California Mule Deer 2026

[Ikeepitcold]

Filled my Ca X7a zone buck tag. I’ve seen this buck a few times through the summer in velvet and hard horned. He was my second choice buck out of the bucks I had seen in the area. My first choice buck was a year older and a 3x3 with heavier antlers but I think he was killed the night before by a couple guys I had see in the same area. The evening before I had seen them then heard a shot only yards away from where I killed this one.
Very happy to have this one for my second Ca draw tag for this unit.

 

[gonhunting247]

That's great, good work!

 

[sleepingbear]

Congratulations on a nice buck!!

 

[Ca_Vermonster]

Nice X zone buck, congrats!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I hunted D-7 for 50 years before I retired and moved to Colorado. Used to be great hunting, I took more than 40 bucks.

 

[Alabama]

Nice buck IKIC! I had no idea Cali had bucks that big. Congrats

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I hunted D-7 for 50 years before I retired and moved to Colorado. Used to be great hunting, I took more than 40 bucks.

Sure wish the D zone were good. It’s so difficult to find a mature buck anymore

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My family has hunted what is now D7 since the late 1940's. The deer hunting was at it's peak in the 50's & 60's. The country has changed a lot since then. The meadows are now full of pines, there ie less forage for the deer and more predators. My Dad satd the change was related to the ban on domestic sheep grazing in the high country. I have lots of pictures of my hunts and looking at them I feel the same way.
here is several of my early trips when I was 12. Yes my Dad took me out of school for a week to go hunting.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Very cool CC. Thanks for sharing your photos.