I drew a Zone X-10 tag in California for the regular (not late) season. Any information on that area would be appreciated. It is adjacent to Hwy 395, and extends west to the Kern River. Mostly in wilderness areas. Thanks.
California Zone X-10 Information
- Thread starter Sawfish
- Start date
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Sawfish,
I've hunted X10 3 times years ago. last time around 1999. Before that they called Kennedy Meadows the deer factory. Probably in the 70's to 80's. Wasn't when I was there. They have had a low kill for quite awhile. Once we hiked up a trail on the east side out of Olancha off hwy 395. The east side is the steep side as you probably know ! I was sweating so bad when we got near the top that when we stopped I started shivering so bad I think I was going hypothermic. I unpacked my heavy jacket to put on. It was nearly 6 thousand ft. difference from bottom to top. Coming down it was so steep and with the weight in our packs, I still have a bad left hip from it. Popped all the way down and wore the cartledge in my hip socket or something. The other two times we came in from the west side. Piece of cake. I forget the wilderness you hike into from the road on the west side of mtn (Horseshoe Medows?) but I saw deer in there. Bring a little fishing pole. Don't know the name of the stream or if part of Kern River but it was full of trout. There was a wooden bridge you could cross to hunt other side. Not much help but I'm sure there will be other's who know more about it.I bet Colorado Cowboy does!
He's hunted the X12/X9A/X9B areas before they were split up into zones.
Post a thread in the "California" section also. Might help. Maybe I should off posted my X12 deer thead here instead ...?
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Don,
Thanks for the information. I have hunted X-12 a few times and X-9A once a few years ago. My last hunt in each of those zones was during record heat waves! I think the west access is through the Golden Trout Wilderness. I will bring my fishing pole. This will be a handgun hunt for me. I have tags/hunts for Blacktail, Whitetail and Mule Deer this year, and I am trying to get all 3 species in the same yeay with a handgun. It has been fun trying! Thanks again.
Marvin
Thanks for the information. I have hunted X-12 a few times and X-9A once a few years ago. My last hunt in each of those zones was during record heat waves! I think the west access is through the Golden Trout Wilderness. I will bring my fishing pole. This will be a handgun hunt for me. I have tags/hunts for Blacktail, Whitetail and Mule Deer this year, and I am trying to get all 3 species in the same yeay with a handgun. It has been fun trying! Thanks again.
Marvin
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Golden Trout ! Yes. That was it. I was ticked off I didn't bring a little pole, especially since I back packed in for 4 days. Could of been eating trout ! WTF ? How did you do in X12 ? Sept. 15 opener is way too early ! I mentioned to Colorado Cowboy, bigshot and Muleys 24/7 if they had any info and where your thread was. Might pay to post it in the "Kalifornia" section. LOL ! I have a S&W 460 XVR w/Burris 2x7 scope and a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull that I've attempted to hunt with a few times. One of those things that you say I'll do someday...Just take it with no rifle ! LOL !
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I've hunted it a few times, before it was broke up into all the zones they have today. Used to be only early & late seasons ICoastal & Inland). Hunted up in the Kennedy Meadows area accessd from a dirt road that went north between Walker Pass and Onyx of hwy 178. I also hunted it from the Kernville side via a USFS road (Before the bridge crossing the river to the east side). I think it was called Horse Meadows and yes there are Goldens there in the stream. Used to be the only access to catch Goldens that I knew of that you could actually drive to! Used to be lots of bears there too. Hunting was ok, but not great as I remember, thats why I've only hunted it a few times.
I knew some friends who hunted east of Porterville, north of there. They did pretty good, not sure what zone that is in today.
I knew some friends who hunted east of Porterville, north of there. They did pretty good, not sure what zone that is in today.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
I remember now, Walker pass I think, is the road up toward Kennedy Meadows from Hwy 395. Kernville was the town that was near the Wilderness (Golden Trout Wilderness) that we hiked into from. That was way back between 1997 and 1999 somewhere.
The river ( small river like a creek was so full of trout (golden) I was going crazy !
Thanks for replying for him CC !
The river ( small river like a creek was so full of trout (golden) I was going crazy !
