Closed
Fish and Game Commission adopted zero-permit quotas in 2017 for all sage grouse hunting zones (East Lassen, Central Lassen, North Mono, South Mono) due to declining population estimates; remains closed for 2026-27, including the falconry season.
Greater sage-grouse in California occupies exactly four named, legally-defined hunt zones, East Lassen, Central Lassen, North Mono, and South Mono, even though the season has carried a zero-permit quota (fully closed) statewide since 2017 due to population declines. CDFW continues publishing annual lek-count monitoring by zone despite the closure, most recently a 2026 lek-trends report. The four zones split into two distinct, geographically separated populations: the northeastern-California population (East/Central Lassen, Lassen County) and the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment shared with Nevada (North/South Mono, Mono and Inyo counties).
CDFW's 2026 lek-count trends report ("Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) trends for California, 2000-2026," dated 2026-07-30) reports peak male counts across four hunt-zone lek groups, 2025 to 2026: Central Lassen down (94 to 58), East Lassen up (415 to 492), South Mono up (269 to 327), and North Mono up (675 to 1,035; the source's own text calls this a decrease, but the numbers and accompanying chart both show an increase, so North Mono is treated as up here). Net: 3 of 4 zones up. Season remains closed statewide (0 permits, all 4 zones) since 2017; monitoring continues despite the closure.
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