CA Deer Season (Regular Opener)

[Andrew]

General season is upon us in the Bs, Cs, and some of the Ds, and Xs. I'm going to give it a few weeks and pay attention to the weather and the full moon in mid-October. Will anybody else be out chasing blacktails or muleys?

[dariian]

I'll be hunting the south D16 and A22.

[Andrew]

Good luck out there. I'm going to trade in my hall pass for a few days in B1 and B3 later this month. I'm hoping that I can time some weather. It's set to warm up here again. You have to take it with a grain of salt at this point, but it looks like we might get a change in weather mid-month on that full moon.

[kon]

I was lucky enough to land 2 wild pigs and a 3x3 blacktail with my bow, on A zone public land, all during the first week of archery season back in July. I was hiking 12+ miles a day over steep hills in 100 degree heat, but I loved it! I just got into hunting so this was my first season, and suffice it to say I’m hooked. It’s certainly different than spearfishing, and more challenging in some respects, but no less fun IMO.

Good luck!

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[Andrew]

Hell yes, Kon! You earned that one. A Zone hunts are notoriously brutal and you got it done with a bow. Like you, I've transitioned to hunting from spearfishing. As you said - definitely different, definitely hard, definitely a lot of fun.

Are you going to run another tag for rifle or archery before the season is over?

[kon]

I have another AO tag but my wife and I spend most of the year in Tahoe now, so I decided to spend archery season in Aug here looking for black bear in X8 instead of deer in D5. I called two in so far but didn't get a shot, so now that general season is here I switched to a rifle to increase my odds. I've been going out practically daily for evenings hunts, but haven't managed to call another one in yet. The country out here is gorgeous, so luck or no luck, I'm just happy spending time in the mountains!

[Andrew]

Sounds like you are living the dream, buddy. Good for you! Look forward to seeing photos of your bear when you bag it.

[VangysWay]

I was lucky enough to land 2 wild pigs and a 3x3 blacktail with my bow, on A zone public land, all during the first week of archery season back in July. I was hiking 12+ miles a day over steep hills in 100 degree heat, but I loved it! I just got into hunting so this was my first season, and suffice it to say I’m hooked. It’s certainly different than spearfishing, and more challenging in some respects, but no less fun IMO.

Good luck!

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Wow. That's epic man! Wild pig on public land is no easy feat and that is a nice buck! I got really close to a giant sow at Lake Sonoma but couldn't put it all together.

Over the past two years, bow hunting has consumed me. I shot a doe last year and a black bear, but sadly didn't recover the black bear as I hit him a little far back. This year I shot my first buck in A zone south. I am hooked and love bow hunting as much as I love spearfishing.

[Andrew]

That's another fine buck! Congratulations. You fellas have set a high bar.

[kon]

Wow. That's epic man! Wild pig on public land is no easy feat and that is a nice buck! I got really close to a giant sow at Lake Sonoma but couldn't put it all together.

Over the past two years, bow hunting has consumed me. I shot a doe last year and a black bear, but sadly didn't recover the black bear as I hit him a little far back. This year I shot my first buck in A zone south. I am hooked and love bow hunting as much as I love spearfishing.

Thanks buddy! Nice work on the buck, that's a beautiful 3 pointer! I landed a 3rd pig a week or two after that first week, I think pigs are definitely much easier than deer considering their poor eye sight. Like with any game animal, the trick seems to be finding them!

[Andrew]

I had to toss my B-zone tag into the JetBoil. Spent the weekend climbing up and down some steep country in the Yuki Wilderness, but didn't so much as see a buck. Found plenty of fresh scat (deer & bear), but didn't see any animals. I love it up in the B Zones, but the 5ish hour one-way drive to the put-in is too much. I think that I'm going to turn my attention to A-Zone South next season so that I can trade hours in the car for hours in the field.

[VangysWay]

I had to toss my B-zone tag into the JetBoil. Spent the weekend climbing up and down some steep country in the Yuki Wilderness, but didn't so much as see a buck. Found plenty of fresh scat (deer & bear), but didn't see any animals. I love it up in the B Zones, but the 5ish hour one-way drive to the put-in is too much. I think that I'm going to turn my attention to A-Zone South next season so that I can trade hours in the car for hours in the field.

As it goes. Bowhunting is tough as hell and can be really discouraging... I'll always take more time in the field over more time in the car, but don't give up on Yuki!

[Andrew]

That buck is a stud. Congrats!

[Andrew]

I'll always take more time in the field over more time in the car, but don't give up on Yuki!

And I haven't given up just yet. I marked the fresh deer scat I found with my GPS while I was stinking up the woods to get the lay of the land. I've got half a mind to daytrip back up this week, find a rock, and glass for a few hours now that I've found a couple of draws spilling into a common drainage that seem to have recent activity. If I sit it out I'm SOL until 2020.

[VangysWay]

Opening day success here in Ventura County on public land. Now time to chase some tuna!

[Schwaman]

Congrats! Not an easy accomplishment in our area.
I am going for azone and d13 with rifle this season, practicing my archery to hopefully graduate to land spearfishing next season

[Andrew]

Hell yes! Way to get it done (and thanks for sharing the photos with us).

I'm concentrating on D5 & D6 rifle this year.

[kon]

What a way to start the season, great work!

I drove out to A zone this week and brought home a pig:

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Next is A15 (X8) in Aug for archery deer and black bear, can't wait!

[kon]

Following up on my post last year, I ended up landing my first bear with rifle after about 20 days of hunting. I wasn't having much luck using a predator call, so I started hiking near streams and came across this one. Hoping to get one with my bow this year!

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[ricduenas]

Can you guys not name specific wilderness areas, wildlife areas, etc.? This is a public-facing internet forum. Grinds my gears.

Nice job on the early buck. Sevr broadhead?

Good looking color phase on that bear. It doesn't surprise me that you stopped calling them after archery. Very unresponsive when they're locked on to acorns during the general season.

[kon]

Can you guys not name specific wilderness areas, wildlife areas, etc.? This is a public-facing internet forum. Grinds my gears.

Fair enough, I edited my post above. I figured it's a large and well known area but I get it.

Good looking color phase on that bear. It doesn't surprise me that you stopped calling them after archery. Very unresponsive when they're locked on to acorns during the general season.

That makes sense, I was able to call a couple in during archery in Aug but couldn't get a shot, then in Sep it seemed to stop working. And yes, this one had a gray/ghost shade, definitely an unusual color. It also only had one ear and not much of a scar there. The taxidermist has been busy but should have the mount done in the next week or two, looking forward to seeing it.

[Andrew]

Can you guys not name specific wilderness areas, wildlife areas, etc.? This is a public-facing internet forum. Grinds my gears.

Fair enough, I edited my post above. I figured it's a large and well known area but I get it.

Good looking color phase on that bear. It doesn't surprise me that you stopped calling them after archery. Very unresponsive when they're locked on to acorns during the general season.

That makes sense, I was able to call a couple in during archery in Aug but couldn't get a shot, then in Sep it seemed to stop working. And yes, this one had a gray/ghost shade, definitely an unusual color. It also only had one ear and not much of a scar there. The taxidermist has been busy but should have the mount done in the next week or two, looking forward to seeing it.

Well done, Kon. Thanks for sharing the photos. I need to pull it together on the stickbow front and get in on the early season action in A Zone. With a pack of little ones at home, I haven't had the time the last few years to do archery & rifle, so I've focused on rifle.

[VangysWay]

Thanks guys and congratulations to you all on your great harvests as well. Hopefully more to come as the season ramps up. Good luck everyone...

Nice job on the early buck. Sevr broadhead?

Yes it was.