CA D ZONE

[TIGwelder]

Well..... headed into the back country this weekend to do some scouting with my brother in law in some new country I've been eSCOUTING on google earth for the past couple months. Planning on getting in 10 miles round trip so hopefully we can turn up a deer or two. Cashed in a few points this year in Colorado for a 3rd season tag so haven't been too excited about California but considering the fact they charge you for a tag, even if you just want a point, I might as well hunt. Not to mention I'm sick for it!!! Anybody else getting after it this weekend? Dzone archery opens up in 5 weeks!!! Haven't seen a bag dump challenge on the forum yet so here's the gauntlet for a early season scouting trip

 

[cjack]

Some say it's too early to scout for specific deer but I feel that year round scouting is always beneficial. You can't put a value on the information you can gather by simply learning the lay of the land. Deer habitat, potential travel routes and human traffic. Even if you don't see deer or if you see deer that may not be there in 5 weeks, the more information gathered the better, get after it TIGwelder and good luck this season!

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I'll be doing the same in 2 weeks in a D zone. If you find mule deer now in there summer home they should be in the same spot come archery season unless they get bumped by predators. Have fun!

adam

 

[TheGDog]

Pay attention to how the wind direction changes during the day when you're in a particular area. If you like an area enough you think you'll hunt it, think about making another trip to stash bottled water up in there before the season. Cheap Walmart camo throw blanket works nicely to wrap the bottles up in for hiding. The rats will shred the throw blanket a lil bit. No biggie. It's soooooo nice to have that extra water you didn't have to carry-in on your actual hunt days. Also... bring some of those real light Fiskars loppers so that if you find a spot to sit that you really like... you can spend some time clearing away branches from shooting lanes.

Sometimes also helpful to cut a zig-zagged path thru the brush to allow you to get into an area more directly rather than having to walk around to the other side exposing yourself and tromping thru a bunch dried oak-leaf potato-chips crunching and being all loud. Remember if you pioneer a lil trail thru the brush... t make it zig-zag deep enough side-to-side that other hunters and hikers aren't going to notice the line you cut thru.