California Deer Hunters

BADbuckfever · Mar 11, 2011

Hey twp1224, yeah I agree some other states have better populations of huntable deer, but I'm in the same boat as you. I am in Orange county so I hunt D13 Los Padres NF and A22 an archery only hunt in San Diego county.

I've thought about hunting D8 and have drove through there a couple of years ago starting out of Porterville to the NF and then south through the Kern river drainage to your neck of the woods. That's a beautiful area with good water and habitat. I dont know about the deer population there. I wasn't sure about switching to a new area after spending about 5 years in D13. I hate to admit I finally got a shot off (and missed) at a nice forky this past season in D13 after being skunked since I began. I started deer hunting in 2002. Had a couple close calls but no deer down in D13 for me. I just need to put more time and energy into the hunt, the deer are there. Every year I get closer, I learned to hunt on my own and hunt by myself so its trial and error style. Ive made lots of mistakes but haven't given up yet.

How do you hunt D8? Is it spot and stalk or ?

indianw · Mar 13, 2011

I live just north of Sacramento and have hunted the North Yolly Bollys and the Trinity Alps mostly since the early 70's and have killed some nice bucks. I hunted Idaho in 92 killed a nice buck and went on my first DIY backpack Elk hunt with my oldest son last year to colorado going back again this year.

Firearrow · Mar 14, 2011

I live in Sac, and have hunted my "begining years in X6b, and I drew X7a once". I shot some smaller bucks in the X zones, then the backpack hunting bug bit me. I spent a few years in the Wilderness areas in the Trinites, and pass up on some smaller bucks, but saw some nice 3 points, just could not get the shot. I have been going out of state pst few years, but I know I need to get back tot he Trinites to get my Blacktail.

BADbuckfever · Mar 15, 2011

TWP1224 - PM sent

Whitetail101 · Mar 15, 2011

I don't live in California anymore, moved back to my home state of PA, but I had a couple areas that I had great sucess in.

The one area was in D-19 in the San Bernadino National Forest near the town of Mountain Center. The other area was D-7(I have heard they changed it to an X-zone for 2011) in the Cleveland National Forest. I had two spots here. One was up Hwy 74 above Lake Elsinore(this may not have been D-7 as it has been so long since I was in California), the other was along S-2 Hwy just off the split with Hwy 79near the town of Julian. There was a WMA and some BLM land in here that held good numbers of deer.

BADbuckfever · Mar 16, 2011

Whitetail101 - is that San Felipe WA? The CA DFG says its open for hunting turkeys in the spring also. Do you have any info on turkeys there? I never hunted that spot, but with so much private land around Julian the turkey and deer dance around the public land making it difficult to hunt them. I think I will check out this SFWA for turkeys next weekend on the opener.

That's too funny, you hunted D15 too! Ive been hunting off "Ortega HWY" 74 for several years now with no luck yet. Cool to see you on Eastmans!

Whitetail101 · Mar 18, 2011

BADbuckfever said:
Whitetail101 - is that San Felipe WA? The CA DFG says its open for hunting turkeys in the spring also. Do you have any info on turkeys there? I never hunted that spot, but with so much private land around Julian the turkey and deer dance around the public land making it difficult to hunt them. I think I will check out this SFWA for turkeys next weekend on the opener.

That's too funny, you hunted D15 too! Ive been hunting off "Ortega HWY" 74 for several years now with no luck yet. Cool to see you on Eastmans!

Yes, the area was San Felipe WMA! I never saw any turkey in there, but it was a honey hole for dove and quail.

For turkey I went further down 79 toward Julian to a spot adjacent to Eagle Peak Ranch on Eagle Peak road. This is Cleveland National Forest and was a honey hole for turkey. I can't remember exactly where along Eagle Peak Road the spot was, but I do know you went past the entrance to Eagle Peak Ranch to get to it.

From what I remember, there was a trail that branched off to the right off Eagle Peak Road and went down the hill into the valley where I would setup camp and hunt further back the trail within a 1/2 mile of the campsite. I remember there being a pond in the area, but I don't know if it is still there today as it has been 8 years since I hunted there. I do remember if you started down over the hill on Eagle Peak Road that you went too far, as the trail if it is still there was at the top of the hill.

If you manage to find the spot, be careful of free ranging cattle. Been more than one time that I hunted there that I was charged by a big steer in the thick brush.

good luck

BADbuckfever · Mar 21, 2011

WT101 - I know where you are talking about (I think). Thanks for the info. I'll post up the pics when I score.

Rob P · Mar 22, 2011

I also live in Sacramento. I've always hunted D-5, but in past years I was lucky enough to draw X-12 two years in a row, until the PP system. Now I have Max points for deer and I've been trying to draw M-3. I've been out of state a few times. I plan to backpack into hunt SW colorado again this year for deer, maybe OTC elk if I don't draw my deer tag. I belong to Maya Archers in Roseville, so if any of you Sacramento area guys are interested you should look them up. It great to have a club in the area.

elkmtngear · Mar 23, 2011

This one was from what was originally zone X1, Northeastern California, near Mount Shasta

Best of Luck,
Jeff

BADbuckfever · Mar 23, 2011

Wow! Excellent bucks. I am reading that there are no more bucks in SNF. I guess you guys are the ones killing all the bucks. LOL. You sure know how to get the blood pressure up with those photos. I am getting excited for the hunt already. Dang, you would have to post those pics up. Got any more???? That's why I'm "BAD buck fever." I got it bad. Thanks!

Ikeepitcold · Mar 30, 2011

Those are some nice bucks!
I live in Reno Nv and want to try to draw a X7B or X7A tag. Ive been going throought the F&G web site and I cant find out anything thats clear to me on aplications. I dont see were I can apply on line like most states. Do I have to get a hard copy, fill it out and mail it in? Also were can I get a hard copy if that is the case and when are they available?
Any info would be great thanx!

Do any of you guys try for Nv?

I have lots of family in the Gridley and Biggs area. I really enjoy the duck hunting in the rice fields and the phesant hunting as well. I have gone to Calinga and hunted pigs a few times and had some great fun doing that. No deer yet but drool over the country in X7B.

BADbuckfever · Mar 31, 2011

Ikeepitcold - Yeah, you can't apply on-line from what I see. I would call the number below to start with to avoid delays. Also, this link should help get you where your going:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/huntingfaqs.html#GLQ

You will want to apply before the early June deadline for premium deer tags drawn by lottery. You may have to call the "license and revenue branch office" (916) 928-5805 to find out how to get them to mail you an application for the deer tag drawing.
It says they are working on an online system coming soon. Good luck!

Ikeepitcold · Mar 31, 2011

Great! Thankyou so much for the info!

scros10 · Apr 12, 2011

I'm also from Bakersfield and usually hunt D-8 and D-9 archery and rifle. The last few years I have spent my season in d-9. I've done the backpacking thing in Idaho and would like to do something like that soon in CA. I'm building my preference points and am going to take a swing at a good X-zone in the next 2 years. Hopefully i'll have a good story to tell you guys this year. Now off to Idaho for my spring bear and turkey hunt...

California Deer Hunters

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