2012 Vandenberg Deer Hunting Season

[myfriendis410]

This is preliminary but thought I'd get this out to you:

Deer Tags that will be honored at Vandenberg AFB for the 2012 Season.

AO, Zone A, MA-3, G11


Zone A Archery Season: 14 Jul 2012 - 5 Aug 2012

Bag and Possession Limit: One buck, forked horn (see subsection 351(a))
or better per tag.

(a) Forked-Horn Buck Defined. For the purpose of these regulations a
forked-horn buck is defined as a male deer having a branched antler on
either side with the branch in the upper two-thirds of the antler. Eye
guards or other bony projections on the lower one-third of the antler
shall not be considered as points or branches. Spike bucks may not be
taken.

(h) Except as provided in subsection 353(g), archers may not possess a
firearm while hunting in the field during any archery season, or while
hunting during a general season under the provisions of an archery only
tag.


Zone A General Season: 11 Aug 2012 - 23 Sep 2012

(C) Bag and Possession Limit: One buck, forked horn (see subsection
351(a)) or better, per tag.

G11 Season Either Sex: 27 Aug 2012 - 31 Dec 2012.

(C) Bag and Possession Limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection
351(c)) per tag

(c) Either-Sex Deer Defined. For the purpose of these regulations,
either-sex deer are defined as antlerless deer as described in Section
351 (b), or legal bucks that have two or more points in the upper
two-thirds of either antler. Spike bucks may not be taken.


MA-3 Season: 24 Nov 2012 - 9 Dec 2012.

(C) Bag and Possession Limit: One buck, forked horn (see subsection
351(a)) or better, per tag

(f) Under the provisions of a muzzleloading rifle only tag, hunters may
only possess muzzleloading rifles as described in subsection 353(a)
equipped with open or "peep" type sights only except as described in
subsection 353(k).


(g) Under the provisions of a muzzleloading rifle/archery tag, hunters
may only possess muzzleloading rifles with sights as described in
subsection 353(f); archery equipment as described in Section 354; or
both. For purposes of this subsection, archery equipment does not
include crossbows, except as provided in subsection 354(j).


(h) Methods of take within the California condor range. Except as
otherwise provided, it is unlawful to use or possess projectiles
containing more than one percent lead by weight while taking or
attempting to take any big game (as defined in Section 350, Title 14,
CCR) in those areas described in Section 3004.5, Fish and Game Code.

 

[Phil80]

I just got back off deployment and read the new regs. There used to be a restriction on AR style rifles but in the new regs I did not see the entry. Has this changed ro is it an over sight of the base regulations?

 

[ltdann]

Hows the season going? Better, worse then recent years?

 

[myfriendis410]

It seems slow. A 160 lb deer came off of Sudden opening weekend. Steve's tagged out with a nice forkie. Only five or six deer so far.

AR style rifles, as far as I know, and as long as they are California legal, are okay. Not that I'd recommend using a varmint round like the 5.56 for deer.......and it's copper only!

 

[Phil80]

It seems slow. A 160 lb deer came off of Sudden opening weekend. Steve's tagged out with a nice forkie. Only five or six deer so far.

AR style rifles, as far as I know, and as long as they are California legal, are okay. Not that I'd recommend using a varmint round like the 5.56 for deer.......and it's copper only!

Thanks I called earlier today. Like you said as long as it is Ca compliant and they will check. It's 308 and my brother runs 6.8. The only reason I was holding onto my rem 700 was Vandenburg and Pendleton wouldnt allow them. Selling the bolt gun.

 

[myfriendis410]

That's good to know. Good luck!

 

[rooster85]

It seems slow. A 160 lb deer came off of Sudden opening weekend. Steve's tagged out with a nice forkie. Only five or six deer so far.

AR style rifles, as far as I know, and as long as they are California legal, are okay. Not that I'd recommend using a varmint round like the 5.56 for deer.......and it's copper only!

A 160lb deer? That sounds big for that area. Up high or down in the flats. Makes me more anxious.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

 

[myfriendis410]

My understanding is that it was taken up high in C5.

Yesterday (I didn't see it) a HUGE 4 X 4 was hit by a car on Pine Canyon and killed. I saw the cars, but didn't put it together.

 

[ltdann]

Sudden's still open? I'd thought they met the qouta by now. And yeah, 160's a bruiser.

Largest I've seen taken was 175 lbs, and that was taken with a Jeep Cherokee by one of the Game Wardens.

Neither the jeep or the deer recovered from the encounter.

 

[cjmassari]

Lt. Dan-There's been 8 bucks taken out of Sudden so far. I hunted it hard this past few days and last week. I saw nothing but spikes and does. While I'm certain there's a few left, they cleaned it out pretty good. I was fortunate and shot a small forkie in C-3 Friday night. It seems there's been quite a few taken there also. I looked at the logs and there;s been quite a few more taken than Allen noted. I saw a HUGE 4x4 the other morning crossing from C-1 into C-2 while I was driving in. There's also forkies all over by the Rod and Gun club. Goos luck when you get up there.

 

[cjmassari]

BTW- The fog is a factor in hunting up high also. Though it's probably nothing new to you, I sat for three hours the other morning in C-1 waiting for it to clear and it never did. Same for Sudden on Friday morning. All clear below, but thick fog starting halfway up. Was a bummer because any legal buck looks to have moved up high.

 

[rooster85]

That fog in C1 always looks like its about to burn off then doesn't. I've sat up high waiting for it to burn off with no luck many times over the years. Nothing happening on south base? I was hoping to make it out this upcoming weekend, but training may keep me here. Lots of hunters out this weekend?

 

[ltdann]

Sounds like the season is in full swing then?

 

[myfriendis410]

The cooler at the club is empty and I haven't seen many hunters out. We're gonna get out tonight.

 

[rooster85]

Good luck tonight alan. Let us know what you're seeing. I may be able to sneak out for a hunt this weekend. Never like to hunt "opening weekend" but my time is running thin.

 

[cjmassari]

Rooster- If you don't mind shooting a doe you could have that task completed in 5 minutes of less. Legal bucks are a bit more difficult. In C-5 there have been 8 bucks taken so far. I checked the log sheet at the wardens office and I'm guessing 25-30 bucks have been taken so far including archery season.

The easy pickings are all in someone's freezer. I know there's a big 4x4 still cruising South base and I also saw a giant driving in to hunt in the dark crossing from C-1 into C-2 last week. They're still there, but you've gotta go after them. Also, by the gun club I saw three nice forkies Friday night cruising.

Good luck to all! I'm using my 2nd tag for Pendleton with archery opening this weekend.

 

[cjmassari]

I didn't realize I just nearly repeated my earlier post...oops!

 

[JONFSH]

All... A friend of mine at Edwards, sent me this picture of a Vendenberg buck taken this past weekend. Pretty Nice buck!

 

[rooster85]

That's a pretty good looking buck. What part of base did he come from? Cj, I usually hammer the first legal buck or mature doe there just to put meat in the freezer then look for a bigger buck. Never been to keen on eating horns, meat tastes so much better. Lol. Still trying to slip out friday night to hunt saturday then come home sunday. We'll see.

 

[JFlem]

Anybody know what the quota is for Sudden/C5 this year ? Thanks