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Drone Rules for Modoc National Forest

Modoc County, California (CA) • United States
Modoc National Forest, California, USA
Lat: 41.5002 • Lng: -121.001
Ground Not fully verified Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFS Modoc NF in northeastern California has no Wilderness designation but is adjacent to the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. Greater sage-grouse leks and migratory waterfowl staging areas require seasonal UAS avoidance.

Drone Rules - Modoc NF, California

No Wilderness designation, but sage-grouse lek sites and Modoc NWR (USFWS, adjacent) restrict practical UAS operations seasonally.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Modoc NWR (USFWS) is adjacent to the forest's southern boundary near Alturas; USFWS policy requires no drones over refuge
  • Greater sage-grouse leks are active February-May on the Modoc Plateau; drone noise disrupts courtship displays, an ESA concern
  • Alturas Airport (KAAT) Class G; nearest controlled airspace is Redding (RDD) ~100 NM southwest

Key Rules

  • February-May: contact USFS Modoc for current sage-grouse lek locations and maintain 0.5-mile buffer during dawn display hours
  • Confirm parcel is USFS land (not NWR) before launching near the Goose Lake Basin
  • USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work

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