La Panza CA Elk hunt

[JBWeld]

My friend decided to put in for his first ever California Big Game draw and put in for the first period La Panza bull elk and to his surprise he got drawn for it. I'm hoping someone can help us out with tips for this once in a lifetime hunt. We plan to hunt the southern portion of the zone as we live in Bakersfield. Any tips are appreciated as neither of us are familiar with this hunt. Thank!

 

[HuntingFool03]

That's awesome congratulations! I bet he is stoked! I don't know anything about that area, I can just say its worth spending the extra time scouting. You can never scout to much.

 

[scottmarine]

Congrats on the tag. I have not hunted La Panza but have elk hunted quite a bit in other places and I am also from Bakersfield. If you just want to chat elk or need any pointers let me know. PM me and we can get together or something. I could even maybe get away for a couple days to help you scout if you wanted.

 

[nickman123]

Assuming they still do it that way, there will be a drawing at the DFG orientation to pick two lucky people who get to access the Chimenas units at the Carizzo plains. You want to be one of those guys.

 

[ChrisAMX]

Informative link

http://www.chimineasranchfoundation.org/Public_Access.html

 

[Bencoyote]

sent you a pm

 

[kodiakoutdoors]

Congratulations to your friend on drawing such a coveted tag!!

Yes they will still pick a couple of people to the Chimineas Ranch. My daughter has the drawn 1st period apprentice cow tag so we'll be there. Luckily for her she automatically gets to hunt the ranch without having to draw (apprentice program). I'm sure I'll see you up there for the mandatory orientation. Best of luck!!!

 

[JBWeld]

Thanks guys for the replies and PMs. We went for a drive out there yesterday and saw around 75 elk and about 30 antelope. Of course they were all on private or in the protected area around the painted rock.

 

[bobby7321]

Cross your fingers on getting picked. Also call all the ranchers on the list they provide and get a plan B in place. In my opinion worth paying the trespass fee to get yourself a Tule bull. May not have that chance again.

I have to say I think its a big ridiculous to have the Chimineas drawing right before the season starts. Really makes planning difficult. DFG needs to change that up a bit and draw names weeks before.

 

[ChrisAMX]

I dont understand why they give ultimate access to two people after such long range odds at getting picked in the first place. Kinda like double taxation. I saw six elk in the south unit where hunting is not allowed for elk. There was plenty of sign as well.

 

[Hotrod]

My buddy got drawn years ago and was one of the Lucky 2 and scored a nice 7x7 tule, So like everyone else has said it pays off to be one of the Lucky 2. I do agree they should draw the 2 before the season starts the night before makes it difficult to decide where to hunt. Also I was with him a couple days before the hunt and we scouted the public portion and all the Elk were actually on the public portion and of course on the day of the hunt they were on the private portion "weird how that works" there was a rumor that the ranch hands on the surrounding private ranches may have pushed/influenced the herd on to the surrounding ranches which obviously helps the trespass fee. But anyways good luck

 

[nickman123]

Hunted there few years back and it was really surprising how frequently and easily the elk there would go back and forth between the Carizzo plains public land and the surrounding private ranches. I had always heard that elk didn't really like jumping fences and tried to avoid it if possible. Sure wasn't true there.