Hello Forum members, I live in N. Calif but have never been to this X5A zone. I want to make the most out of a ten year wait to get the tag. Looking for some detailed advice please. Thank you for your help. Mark
Calif X5A, I drew this rifle tag for 2015, took ten years, need help please
- Thread starter Wildernessman
- Start date
Calbuck
Active Member
You should do the tag justice and drive up there to scout. As much as possible. If you can't/don't scout, you may have wasted the last ten years. Otherwise, look at google earth and try to memorize roads and features that are easily recognizable and get as good an idea you can on some likely areas to hold deer. I personally have been scouting my X zone for a couple months already, and have a really good idea where/how I'm going to hunt. And I know the bucks are there.
sneakypete
Veteran member
X2 what calbuck said. Why waste 10 years of points! He'll a couple of power weekends should give you a good idea where to start! I hope you put the work in!
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Arrowslinger
Member
packer58
Very Active Member
X5A can be a very demanding hunt, deer numbers are on the decline "major cat issues" with already low deer densities. Pre season scouting and learning your way around is not a suggestion......it is mandatory. Ten years is a long time to wait and go in cold turkey. 5a can be a good hunt but can also be a real dud....
sneakypete
Veteran member
Try calling the region office for the DFG and ask to talk to the area biologist , and ask away! Good luck!
Sawfish
Very Active Member
I have not hunted that area in years, but there used to be some good deer in the Horse Lake area. They would sneak out of the hills onto some of the ranches looking for an easy meal. There is a lot of private land interspersed with the BLM and USFS land. If I were going there, I would have an Onyx chip in my GPS.
Take Em Bucks N Bulls
New Member
- Aug 21, 2014
- 48
- 0
Id recommend staying on the north end, saw some great bucks out there last year. Just takes a lil time and some good optics in the desert and you will find a shooter. The zone has plenty of trophy bucks.
Mark, just read your post about X5A. I work at Fredonyer fire lookout in the middle of the X5A and would be happy to give info on the deer ive observed. Feel free to call me direct at (530) 514-2346 or email me at [email protected]. The phone is quicker as I don't always have internet access at the lookout. Previously I worked at Observation Peak lookout in the X5B and have for the last several years posted zone deer info on other sites. Hunters call me all the time so feel free to do the same.
Slugz
Veteran member
sneakypete
Veteran member
Wow, now that's some great info! I just saw some pictures from Eagle Lake last night and the were smokey, is the a fire in the area?
TimberJunkie
Active Member
Ok, I would listen to all the others....Scout. that's a hard hunt, mostly because it's early in the year and if it's hot, the deer will be nocturnal and stationary. That being said, water is not abundant out there and finding a good source is key. I love hunting the desert units, but also enjoy some timber thrown in. I hunted that area as a kid with my dad during bow season for several years, I also have a friend in Susanville who loves x5a. I would hunt the north end near Bailey creek. There is some timbered area south of Bailey Creek and Bailey Reservoir. They have recently done a series of small clear cuts in there, the deer love the new brush sprouting up, as well as the edge habitat provided by the logging operations. It's a good place to start. Good luck and enjoy!