Best CA antelope tags on public land

[paulc]

what is the best tag for antelope in ca.. i see likely tables, clear lake etc.. is one better than the other. is it mostly public land or private where you can pay a trespass fee??
normally i just apply for the one with the worst odds because i assume that is the best..

 

[ranchwife]

Likely tables is mostly private.  Clear Lake is mostly public.  If I was to apply I would go for Clear lake.  It is desolate and not too many people are willing to go out there since you need an ATV or a good 4 wheel drive.  I have seen a lot of large antelope out there.  If you're licky you'll also get the privledge of seeing hugh Mule deer.  There are also ferral (what some people call wild) horses out there.  If you're going to camp out there, you'll want to camp near a creek or spring (Boles Creek, Hidden Valley, Blue mountain, Willow creek, etc.)  Also bring mosquito spray because the horse flies are awful.

 

[spectr17]

Thanks for the info Ranchwife. I usually put in for Carrizo but since that hunt is cancelled for thsi year I'll be putting in for up north.

If anybody needs a partner for an antelope hunt up in nocal, holler.

 

[paulc]

ranchwife, that was just the kind of info i was looking for.. clear lake it will be.. if i am lucky enuf to draw i will pick your brain some more for details. since the odds are pretty long most likely i wont (just like every other year)

jesse, if we both draw (pretty unlikely) would be great to hook up with you up there..  i regret not checking in with you guys at the tejon pig hunt.. we were in camp late every night and did not realize you guys were there until sunday morning.  we were sleeping in the back of my freinds toyota tundra.. by the way who had that generator running over there keeping me awake..

 

[bubba]

Ranchwife, what is Big Valley like?  Do you have any info on this area?

 

[ranchwife]

Big Valley is only about 90 miles north of Redding, so it gets a lot of hunters from the Redding area.  I have seen a few antelope in that area, but only a few.  Most of the valley is privately owned and the few parcels of public land are land locked, or are steep wooded areas.  There is only one public FS campground that I know of near by (Rush creek north of Adin).   In my opinion, you would be better off if you drove an additional 40-50 miles to the Clear lake area.

Paulc - I'm glad I answered your questions.  Clear lake will be a difficult hunt because the land is flat and open.  There is sage brush and junipers, but you won't find the antelope there.  They will be in the large open flats - because they can see all around.  If you are drawn, I'd be glad to help you figure out where to go.

I went for a walk on our place lastnight and got to watch a herd of about 8 antelope.  They were all girls, but it was neat because they never saw me and I was able to get fairly close to them - even with our dog.

(Edited by ranchwife at 9:17 am on April 23, 2002)

 

[ranchwife]

After looking at the zone map that Jesse posted on the mule deer forum, I'm going to change my original response just a bit.  Those of us in Modoc county usually refer to the Likely tables as the area around Likely - but acording to the map, it extends north to the Oregon border.  The Clear Lake region is around clear lake and Tulelake.  The tulelake area is mostly private, but the Clear lake area is public.  As far as the Likely tables zone, I would hunt the zone north of Big Sage reservoir to the Oregon border.  I have seen a lot of antelope in that area in the 28 years I have been here.  Either area would be good hunting as long as you hunt north of Big Sage reservoir.  Hopefully that clears stuff up.

 

[Kentuck]

My Dad and I drew tags (party) for Likely Tables in 99. We both tagged out. My goat was 14 and Dad's was 12. Both our goats came off of public ground. I got mine down on the Tables just south of Modoc National Refuge. We were the only ones hunting that spot. We got introduced to some folks that had property in Davis Creek and decided Dad would try there. The goats weren't on the property the first morning and since the landowner had told us there were some big goats up on the Garden and actually showed us some spots on a map so we went up there. Dad ended up with a decent goat there. Our landowner friend in Davis Creek has lived there his whole life and said there are big goats up on the Garden. I really enjoyed hunting in that area.

 

[hunter mike]

Ranchwife,

Do you know anything about the Lassen hunt?  I have seen a few on the western side of the zone near Harvey Mountain.  That is such a large zone, if you know of other areas to hunt it would help.

 

[ranchwife]

Hunter Mike - I don't know anything about the Lassen hunt.  We've always stayed in the Modoc area for hunts.  I would think that the area from Madeline south to Susanville would have some decente animals because it is flat and open.  I have seen some from highway 395, but I honestly don't pay too much attention to them.  Sorry I can't help too much here.

