A19 (x10)

[Toxo23]

Since I was unsuccessful in my choices I picked up a couple of A19 tags (X10).

I'm reading a lot of negative feedback about the zone. Can anyone relay into on early season hunting in X10? High country seems the likely candidate for scouting, but with Erskine Fire who knows?

Anyone care to make a prognosis prediction?

 

[JMSZ]

The fire is at the far southwest end of the zone, but it smoked the zone really good yesterday and Saturday.

I can't tell you more than that.

 

[Toxo23]

JMSZ, thank you for the info. We're tracking it the best we can but nothing beats first hand reconnaissance. We're going up this weekend if it's passable.

 

[JMSZ]

I would avoid Kernville/Isabella, the fire is quieter, but still active, evacuations are still (as far as I know) in effect for Onyx and other places along 178, so 178 may be closed at some places coming in from the east side. Not sure about the west side.

Not seeing a lot of information coming out on the wildlandfire forum, which is a good thing because that means the fire's not doing a lot, but not a lot of info on road closures, etc., either.

If you're looking at going into Monache Meadows, I would suggest going up through 9 Mile Canyon Rd. Oh, that area burned a few weeks (months now?) ago, didn't look like it was too extensive, but that may be a place to peek around this fall if we get some rain between now and then.

If you look at going up in August and would be interested in meeting up, let me know, I'm going to go up around that time. I'm primarily looking at Horseshoe Meadows, but I need to get wood, so I will head up into D8 and probably towards Monache, too.

 

[Toxo23]

JMSZ, that's very considerate of you to guide us in the area. That would be greatly appreciated. We'll be heading up there this weekend. I know, 4th of July weekend. If we can meet up and go over maps, that would be awesome if you're available. I will be doing the opener of A19. I'll be pulling a Bear tag as well.

You're a gentleman and a scholar.
Thank you
M.A.A.

 

[JMSZ]

I won't be around for the 4th, mid-August will be the earliest I can get up there. A bear will be easy, I see them every year, they're not afraid to come around the general area of the camps. They won't come in when people are up and around, but they'll come in if they think nobody's there...

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Always great to see our members helping out. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[Toxo23]

So true, Ikeep. Hard to find Hunters with Soul. I never mind pointing hunters in the areas I hunt in the Mountains behind "Los Angeles"!

 

[Toxo23]

JMSZ, no worries. I was considering going up from Sherman Pass but may be too dry through there. Monache off 395 may put us at cooler elevation.

 

[JMSZ]

Its raining good up there today, hit the fire areas really good and it was getting alot farther up north. If you're looking to hike in and stay for a bit, you can also go in through Horseshoe Meadows, but you hqve to go in through Lone Pine, which is 70 miles north of 9 mile.

Oh, I juwt heard, all the roads through Isabella and Kernville are open now, so you can come in through 178 and up to Sherman Pass if you want.
Just keep in mind that coming up Sherman Pass road keeps you out of X10 until you get up to the area around Kennedy Meadows, the western edge of the zone follws the south fork of the Kern. So going up through 9 mile will take you right into the zone.

If you haven't been up that way before, take the 14 or 395 north, go past the 14/395 junction until you pass Pearsonville and 9 mile canyon is a couple miles up on your left.

 

[Toxo23]

Some second for the firefighters. Big relief. I was only considering Sherman Pass in case it looked grim in the zone, we could jump into D-8 and see how it fairs. Buddies that hunted the Piutes for years jumped on to D-8, never to be heard from again. Rumor has it they Dad and son were pulling decent bucks. I have an AO tag to help my odds

 

[JMSZ]

Cool, I pull a D8 every year, same reason. I've heard of some nice ones out of there, a lot of road hunters, couldn't stand doing that myself, but I hear of guys who are successful every year doing it. One guy I know had a buddy who dropped one and while he was gutting it, another one walked up on him and he dropped that one.
Good luck with it, let me know if I can be of anymore help.

 

[Toxo23]

Hearing that gets me motivated. You'll be all the help anyone can ask when we meet up in August. Thanks again JMSZ.

 

[twp1224]

JMSZ, that's very considerate of you to guide us in the area. That would be greatly appreciated. We'll be heading up there this weekend. I know, 4th of July weekend. If we can meet up and go over maps, that would be awesome if you're available. I will be doing the opener of A19. I'll be pulling a Bear tag as well.

You're a gentleman and a scholar.
Thank you
M.A.A.

I have hunted X-10, G38 and A19 for the past 5 years. If you haven't been into Monache Meadows it can be tricky driving the Jeep Road. Be safe and make sure you have a 4x4. The deer that are in there are pretty relaxed the first part of the year. Once the 4wd guys and hunters start driving around they get pushed into the timber. I've see a lot of small bucks and some nice ones too. The bigger bucks, like all places, are sneaky and don't come out until dusk and return to bed early. I will be in there for A19 as well this year. I drive a white Toyota FJ Cruiser. I will start scouting in mid July. If you don't mind, let me know how it looks in there if you go this weekend.

 

[Toxo23]

tw, you and JMSZ know the area quite well. I believe I sent you a private message. No worries, you've joined the thread and would be glad to relay this Weekend's activities.

Here's my dilemma. My Titan needs servicing so we're taking a rental; Ford 150 2wd. If I wanted to get in with the Quads God gave me how much of a trek are we looking at. Timber hunting is my motif. I hunt our SoCal white oak stands stand/ still and spot and stalk. I don't mind getting in.

We're loading up at the moment. We're more than likely leaving mid morning hours to time our ingress circa daybreak.

 

[Toxo23]

We went up 9 Mile to Kennedy then Black Rock Station. The information passed on was Monache but better results in the wilderness area. We went to as many National Forest/ Wilderness boundaries. I am not exaggerating when I say I couldn't even find an old track or dropping. Not a doe or fawn to be seen. Nothing! Then again there were a lot of people Off Roading but we distant ourselves quite well and trekked into the Golden Trout from different points, South Sierra as well. Nothing. I can only surmise it's between the human traffic and foraging plants that deer eat at this time of year.

 

[Toxo23]

Tee Dub, I feel like a horse's arse. I somehow overlook a portion of your message. No worries, going over maps and doing homework. I'm not giving up on the zone. Something is irking me in the gut and after discovering the portion of your message my instincts were correct. I'll be back first weekend of August.

 

[Toxo23]

JMSZ, if all is well I'll be up there first weekend of August.

 

[JMSZ]

It'll be the weekend after that or the one after that for me, I'll be going in through Horseshoe Meadows, into the Golden Trout from the north end of the zone, in case you're interested.

 

[Sawfish]

I will be interested to see how you do on the hunt.