A31 2024 Tag Holders Thread

[JPHunt44]

In the big game draw thread we had a lot of tag holders so Chris had the idea to make a thread for it!

Share whatever you like from A31
Scouting pics
Success
Hunting partners
Etc

I am JP and this is my first year of archery!

 

[WrstQuailHntr]

For the last 3 years of my life I spent most of my quail hunting months trying to fill that damn A31 tag. No more. Good luck to all who are giving it a go this year!

 

[canamrider07]

When the forest roads/OHV trails are open it has easy access so lots of hunters. I road my ATV there often and knew most every trail from Valencia to Gorman. I don‘t hunt deer but saw them mostly on “closed” OHV trails that I would ride.
Old video I made from The Rock Inn to Gorman, good luck

 

[ChrisAMX]

A31 large diverse area, of which I know little. Interested in exploring the Angeles Crest area in an about Mt Gleason.

 

[BOHNTR]

One of the best threads ever of A31 bucks. Oldie but goodie.

THE BEST PACIFIC HYBIDS [so far!!!]

 

[JPHunt44]

Read that one twice! Definitely a great one and will go through it again! You and Kingwouldbe are the legends of d11!

 

[BOHNTR]

My last A31 Pacific Hybrid (2017) before I retired and fled the state. The only ‘book’ buck I saw that year.

 

[JPHunt44]

@BOHNTR over the years did you notice a drop in bucks and buck size before you left California?

 

[BOHNTR]

@BOHNTR over the years did you notice a drop in bucks and buck size before you left California?

Absolutely. If CA ever wants to seriously help the deer herds, they need to get rid of the second deer tag. One deer tag per year.

 

[canamrider07]

KWB was living the dream. Definitely a throwback to the good old days of California. The pictures were nearly as impressive as the game, especially for the camera technology back then. That would be hard, almost impossible today, to land one of those bucks in A31. Great thread, it had TRA using tapatalk, and the usual bad mouthing and “envy“ as KWB posted, with the moderators and their scolding.

 

[ChrisAMX]

My last A31 Pacific Hybrid (2017) before I retired and fled the state. The only ‘book’ buck I saw that year.

Lot of great looking bucks in that thread for sure. Bear too. Excited more this year than most, hope that's a good sign!

 

[JPHunt44]

I got some good bears on my cameras already. Haven’t set any in good buck areas yet.

 

[JPHunt44]

@BOHNTR do you think the bears and mountain lions are a problem too or mostly just the 2 tags?

 

[WrstQuailHntr]

The only thing 2 tags has ever done for me is send another $50.76 to the state of California. Based on the success rates in most CA deer zones, I am not sure the 2nd tag is a huge contributor.

 

[ChrisAMX]

Poachers, especially in D13

 

[BOHNTR]

@BOHNTR do you think the bears and mountain lions are a problem too or mostly just the 2 tags?

Most definitely lions wreak havoc on the herds as well…..but they can’t be managed properly so there’s other avenues that need explored, IMO.

 

[BOHNTR]

The only thing 2 tags has ever done for me is send another $50.76 to the state of California. Based on the success rates in most CA deer zones, I am not sure the 2nd tag is a huge contributor.

There was 20+ years straight I arrowed two deer in A31 in the rifle closure area of LA County. A few other Bowhunting buddies of mine had similar success.

 

[WrstQuailHntr]

There was 20+ years straight I arrowed two deer in A31 in the rifle closure area of LA County. A few other Bowhunting buddies of mine had similar success.

Sounds like you were the problem then lol. I'm joking, but in all seriousness you are by far an exception to the low success rates in California. For every hunter like you that are killing 2 deer per year, there are 15-20 hunters like me who are killing 0 deer over the last 7 years. Regardless of how many tags I have in my pocket.

 

[BOHNTR]

Sounds like you were the problem then lol. I'm joking, but in all seriousness you are by far an exception to the low success rates in California. For every hunter like you that are killing 2 deer per year, there are 15-20 hunters like me who are killing 0 deer over the last 7 years. Regardless of how many tags I have in my pocket.

I wasn’t the only bowhunter doing that. My four good buds had the same luck. However, we all decided for about 10 years we would take one doe and one buck to better help manage the archery only area. It worked, as during the mid to late 90’s the deer hunting was pretty good. It wasn’t uncommon to see 30-40 deer a day with at least 10 of them bucks (during the rut). It also helps when that season essentially ran from September through January.

 

[JPHunt44]

That’d be a good rule. Only one buck and one doe instead of two bucks.