Thanks for replying for him CC !
bigshot
Very Active Member
Hey Sawfish, I killed my first buck in X10 when I was 16 years old. Back then I did not have a vehicle nor did my family. After lots of begging and crying (by me), we were dropped off by my sisters boyfriend in a Ford Mustang Fastback!! They dropped me and my brother (15 yrs old) off at the beginning of the 4x4 jeep road past the Black Rock Ranger Station, with just our back packs full with a weeks worth of top Romen Noodles!! We hiked to the base of Monache Mtn and hunted the surrounding areas like Deer Mountain, and Monache Meadows. I bought a Chevy 4x4 the following year. I saw most of the bucks on Monache Mtn/Meadows. I missed 3 before I filled my tag that first year. My brother missed two himself what a blast. I cant believe my mother let us do it!!!
I have not been up there in a long time, as a matter of fact my brother and I were planning a reunion hunt this year and almost put in for that unit again. We decided to wait until next year.....I have heard that the old 4x4 jeep road we used to drive back in to Monache Mountain/Meadows is now closed and you have to hike back in there like we did that first year. Maybe thats why the success rate has dropped so much. I'll do some checking and let you know what I find.
I have not been up there in a long time, as a matter of fact my brother and I were planning a reunion hunt this year and almost put in for that unit again. We decided to wait until next year.....I have heard that the old 4x4 jeep road we used to drive back in to Monache Mountain/Meadows is now closed and you have to hike back in there like we did that first year. Maybe thats why the success rate has dropped so much. I'll do some checking and let you know what I find.
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Welcome to the new world of access to public lands! In the last few years based on a Dept of Interior policy, literally thousands of miles of roads on public lands (BLM, Nat For and Nat Mon) have been closed. Here in Colorado, New Mexico & Utah hearings have been held and the public has been TOLD what roads are closing. Lots of controversy from the public. I know California has had the same sort of situation.
My own opinion is the gov't agencies don't want to do their job and don't have the $$$ either. They can't maintain the roads so they shut them dowm. Also the ATV use has increased and a lot of these users are going anywhere their machine will take them, regardless of rule. Clinton era roadless rules are the basis for lots of this too.
Sorry... got my rant over with!!
Thanks, Guys. I am not as young as I used to be, but I do not mind walking a bit. Just bought a new pair of mountain boots to replace my old Red Wing Mountaineers that I have had for 25 years. Not too enthusiastic over these new fangled plastic and nylon boots. Everybody is always screwing with public land access. My Wife's cousin went to check out a piece of BLM land a few years in Colorado, and found a locked gate. He took his map and went to the BLM office in Grand Junction, and found out that a local rancher had padlocked the gate to keep out "foreigners" (nonresidents). Got it reopened in time for us to hunt opening day!
Found a few locked gates in CA, but did not have time to mess with it. I might be surprised, but I do not expect to see too many folks in X-10 once you get 250 yards from the road. Not too many walkers these days. From the TV, I suppose you need a plush truck, with a fancy stereo, and a knock out hunting partner of the opposite sex with teeth so bright and white, they would spook a deer at 600 yards! Yes, sir. Times are a changing (rant over for me).
I suspected there might be a few bears in X-10, and would be happy to see one, as I have been out of chili meat for a while. Anyway, all info. is greatly appreciated.
Don, the only way to kill anything with a handgun is to leave your rifle at home! I almost wore the bluing off a Super Blackhawk looking for the perfect chance. Never fired a shot at a deer, until I left the rifle at home. With rare exception, I have not hunted with a rifle in almost ten years. I bought an Encore pistol in 30/06 and an extra 25/06 barrel a few years ago, and have killed animals further away with them than I ever did with my rifles! Just made things more interesting. I am sending you a PM. Thanks.
Found a few locked gates in CA, but did not have time to mess with it. I might be surprised, but I do not expect to see too many folks in X-10 once you get 250 yards from the road. Not too many walkers these days. From the TV, I suppose you need a plush truck, with a fancy stereo, and a knock out hunting partner of the opposite sex with teeth so bright and white, they would spook a deer at 600 yards! Yes, sir. Times are a changing (rant over for me).
