Playing California's point game

[nitis]

Ok so I am new here but I have been around some other forums and recognize some of you.

I finally drew my x tag this year with 8 points and a twenty year gap between hunting the area and now.

Now going forward do I wait it out another 6-8 years or learn to hunt other areas like x3b and x12 which can be had every 2-3 years.

I apply in a few other states so I am not solely relying on Californiato get my hunting fix but what do you guys think or do?

 

[Sawfish]

Ok so I am new here but I have been around some other forums and recognize some of you.

I finally drew my x tag this year with 8 points and a twenty year gap between hunting the area and now.

Now going forward do I wait it out another 6-8 years or learn to hunt other areas like x3b and x12 which can be had every 2-3 years.

I apply in a few other states so I am not solely relying on Californiato get my hunting fix but what do you guys think or do?

If you can draw X-12 every 2-3 years, you are doing better than anyone else I know, but in response to your question, Yes. Put in for whatever you think you can get, and learn the area. I usually put in for one of the "impossible Zones" for first choice; and a lesser subscribed limited draw zone for second, with a general draw for third. If you get the unlikely first choice great. If not, you get a point. I think it is important to keep hunting the same general draw area, so you can at least get a feel for the habits/locations of the deer in that area. If you keep switching around, it is just hit and miss. Good Luck. BTW, unless you can get one of the random draw tag, you needed at least 3 points to draw X-12 in 2012. Since the number of tags has been decreased, that number will probably be 4-5 for 2014.

 

[nitis]

You are probably correct I have not crunched the numbers very closely. I just know its not as difficult as other areas heck my cousin drew it 3 years in a row.

I do hunt locally since I live in d5 we have plenty of private land to hunt so maybe intake that for granted and I don't really count that. I can typically get out of town for one fall hunt for a week to ten days. It's tough to get away that long with a young family but a few more years and I can start dragging one of the kids along

 

[BossBrott]

I've simply taken a personal challenge and have hunted x1,3a,4,6a,7a,7b,8,9a,12, g3. I simply want to hunt them all before I retire from the sport. Thus far I lean towards 9a for quantity, g3 for quality, but that's not going to happen more than once in my lifetime. There's a lot of beautiful country out there, don't get stuck in the same place for years, mix it up.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

It is hard for me to relate all the zones and pref pts for Calif deer hunting. I was born, raised, educated and worked my career in Calif and started deer hunting in 1953 when I was 12. I've hunted deer in the whole state. Used to be Early (Coastal) and Late (Inland) seasons with over the counter tags. I've killed deer in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, Kern, Santa Barbara, Inyo, Mono, Monterey, Madera, Kings, San Loius Obispo, Tulare, Mendicino, Butte, Shasta and Modoc Counties. Used to get extra doe tags via drawings in addition to at least 2 buck tags. Probably couldn't do that in a lifetime under todays regs and management practices. I still hunt Calif and will be in Madera Co (D7) for opening in September.

 

[HuntWYODon]

BossBrott I like your thinking.
I agree on the zones I've hunted that you listed. I'd like to hunt deer in X3B while I can still walk ! Saw some nice deer on antelope hunt there last year . Like to get into X12 again now that I have it figured out.

 

[goindeep]

My theory is, you can't kill a buck if you dont have a tag in your hand. But I also think everyone should hold out for gooddale, round valley and Anderson flat.....

 

[Sawfish]

My theory is, you can't kill a buck if you dont have a tag in your hand. But I also think everyone should hold out for gooddale, round valley and Anderson flat.....

Ain't it the truth!

 

[Fat Daddy]

My theory is, you can't kill a buck if you dont have a tag in your hand. But I also think everyone should hold out for gooddale, round valley and Anderson flat.....

That's my plan, hold out. Sitting on 10 points for deer currently and plan to hold out till I can get the tag I really want Gooddale or Doyle muzzleloader. In the mean time I will continue to stomp around B-Zone.

 

[Jrod]

I agree with goindeep. Everyone applying in CA should apply first choice for one of those 3 zones.