to fish at Lake Tahoe. These are our handpicked recommendations for information and fun for fishing enthusiasts. Enjoy!
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Hunting at Tahoe > California > Truckee River Wildlife Area
Location: Nevada and Placer counties - approximately 2 to 7 miles east of Truckee.
The following information was provided by the State of California Department of Fish and Game. For more information, phone (916) 358-2900
Area Regulations:
- Camping, trailers, and fires are not allowed
- No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed
Access:
- There are no developed roads providing access to the Polaris Unit.
- To access the West River Unit, take South River Street west from Brockway Rd. in Truckee; the middle of the parcel is across the river from a gravel pit.
- To reach the Boca Unit, take the Hirschdale exit from I-80 east of Truckee; there is some limited parking under the westbound span of the I-80 overpass and along Highway 40 to the left of the exit.
- The Union Ice Unit consists of three parcels. The first parcel is about one half mile east of Hirschdale. The second is a mile further east and extends for a mile along the river. Both of these parcels are accessed from Iceland Road. The third parcel, north of I-80, is inaccessible.
Description: Total acreage for all parcels is 740. These four units consist of gently sloping river banks, and uplands scattered with lodgepole and Jeffrey pines. The open areas are covered with sage and bitterbrush. Alder and willow are clustered along the gravel bars in the river.
Recreational Use: Type C Wildlife Area - no passes or reservations are required.
- This area was acquired primarily for fishing access. Natural reproduction supports a good trout fishery in the Truckee River.
Hunting: Allowed daily during open seasons. Legal species include deer, bear, rabbit, squirrel, waterfowl, quail, and dove, however opportunities are limited due to the sizes of the parcels.
Facilities: None
Get More Truckee River Info: wildlife.ca.gov page and maps
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Hunting at Tahoe > California > Smithneck Creek Wildlife Area
Location: Sierra County - approximately 1 mile southeast of Loyalton, CA and 3 miles south of State Route 49 (CA 49) surrounding the Sierra Brooks subdivision. Loyalton is about an hour's drive North of Lake Tahoe, via CA 267 going North to Truckee, then continuing North on CA 89 to CA 49.
The following information was provided by the State of California Department of Fish and Game. For more information, phone (916) 358-2900
Description:
The approximately 1,400-acre Smithneck Creek Wildlife Area consists of a variety of habitats typical of the east side of the Sierra. The sagebrush-bitterbrush habitat is a critical deer winter-range area for migratory deer. Limited stands of yellow pine, mountain mahogany and juniper provide additional habitat for resident deer. Wet and dry meadows are found along Bear Valley Creek. Riparian habitat consisting of alders, willows and aspen provide cover along Bear Valley, Smithneck and Badenaugh Creeks for both game and non-game wildlife. Some of the species which may be viewed include goshawks, falcons, a variety of warbler species, and snowshoe hares. Mountain lion tracks are often seen imprinted in muddy areas near streams.
Access:
All 3 units of this Wildlife Area can be reached by taking Smithneck Road south from Highway 49 at Loyalton. The northern unit lies along Smithneck Road. The western unit can be reached by turning west onto Antelope Valley Road from Smithneck Road. To reach the eastern unit, turn east onto Badenaugh Canyon Road from Smithneck Road.
Activities: fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, photography, and hunting. The area provides access to extensive public lands such as the Tahoe National Forest. Be aware of posted private lands.
Facilities: None
Hunting: Type C Wildlife Area. Deer, bear, rabbit, quail, and dove may be present. Opportunities are limited by the safety considerations for residents of the Sierra Brooks Subdivision, which is bordered on three sides by the Wildlife Area.
Get More Smithneck Creek Wildlife Area Info: wildlife.ca.gov page and maps
Please Note: Area regulations are subject to change. Special restrictions on recreational uses, hunt days and methods of take are listed in the current year's issue of Hunting and Other Public Uses on State and Federal Areas, available at DFG offices and where licenses are sold.
If you are willing to drive a little, there are many more wildlife areas for hunting and fishing in the Lake Tahoe region. More hunting and fishing info and maps in the Lake Tahoe and High Sierra of California.
Thank you for visiting our page for hunting and fishing at Lake Tahoe!