I suspected there might be a few bears in X-10, and would be happy to see one, as I have been out of chili meat for a while. Anyway, all info. is greatly appreciated.
Don, the only way to kill anything with a handgun is to leave your rifle at home! I almost wore the bluing off a Super Blackhawk looking for the perfect chance. Never fired a shot at a deer, until I left the rifle at home. With rare exception, I have not hunted with a rifle in almost ten years. I bought an Encore pistol in 30/06 and an extra 25/06 barrel a few years ago, and have killed animals further away with them than I ever did with my rifles! Just made things more interesting. I am sending you a PM. Thanks.
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HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Hey Sawfish !
I have an old .44 Super Blackhawk that I've had since I was a kid. Shot the heck out of it but never killed anything with it. My freind I used to have long range contest with our 44's. It seems puney campared to my 454 Cassul or 460 S&W ! I was hoping to shoot a pig or two with them before I graduated to deer with them. I keep saying I'm going to use a pistol with my doe tags in Wy. but it always seems they are way out there. Hard enough to stalk loper's. I'll take my 460 S&W to Wy. this year and maybe leave the rifle in camp when I have just doe tags to fill. Get one under the belt so to speak. About 5 yrs. ago I had a great opertunity to shoot a buck in Wy.. I had my Ruger Redhawk 454 w/Burris 1x4 scope. I was a 4 pt. or better year. In Wy. That means a 3 pt. w/eyegaurd even on only one antler is legal. I made a stalk on this buck who was checking out this doe so he was distracted. I was moving in and out of some trees. I got withing 50 yds. and looking through 10x binos he was a 3x3 w/o eyeguards ! I couldn't make any grow. I was pissed. I had that happen once after that with a rifle at around 30 yds. ! A big 3x3 about 26 in wide. No eyegaurds. What a joke. I once shot a little 3x3 with eyegaurds that was probably 3 yrs. younger that the big 3x3 w/o eyegaurds ! Management...
Like Bigshot and C.C. said, Monanche Meadows was famous like Kennedy Meadows in the "old days".
I'll be waiting on the PM. Thanks !
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I live about a mile and a half from 395. I was looking at the area on the map in case I got a tag there (missed the draw).
The Pacific Crest Trail runs through the area and the entire area west of it (D8) is a non-lead area. I don't know how heavily the Trail is travelled, but I've seen people that are hiking it recently and I just saw that Oprah recommended a book about the trail, so there may be more people up there while the weather is good.
As far as access, from the east, you can go up Indian Wells Canyon, get to the Trail and then follow that along the high elevations. There is a Jeep trail that you can take to the most northwestern part of the canyon, I couldn't get my F250 all the way up because the trail got too tight in some spots, but a smaller vehicle should be able to make it.
North of that, the next two canyons close up pretty quick, so unless you like hopping boulders, I wouldn't suggest going up. 9 Mile Canyon, which goes up to Kennedy Meadows, is the next and most northern access from the east and takes you into the northern part of the zone.
You can access the zone from the west and south by Hwy 178, either from 99 or 395. You can catch the Trail in Walkers Pass and head north or there is a road that runs up the western border of the zone (and is the border between the lead and non-lead areas).
The area on the east side of Owens Peak, including part of Indian Wells Valley, burned about 2 years ago.
Oh, and there is a brewery and steakhouse on 395 - good stuff.
Happy hunting and good luck.
Thanks for the information JMSZ. From what I can tell none of X-10 is in the no lead zone. I thought about the PCT, and how crowded it might be, but decided not to use the trail to avoid contact with any tree huggers, bunny lovers, etc.. The season is not long enough to deal with a anti-hunting demonstration from the crazies (LOL). I had planned on hunting from the western side, but I will be going up for a short pre-hunt scouting trip next week, and may change my mind. I know there are some big deer in the area. The question is can this old man outwit one of those old bucks. We will see.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
I know you can outwit them Saw !
It's comin' quick isn't it ? I'm rollin' out morning of 13th for X12.
How was your trip ? Shoot any lionfish ?
It's comin' quick isn't it ? I'm rollin' out morning of 13th for X12.
How was your trip ? Shoot any lionfish ?