Want to shoot my first buck

So Ive been "hunting" for deer for 4 years straight except for this year and I have yet to even see ANYTHING when I go. Ive only been hunting in the D4 and part of D5 zones. Ive seen doe's a few times but never any bucks, until i get home of course where i cant shoot them. So, my question is, does anyone know of any places to go on public land (meaning SPI, BLM, Forest Service, etc) that is near the D4/D5 zones? I dont really want to go on a full out trip but a weekend would be ok. I know there are lots of tags that you can be drawn for but id rather stay away from those. Thanks in advance!

 

Im in the same boat as you dude been hunting for 4 years now and have yet to shoot my first buck, I had my chance this year in Archery, missed him shot right over his back forgot to consider the downhill...but I don't sweat it, its hunting not killing, I enjoy just going up there...this years rifle season I went every weekend and still didn't get anything...don't let your hopes down...better luck next year

Now as in hunting areas, im sure you been to ice house, there's an area up there I like to hunt, the road is called picket pin, its about 3-4 miles pass that store in ice house...that's where I missed this years buck in archery

There's also the town called west point lots of SPI property up there, the road you want to exit is blue mointain road, im pretty sure if you gps it , it should show up, just make sure its in the town of west point, if you go pass west point you'll get to (don't now if its a road or town, I think its a road) called winton, there's a pretty big area to hunt up there to. these areas are off hyw 88 up by jackson

Good luck next year and maybe ill see you up there

 

Thanks for the info. I havent heard of ice house. Il have to check that out. Ive been to winton road. It all looks like a great place for deer, but there is no dear usually. thanks again

 

man you might find better help by asking a mod move this to the california section to see if there's some guys on here in your area that would take you hunting with them. . . . . . my only advice is the common knowledge - does follow fawns, and bucks follow does. don't know if you've been smoking the mamas before daddy can show up, but that's a common issue for beginning hunters not bagging the big boys. good luck dude.

 

4 years? I haven't gone a year without a deer. How many times do you go a year? I hunt ALOT

 

I figured it would be flagged as a thread in the wrong section. your advice is true however if you dont see doe's either then how can you find the bucks?

 

My dad doesnt beleive in scent control or attractants, so we dont use it. Thanks for the tips though

 

Scout. It's ca. I've got one buck and that was when I was 16. Been huntin them ever since. It's also right place right time. I'm guessing d4 n 5 is black tail and some mule deer. Attractants won't work because u can't hunt the rut, and ca is dumb and u can't use feed... Just honestly know the area, scout preseason and put in your time. It'll come. Major thing is know how to hunt the wind and knowing the thermals. An if u hunt public land. Hike hike hike. Never stay still unless u got a good vantage point where u can glass a massive areA, and make sure the wind is in your face at all times.

 

I cant argue that ca is dumb. Yeah d4-d5 is mostly blacktail with maybe a few muleys. Thanks for the tips. I think I know what im doing in my spare time next year

 

problem?

 

Scouting is the key. Dont move from place to place, pick an area and hunt it. Just finished my Deer hunt here in New Mexico and hunted the same place for 3 straight days through wind, sleet, snow and fog. 3rd morning I harvested a real nice 7 point Mule Deer. In the 3 days I never saw a doe or a fawn but I scouted this area for two months and knew they were in there. I already have started scouting again for an Elk hunt in December.

 

How many times a year do you go out?

 

read it wrong. Edited

 

except for this last season which i didnt even get tags ive gone for the past 4 years and during the season I tried to go out every weekend

 

Ya The buck I got was private and no one hunted it. It was redic how many bucks were there. Still hunt private land in a and b zone, but just never have the luck of seeing them in season. Right place and right time, and put In your time. Good luck

 

people do it. like what the other person was saying. right place at the right time. ca is stupid

 

The seasons in ca are before the rut. Some zones u might get lucky and catch them starting to rut in the last weekend, but rarely. Depends on weather. And to hunt late season gotta get drawn for a special tag and cas point shit. And then it's usually bow or muzzle loader. I'll be getting late season covelo soon here. Year or two hopefully.

 

good luck in getting drawn

 

One of the reasons I'm leaving this state. Good luck OP

 

yeah hunting in california is tough. I been hunting since i was 12 every single year and am now 31 and my first years didn't even see a buck. But my last ten years have been good. i have almost killed on every year and some years 2. I guess how tacomaboss said that it takes knowing how the deer move and experience. its always 3 of us that hunt together and last year we got 3 and this year we got 3 too. I my self killed 2 off them . But we walk for hours throgh the mountains where no one goes to find deer. After we kill a deer it has taken us up to almost 6 hours to get back to the car.. But at the end its all worth it.