California Deer Hunters
- Thread starter twp1224
- Start date
dustyboots
Member
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
BOHNTR
Very Active Member
Here's a few California Mule Deer I photographed in the Eastern Sierra Mountain Range over the Thanksgiving weekend. Some really good bucks for the Golden State.
BOHNTR
Very Active Member
Great deer. I didn't see anything close to that in X7b. I didn't have a tag but was in the area a lot looking for bears.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
cali_hornhunter
Active Member
Bohntr where did u take those im going to guess probably in the area of the G3 hunt just curious
Kevin Root
Very Active Member
Those are some nice pictures BOHNTR. The Eastern Sierra Mountain Range, Mono County and up to the Oregon border has some big bucks.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I was born and raised in Southern California (can't help capitolizing the S as this is where I went to college & played football!). In fact I am a 4th generation, now live in SW Colorado for the past 11 years after I retired. Killed my first deer in 1953 when I was 12. I remember when there were just 2 deer hunting zones...coastal (early) and inland (late). Shot a lot of deer in the Bridgeport area and near Mammoth. My family started doing a packin hunt thru Red's Meadows Pack Station near Mammoth in the 40's and still do it today. Same camp in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area for over 60 years.California has some great bucks if you are willing to work for them. I have shot somewhere around 40 deer there and have a couple of good ones on my great room wall. Everyone here in Colorado can't believe they are California Muleys. (one scored 187+ in 1963). If anyone wants to see some great deer from CA, there is a bar in Rio Vista (can't remember the name) that has around 50 mounts on display including some real hogs!.I've shot deer from Ventura to Susanville and even in the Mojave Desert. The last few years (in th 90"s)I didn't see as many big bucks, but my cousins tell me they are still there, you just have to get after them. Sounds like Colorado & Wyoming too!
I found this buck by Taylorsville about 2 years ago. Seems to alwasys be some good bucks in the area.
sjsmallfield
Veteran member
No one knew it was a secret till you said something.You guys are giving away all of our secrets!
We used to live in Genesee in the early 50's. Saw some huge bucks back then!
My dad got buck fever on one of those monsters, racked the bolt on his rifle five times saying bang each time he did, and never once pulled the trigger. He couldn't understand how he missed until we showed him the five live rounds on the ground at his feet! He didn't think it was as funny as his buddies did!
WhskyDistiller
New Member
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Hey Drhorsepower !
I've seen you in the Wy. section ! I've hunted all over Ca. since I was a kid for the last 35 yrs. . Taken some bucks but in 1983 I went on a hunt in Wy. and one in Ut. and that kind of killed my appitite for deer hunting in Ca..Have hunted both every yr. since. Since then I've hunted Co., Az., Nv. and Wa..Even bought 40 acres in Wy. back in 1996 and haven't even hunted on it ! It's deer area 89 and antelope 72. I hunted San Bernardino Nat. Forest for 20 + yrs. then Moved near San Diego. Not as good here. A lot of brush ! Been getting A22 tags last few yrs. for somthing to do after getting back from Wy. and Ut. I used to backpack into Whitewater Canyon (D-14) for deer. shot a few decent bucks there. A lot of bear there too. I drew X9A in 1996. Ended up with a Fork Horn...Hunted X9B a few times. Never got anything. Noticed last yr. that you can only get it on 1st coice now ! Used to be able to draw last choice. Think a lot of hunters are not going out of state lately. Been reading all these posts. Great to see a lot of fellow Ca. hunters ! I think we hunt the hardest ! I know. Been at it for a long time and hunted out of state a long time. I have also hunted D7 a couple times and D8 once with no luck. Have hunted D14 and D19 a lot back when both side of HWY 10 San Bernardino Nat. Forest was all D11 ! Then they split it to D14 north and D19 south. Anyway, great to hear/read all of you posts ! I'm not alone ! Oh ! BTW. I drew a bighorn tag for San Gorgonio hunt in 2002 , the yr. they went to a point system and 3 times as many people put in for sheep. Shot a 163 in. ram 1/2003. Have max pts. for elk and antelope. Can't draw that dang elk tag though !
Don
I've seen you in the Wy. section ! I've hunted all over Ca. since I was a kid for the last 35 yrs. . Taken some bucks but in 1983 I went on a hunt in Wy. and one in Ut. and that kind of killed my appitite for deer hunting in Ca..Have hunted both every yr. since. Since then I've hunted Co., Az., Nv. and Wa..Even bought 40 acres in Wy. back in 1996 and haven't even hunted on it ! It's deer area 89 and antelope 72. I hunted San Bernardino Nat. Forest for 20 + yrs. then Moved near San Diego. Not as good here. A lot of brush ! Been getting A22 tags last few yrs. for somthing to do after getting back from Wy. and Ut. I used to backpack into Whitewater Canyon (D-14) for deer. shot a few decent bucks there. A lot of bear there too. I drew X9A in 1996. Ended up with a Fork Horn...Hunted X9B a few times. Never got anything. Noticed last yr. that you can only get it on 1st coice now ! Used to be able to draw last choice. Think a lot of hunters are not going out of state lately. Been reading all these posts. Great to see a lot of fellow Ca. hunters ! I think we hunt the hardest ! I know. Been at it for a long time and hunted out of state a long time. I have also hunted D7 a couple times and D8 once with no luck. Have hunted D14 and D19 a lot back when both side of HWY 10 San Bernardino Nat. Forest was all D11 ! Then they split it to D14 north and D19 south. Anyway, great to hear/read all of you posts ! I'm not alone ! Oh ! BTW. I drew a bighorn tag for San Gorgonio hunt in 2002 , the yr. they went to a point system and 3 times as many people put in for sheep. Shot a 163 in. ram 1/2003. Have max pts. for elk and antelope. Can't draw that dang elk tag though !
Don
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HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Know you know why it's so hard to draw a Goodale hunt tag ! Nice pics ! Funny how you don't see those bucks in X12.X9A and X9B until the winter down at base of Eastern Sierras. I think they are all hanging out in Nv. before then !
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Hey Colorado Cowboy !
See you in the Wyoming section a lot too !
Another smart guy that got out of Ca. !
The deer herd in the Sierra's from Bishop to Bridgeport isn't like it was when you were here. You were here in the hay day !
I love hearing hearing about back in the day hunting. Always makes me wish I could have witnessed it.
Take care and tell me more !
Don
See you in the Wyoming section a lot too !
Another smart guy that got out of Ca. !
The deer herd in the Sierra's from Bishop to Bridgeport isn't like it was when you were here. You were here in the hay day !
I love hearing hearing about back in the day hunting. Always makes me wish I could have witnessed it.
Take care and tell me more !
Don
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
Hey don! It seems you have been all over the state! Im using ca as points right now. I will draw a good area next year or the year after. We will see.... I grew up in northern ca. Lassen county. You should post a pic of that ram!