First time applying for CA Big GAme Drawing

[wooliewill89]

Hello again guys, just had a another noobies question. It's going to be my first time using the application for tags for the big game drawing and im not to sure how to fill it out, I know I get a first choice -3rd on what zone I want to hunt. I want to do AO this season for mostly the D zones and still want to get a chance or point for x9b. Would my card look like this:

First AO
Second AO
Third X9B ?
Or would it be
X9B
AO
AO? The dfg website is a bit... Irritating lol thank you all for the help and advice.

 

[Tim Hughes]

No, don't do that. Make AO your 2nd or 3rd choice. To build a point you need to not get drawn for your 1st choice. You will draw anything but an X zone as your first choice. Besides if you do get lucky and draw, you can still get a second tag and it can be your AO.

Good luck!

 

[Tim Hughes]

Sorry, you can draw any general deer tag. There are lots of G,M,and A tags you need to build points for. I have been bunting CA my whole life and have drawn many premium tags. Just start applying.

 

[wooliewill89]

Thank you so much sir, I was at basspro getting ready to apply and good thing the lady was pretty rude or I would have applied right then and put Ao on 2 of them haha really great help man thank you!

 

[87TT]

Pick and X zone for your first pick. If you just want a point, make your first pick an impossible one and your second one of the D zones. In D14 you can hunt both archery and rifle. You can use a bow for both if you want. D14 isn't a draw yet. If I remember right, X9b is a pretty tough hunt unless you get weather. If you are only going to use a bow and not switch to rifle, then make your second pick an AO.

 

[wooliewill89]

Thank you very much bro that really helpe, along with the rest of the responses. Just didn't wana goof up my first time applying and waste any point gain or anything like that.

 

[87TT]

Your welcome. You only get a point if you don't get drawn or if you put down point only.

 

[Bughalli]

No, don't do that. Make AO your 2nd or 3rd choice. To build a point you need to not get drawn for your 1st choice. You will draw anything but an X zone as your first choice. Besides if you do get lucky and draw, you can still get a second tag and it can be your AO.

Good luck!

What he said. You can get drawn for a premium zone in your first year, unlikely but happens. I drew an antelope tag the first year I put in for it. Save the AO tag for a second tag. You may want to check on this, but I believe any zone where the AO tag is good during archery, you can still hunt during the gun season, but only with a bow. You're not restricted to just the archery season. Nice to have that flexibility.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

I just looked at the draw results from last year and for x9b you didn't need any points to hunt the archery season

 

[wooliewill89]

Oh nice thank you! I did no know I will have to look into the that.

 

[wooliewill89]

That's really cool thanks. I woudnt know what to do with my self hitting a premium off the bat, appreciate the response.

 

[wooliewill89]

Actually drew X9C tag for my first pick wasn't expecting that, appriciate all the help with the drawing proces. I will be getting my AO tag aswell along with CA bear tag, worried about all the fires springing up in CA right now. Then again can always hunt the burns!

 

[Sawfish]

Good Zone! If Tim Taylor is still the biologist for that area, he can give you some up to date information on the deer situation. Do not fail to give him a call before hunting/scouting the area. He works out of the Bishop DFG office.

 

[wooliewill89]

Wow thank you very much! I sure will be giving them a call and asking for him, I plan on getting out there in the next two weeks to see what's what. I really appriciate the tip!

 

[Sawfish]

Good luck!

 

[Bowhunter_60]

Actually drew X9C tag for my first pick wasn't expecting that, appriciate all the help with the drawing proces. I will be getting my AO tag aswell along with CA bear tag, worried about all the fires springing up in CA right now. Then again can always hunt the burns!

I'm doing X9c AO this year. Hit me up if you're looking for a partner.