X5a

[nitis]

Ok guys I know I am new around here but I do recognize many of you from other places along the way.

After about 20 years I am finally headed back to x5a with a tag in my pocket.

I know where to go and how to get around the area so don't be throwing numbers up after my post

What I want to know is what kind of expectations should I have for this hunt? Do I shoot the first 2 footer I see on opening morning or let it pass? I can be happy with that but we always strive to do our best

I am going to make one trip up to the area before season opens and confirm some access points and obviously scout some.

 

[Grantbvfd]

Don't pass up anything the first day that you would shoot on the last day.

 

[nitis]

How did I know I would hear that! Oh so true though wry true

 

[Caseyu]

Good luck!!

 

[Drhorsepower]

It's hard for someone else to put a number on someone else's goals. If you are happy with a 24" deer then you should not pass something up you will be happy with. That's a tough unit as you know and it isn't what it used to be...

 

[nitis]

I guess I'll know when/IF! I see one. I be waited a long time to come back to hunt where so many memories were made and I wonder if its the last time I will hunt there. It's hard to wait 7-8 years to draw a tag for sure.

 

[goindeep]

Width means nothing to me, I've seen 190 inch bucks with 21 inch spreads, would you pass that up for a 150 inch buck that's 26 wide? That being said I wouldn't pass up a 150 inch Buck in California unless i knew for sure there are some bigger ones around ( there are, just hard to find). I let my scouting determine the size of buck I will hold out for.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Don't pass up what you would be proud of taking home. If you have some bench marks to make the shoot or pass decision I think that is good. In the end if you need to be happy with what you took even if you don't take home something but passed on a few you did what you felt was rite at the time.

 

[goindeep]

Every year is different for me, 2009 I hunted the entire season for one buck, he was a 5x4 well over 30 wide that would of scored in the 180s. I saw him multiple times but never got a shot. I had no regrets eating that tag. The following year I tagged a 175 inch typical. And last year I hunted most of the season with out much luck and ended up shooting a small 4x3 for some meat and I was happy with that.

 

[nitis]

My scouting time will be limited I was more or less looking too see what the potential was for the area. From the looks of the road kill buck I got a picture of yesterday I should be able to set the bar pretty high.

Again I don't need to know where they are just want to know when to quit looking I guess. How good is the antler growth this year and what not

It's not going to take a record book buck for me to have him mounted across from grandpas 20 years ago. And I can be happy with what some call average.

Last year on my pronghorn hunt in nevada I shot one of the first bucks I saw. I knew he was just average and by no means a trophy but her was mine. However a mile down the road after I had harvested stood quite a dandy buck. But I have no regrets.

 

[goindeep]

If that road kill buck was the same one i got a pic of he's definitely a shooter, but bucks like that arent standing behind every juniper...
I heard rumor he was hit on 395 but a little south of your unit.

 

[nitis]

6x8? Not sure exactly where it was picked up but I know one of the guys on that road crew.

Again it's not my first hunt I understand that you don't just get out of the truck walk 100 yards sit down and they all run to you.

But I have hunted the unit enough (pre stupid point system) to know how to get around and find deer but live at enough away it's just not feasible to spend a week scouting. That's all no big. If no one has anything to offer nothing lost. Is this year better than past years have been? Is there any significant population increase due to the fire in x5b last year? That's all I am looking for. Maybe someone local as some insight. The BLM biologist was not much help

Honestly if I dd see that road kill buck he would of had to die of a heart attack cause I doubt I could have held still long enough to shoot straight he was a dandy

 

[Drhorsepower]

I have talked to several locals and no one knows of this road kill buck. I don't think it from around there but who knows.

 

[BossBrott]

I saw a pic of the road kill buck, he was a toad! Shame he went to waste. There were numerous bucks in the truck as I recall. From memory, he was a 180 class buck. Heavy, wide, great main beam length, deep forks, he had it all. The only bad thing he had? Judgment

 

[Drhorsepower]

I got the story today, it is not an x5a buck.

 

[squirrelduster]

Where was he from?