B2 or A zone

[JaegerMeister]

My wife and I were once again unlucky to draw our X tag, antelope, or elk...oh well, another point as they say. She is new to hunting and hasn't harvested a deer despite hunting with me in D3-5 over the last couple of years. She's wasn't too excited to try D5 again after a hunter nearly killed us with a rickocheting bullet.

This year we selected A zone as our alternate, an area that I have minimal experiece in. Additionally, we have considered hunting B2, which seems to offer pleanty of public land. The problem with A zone is it seems that there is marginal public land available. The issue with B2 is that there is so much public land I don't know where to begin.

We live in the Sac area and plan to hunt "A zone north". If anyone has any tips that may contribute to my wife taking her first deer I would greatly appreciate it. I'm planning a stocking trip to the A zone this Friday, and hope to hunt it during archery to understand it a bit more before rifle season for her.

Likewise, we are planning a camping trip to the Coffee Creek area in B2 in the upcomming months as a stocking trip. I have never been to the Alps and am not sure what to expect/ where to go. Again, any tips/ advice would be much appreciated in directing me to help my wife connect with her first deer in these mountains.


If you prefer communication via email, here it is: mehey2@msn.com

Thanks,

JaegerMeister

 

[Live2hunt]

If your wife is afraid of bullet ricochet in D5, the A-zone north is worse during rifle season.

Why stick with B-2 when your B-tag is good for B1,B2,B3,B4,B5, and B6? From Redbluff, take hwy 36 west and after you past the town of Platina, pick any public road and drive until you find spots that you think will hold deer then hunt it. Good luck.



L2H

 

[barel74]

If your going to hunt those B-zones, don't forget your bear tag

 

[cc93cruiser]

I hunted the North A zone last year in the Mendicino National Forest and it was a joke! Won't be heading up there for awhile, people blasting music, shooting at trees etc... What a horrible experience...:mad-fumin-red:...Just my 0.02$....

 

[BrandonA]

I'd probably do B zone, then hitup one of the wilderness areas (Yolla Bolly's or Trinity Alps) rugged hunts but you're rewarded from what I hear

 

[Fishspanker]

all great suggestions. just find somewhere a few miles from any road and you'll have a better chance at finding deer instead of ricocheting bullets. for the b's, hunt high early and low late. scout, scout, scout. good luck.

 

[AimHigh]

If you don't have a private ranch to hunt in A zone, then B zone is a much better place. Don't get overwhelmed with the amount of area available.

 

[Rampage1]

I grew up hunting public land in northern a zone and I would reccomend b zone over A in a heart beat. Much more public land and a lot easier to get away from the crowds. I am not saying you can't get some good hunting on public land in A, but the spots are few and far between and it is very physically demanding hunting. I think you and your wife would have a much more enjoyable expierence in B zone. My wife refuses to hunt my northern a zone spots with me... as a matter of fact just about anyone does....

good luck!

 

[buckspotter]

You can hunt both!

A Zone 1st tag & B Zone 2nd tag

If you're rifle hunting A Zone opens Aug. 8 and goes to Sept. 20.

A Zone will be hot and dry just about everywhere you might hunt on public land. Not an easy hunt by any means.

Most of the B zones (you can hunt any B Zone with a B tag) will open later and go through mid-to-late October. Much prettier and friendlier deer country. Scouting is a great idea, especially if you don't know the country.

You should be scouting A Zone now, while they are still soft horned. Scout B Zone in July and August. Good luck!

 

[.300Savage]

im with live2hunt the area he recomended has some fantastic genetics. I have still yet to take a book animal but, they are all trophys to me so....