Department of Fish and Game

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Oroville Wildlife Area - Butte County

boating restrooms camping Deer Hunting Allowed Waterfowl Hunting Turkey Hunting Allowed Quail Hunting Allowed fishing Hunting with Bow allowed Hunting with Shotgun allowed Wildlife Viewing
The symbols above are activities permitted on this Wildlife Area. Click for more info.

Location: The 11,870 acre wildlife area in Oroville is adjacent to the Feather River, west of Hwy 70 and south of Highway 162 (Oro Dam Blvd). Access is via Highway 162 to the headquarters entrance, about 1/2 mile west of Highway 70, or at Larkin Road.

Access for Thermalito Afterbay Unit is Wilbur Road at Hwy 162. The Thermalito Unit is five miles west of Oroville, east of Highway 99.

Maps: Directional Map (PDF)  Area Topo Map (PDF)   North Unit Topo Map (PDF)   South Unit Topo Map (PDF)

Phone Number: (530) 538-2236

Access: Type C area
Public entry is allowed only from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Hunting is allowed on the uplands and on the Thermalito Afterbay. No hunting on forebay as that is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Description: Woodland, riparian habitat along the Feather River and grasslands around the Thermalito Afterbay. Good populations of coyotes, deer, dove, quail, and waterfowl. Fair populations of squirrel and rabbit.
Waterfowl - Thermalito Afterbay has scull boat and decoy opportunities. The dredger ponds offer decoy and jump shooting mainly in late season.

Activities

  • No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed, except at the designated target practice range. Hunting is allowed from September 1 through January 31 during open season for all legal species and during spring turkey season when only turkey may be taken. There is no fall turkey season. Spring turkey season - Spring hunting is by drawing only for the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends of the spring turkey season. Click here to apply online.
  • Fishing is allowed year round. Warm water fish species (largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish, and black crappie) can be found in the numerous dredger ponds and the Thermalito Afterbay. Salmon, steelhead, shad, and striped bass can be found in the Feather River. Salmon fishing closures are from October through December 31 to protect spawning salmon.
    Fishing ponds on the east side of the Feather River in Riverbend Park provide barrier-free trails, restroom, fishing platforms and parking area. Access to these ponds is from Montgomery Street off of Feather River Blvd and Hwy 70. These ponds are managed by Feather River Recreation and Park District
    *See current California Sport Fishing Regulations for closure boundaries and dates.*
  • Shooting range: Access from Rabe Road. No rangemaster. Open from sunrise to sunset for rifles, pistols, shotguns, and archery.
  • Dog training is allowed from July 1 through March 15 in designated areas only.
  • Horses are restricted to roads open to vehicles, and within 25 feet of exterior boundary fences.
  • Off-highway vehicles are not allowed at any time.
  • Camping and trailers allowed in designated campsites only. Prior to camping on the wildlife area a permit must be obtained from the California Highway Patrol by calling 530-538-2700.
    Camping shall be limited to not more than seven consecutive days, and not more than 14 days total in any calendar year, except by written permission of the Regional Manager. Fires are allowed only in portable gas stoves at sites designated for camping by the department.

Contact the Oroville Chamber of Commerce at (530) 538-2542 for motel information.

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 Fish and Game offices and where licenses are sold.

Return to list of Wildlife Areas in Region 2

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