California A zone

[brokfut]

Grew up in Santa Cruz County out in the country. Larkin Valley Rd. There were a lot of deer in the hills but even back then (50 + years ago) every square inch was privet. I left there in 1968 but hunted the north part of the state west and north of Red Bluff / Anderson. A lot more deer and fewer people. More rattle snakes, hogs, pot growers, poison oak and just miserable weather. Would love to go back and do it again someday.

 

[Huntin' Fool]

Need to go deer hunting... Only a 5 day break between bow and rifle season this year. May come down and hunt the last week of archery and hang around for rifle. Have a nice spot shady spot at 3300' in the Mendocino NF to camp and hunt. The afternoon ocean breeze nearly always comes up. Hot, but doesn't get to 100 usually.

 

[Huntin' Fool]

No draws this year - plan on getting to my Mendo NF camping spot by July 26th or so.

 

[Runnin_Chupacabra]

Same. Ready to sweat in the good ole south A zone

 

[Huntin' Fool]

Archery starts in 1 week - July 11th - whose going? I'm going to wait until Aug 8 for rifle opener - will have 2 weeks if I need it.

 

[Runnin_Chupacabra]

Nothing like opening weekend temps of 96 & 100. Wouldn't expect anything else from south A-zone

 

[cahunter805]

Will be going to check all our cameras this weekend and probably take the bow along. Wouldn’t expect anything other than 100+ for A zone!!

 

[Runnin_Chupacabra]

First deer opener of 2020! Good luck fellas

 

[Huntin' Fool]

Open day of A zone archery, 2005, late afternoon. Afternoon ocean breeze blowing 10 - 20, probably near 90 or so. Still hunting through my honey hole where I'd missed a dandy 4 by 4 in '88 or 9. Had been logged in the mid '80s, saplings and brush makes for short shooting lanes. A probable pope and young blacktail, in velvet, steps out at 20 yards, walks a few steps and stops broadside with some brush but gives me a great shot. I judge poorly and use my 30 yard pin and shoot just over him. It haunts me...

Still haven't killed a mature buck there - 2 forkies with a rifle.

Missed 4 by 4's with gun and bow...

Discovered the area in '87 and have hunted it about 1/3 of the hunting seasons since. Hunted it last year the last week of the rifle season, saw a dandy but couldn't get a shot. Really need to kill a mature... The plan is to pull into camp Aug 6th, early evening.

Haunted

 

[Huntin' Fool]

Any reports? I'll be there August 8th.

 

[Runnin_Chupacabra]

Any reports? I'll be there August 8th.

Been hampered by some foot issues so not too much to report here.

 

[bigdistance1]

We got out this weekend for opener. Saw 3 does, but no bucks. Anyone else make it out?

 

[NoBadP17]

We got out this weekend for opener. Saw 3 does, but no bucks. Anyone else make it out?

Found this guy the night before the opener. We relocated him w/in 100 yards of where he was around 6:30 AM opening day. 220 yards and a STEEP angled shot later, I had my first buck (ever) down. Truly surprised at the amount of fat we found on him, he had about a 1/2" on his brisket, back and rear legs. Thinking he was around 120-130lbs. He's not a monster by any stretch, but my freezer's full and I was able to cross a CA public land blacktail off the list!