D-13

[edskii]

This will be my first time in D-13 for deer and plan on starting my scouting this week. I don't expect anyone to reveal their spots, but in any of you guys can give me some starting points I would appreciate it. The last time I hunted it was about 1982 and I got a small fork on the top of Pine Mt. I had gone with a friend who knew the area but I never learned it and moved to Az. returning back here just recently.
Thanks, Ed

 

[Bubblehide]

Ed, the area is in the Los Padres National Forest, you might want to stop into a forestry station and simply buy a map of the area. Considering your location, I imagine you'd go up highway 33 and hunt the north/east side of the highway since it the dividing line of the zone.

 

[edskii]

I have done all that and did some scouting around reyes creek, boulder cyn and the ridge of pine mountain. I was surprised at how little sign there was. More bear than deer. I will continue scouting till opener and always appreciate advice and
direction.

 

[Bubblehide]

Ed, I used to live in the area, rode my horse across most of the higher country, frankly if your not near water it's a pinion pine desert, with a whole lot of cats, thus the low deer numbers. The vast majority of deer can be found around the housing where you can't legally hunt (wouldn't ya know it). But if you can find water, the odds are you can find deer. The I5 corridor is another good place to find deer, but access can be difficult. There are deer around those farms along the 33, but finding the deer on public land behind the farms can be difficult. A lot of people will hit Quatal Canyon, frankly it's hit pretty hard and I would try elsewhere. If you can get on the North side of Ballinger Canyon (it's an OHV area, so lots of traffic), there are some good spots with deer, bear, and once in a while a pig; but you have to watch the forest boundary as everything to the North is private property. However, if your seeing lots of bear sign, your already in good country, and frankly I would stick with it. Simply put, bear require country that is conducive to deer survival, so it will also have everything deer need, and with out a doubt, it will be some of the better country around. If you run out of spots, you might give Seymour Creek area a try.

Best of luck!