Newbie to CA with some questions!

[Hunter_Dan]

Hey guys, New to the forum and figured I would reach out for a little help. I recently moved to the Tulare area from MN for work. Only going to be out here a couple years and have always dreamed of killing a Mule Deer and am hoping to make that dream a reality. I have had good luck hunting across the midwest and not afraid to work for my deer.

I am still trying to decipher the chaotic rules and regs on zones and draws but I am planning on hunting the D8/D7 zones with the bow unless I get lucky and draw a rifle tag.

With that being said, what can a newbie expect as far as hunting around here? Are deer numbers very low? Can i hope to hold out for a P&Y caliber deer? Will I even see deer?

I am just hoping to get an idea of what to expect for hunting around here as I don't know anyone in the area to talk to about this and want to be realistic with my expectations for this upcoming fall. Thanks in advance!

 

[bigshot]

If you get a D8 or D7 tag, you can hunt it during rifle and archery season with the same tag just check your regs for the dates of each season. Ive never hunted D7, but D8 is a good unit with a decent deer herd. The deer are scattered through-out the area so you'll need to scout and glass. D8 gets better during rifle season when snow hits the area and the deer start to migrate down to the Kern river area.

 

[Bowhunter_60]

I've hunted all over the area up there. If you can get it, my personal preference is X-8. But short of that, Zone D5 has always produced for me. Up and around Wright's Lake, Peavine Ridge, have both produced some exceptional deer for me. I shot a nearly 30" buck just South of Wright's Lake several years ago.

Word of advise though, and its what I follow. DO NOT go up opening weekend. It's packed with hunters. In every case for me, and I've killed a number of nice bucks up there. I go on the last weekend of the season. Hunting pressure is down and there's a chance you'll get a little snow. If you want to PM me I'll shoot ya the grid coordinates of my hunt.

 

[Never in Doubt]

D7 has a lot of backcountry to hike into if you like that sort of thing. If you're willing to put in the hard work and hike and glass for hours, you'll get your buck. Do some summer scouting. This is still California, bucks, especially older bucks don't grow on trees. You likely won't find a P&Y buck, but who knows... You can still find a good buck by local standards. Can't shoot something that isn't there.

Deer numbers are low, but if you find a buck you'll probably see more than one in the area. Just have to get out and find those bucky areas.


Bigshot is right, draw the zone and you can hunt archery and rifle season.

 

[Tag_Out]

In my opinion. If you are only going to be in CA for a couple of years and your goal is to kill a Mule Deer. Save your money and vacation. Take a week or two off and shoot to Idaho on a general hunt. It is going to take you longer to draw a decent Mule Deer zone in CA than you might realize. Your odds are better in Idaho, even on a general hunt. Most all Ca zones are blacktail or hybreds. Good luck.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

There are some good deer in both d8 and D7 but they are in pockets so you have to do a lot of summer scouting to locate a bachelor group and then hope they didn't get blown out before the opener.

 

[Hunter_Dan]

Thanks for all the info guys! I have been spending a lot of time scouting already just trying to get used to the terrain and get an idea on how they move. With that said, it has not been very productive but not really concerned until later in the year. although part of me is thinking to just save my money and fly back to the midwest for whitetails.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Thanks for all the info guys! I have been spending a lot of time scouting already just trying to get used to the terrain and get an idea on how they move. With that said, it has not been very productive but not really concerned until later in the year. although part of me is thinking to just save my money and fly back to the midwest for whitetails.

I'm from Michigan and flew back for years to hunt at our deer camp in thr Upper Peninsula. But finally I decided to start western hunting and i got bite by thr bug real hard.

 

[Hunter_Dan]

Im gonna give her H#%l while i'm out here and try to make it happen. Figure if I scout enough I should be able to find some deer. I already am pretty excited to be able to hunt the mountains and im sure it will get me and I will want to do it every year

 

[Jrod]

you may have a relatively good chance at drawing an xzone tag with archery. If I was gonna do archery I would apply for X4. Some giants to be had and not all desert like other x zones. Always apply for an x or an archery x (or any premium tag) first. then a "D" or even "C" as second choice and then whatever for third. If you don't get youre first choice you get a point and may get your second or third. usually can buy a D3-5 tag otc if you didn't get any drawings. couple bucks on the Susanville MDF facebook page from x4. I'm on there too
cheers