Kentuck - I live in Davis Creek, and was wondering if you remember the name of the people that you met from Davis Creek?  It sounds like it could have been my family.  Was the last name Gardner?  The only other long time families in the area are the Capiks and the Ingrahams.  Your story sounds awfully familiar to my husband and I.  Just curious.


Ranchwife

 

[Kentuck]

Ranchwife,

I want to say the husband's name was Fred and I'm having a hard time remembering the wife's name. I think Betsy??? They own the western shop in just outside Alturas. Great folks. A friend of mine, Randy, reps electrice fence supplies and he told me to look them up when we went on our hunt. We did and they are some friendliest and hospitable folks I have ever met. Even they own property there in Davis Creek the goats weren't there but Fred got us access to a neighbors ranch. The goats hadn't moved onto that place the morning we went there but were known to cross the property. We went up onto the garden to check areas Fred told us about until the afternoon hunt back down on the private ranch. My dad ended up with one up at one of the watering holes Fred had told us about. Again, great folks and if they ever come down my way they have a place to stay.

 

[ranchwife]

Kentuck - I know who you are talking about - you got both names correct.  It wasn't us, however.  They are nice people.

 

[Kentuck]

Nice to know folks up there are online here. I think the name of the Rancher that Fred got us permission to hunt was Dave or David. His place was on the right as you leave Davis Creek heading towards Alturas. His foreman lived there in Davis Creek, Ernesto i think was his name. Funny thing is that during the period one hunt is when Dad and scouted that zone and the foreman had quite a herd of goats right out next to his house on land we eventually got permission to hunt. The goats moved around those places and just weren't there during our hunt. Nice to talk with you Ranchwife and if you all ever find your way around my area drop me a note.

Kentuck

 

[ranchwife]

Our ranch surrounds David's.  It is a great area to live.  It is nice being able to watch the antelope, deer and elk from my front window.  I went for a walk the other day and was able to watch a herd of about 8 antelope the whole time - they never saw me.  I'm glad that you enjoyed the area.

Ranchwife

 

[Sporty]

Hunter Mike, I've also seen quite a few speed goats around Harvey mtn. Actually when I hunted X4 we saw as many 'lopes as deer. We were hunting the eastern part of the zone. I will probably put in for the lassen hunt.
Sporty

 

[hunter mike]

Sporty,

I had X4 last year and scene them as well.  I decided to go for the likely tables because I don't know how consistently one would see them in that area.  I will probably go in for X4 again this year even though I didn't fill last years tag.  How'd you do?

 

[Sporty]

I got a 20" 3x2 up near Ashusrt lake. There was quite a bit of sign. Might be real good this year because they were clearcutting @ the time (unless they put that damn hericide on it). Saw some HUGE deer just south of Eagle lake when scouting but couldn't track 'em down during the season.  Since I started hunting 4 years ago I've hunted C4 once, B2 Three times, X3a once, X4 once & X1 twice (I know I'm REAl lucky). Of those 4 years X4 was the toughest zone to find deer. I know there are deer near Cassel and the surrounding area. How many deer did you see?
Good luck to all,
Sporty

(Edited by Sporty at 3:06 pm on May 1, 2002)

 

[Big 17]

Hunter Mike,

I used to work for Lassen Nation Forest as an Engineering Tech.  Two summers ago we got audited, so we had to verify that everything we said we owned was actually there and in the condition that we said it was in.  Anyway, I spent a lot of time around Antelope Mtn, above Eagle Lake.  From the Antelope Mtn fire lookout you can see several large well open valleys.  These valleys are either public land, or Forest Service.  There is a dirt road that goes from Highway 44 to Eagle Lake called A21.  From that road on several different occasions throughout the summer I saw small herds of antelope.  If you look at your Big Game booklet in the hotshots picture section you will see a lady who shot a goat last year.  I believe that I recognize that valley.  It could be one of the valleys between Bogard and the intersection of Highway 36 and 44.  If you draw this area I hope it will help.

Goodluck

 

[hunter mike]

Big 17,

I was up in that same area around the Antelope Peak Lookout about ten times last year.  I seen a few goats early in the year further west of there, between Harvey Mt. and Crater Mt.  I know there is deer in the wooded area up there but all I ended up with was a blue grouse.  Anyway I put in for Likely Tables...hope I get it!