NEW HUNTER HELP

[VIKING3500]

I'm new to hunting and need some help. Like most Joe-shmoes, I can't put up the coin for guided hunts so I turn to public land. I am fairly new to the area (Fresno, CA) so I don't know people with private land. I would like to know how to get hooked up with areas to hunt (private land opportunities) and deciphering where to hunt public land. I would also like to know if someone can help me break down the seasons for different game. The CA DFG handbook is not an easy read. It is very repetitive and does not clearly state what I am looking for (or I don't know how to read it correctly). I have interest in hunting deer, turkey, pigs, squirrels and waterfoul. I got a deer tag last year for D7 (which I have found is fairly desolate) and no luck. I got an upland game bird stamp for turkey and tried a bunch of areas (I don't know any good places so I'm winging it. Driving around with a forestry map is all I've got.) to no avail. I would love to find a pig since I think they are the only larger game I can hunt this time of year but don't have the slightest idea where to go. I would like to try the ducks at the Mendota Slew someone told me about but I guess I need the other stamp, some HIP stamp and fill out a survey or something.

Basically, can anyone help me clear this up? When can I hunt what in my area and what do I need from the DFG to hunt it legally? I'll also put this out that if someone needs a hunting buddy and could pass on some knowledge, let me know. I'm ready to go. I'm a good shot with my rifles, bow, and shotgun (yes, I have them, they've just never been pointed at game).

If you have the patience to post a reply, then thank you. It can do nothing but help.

 

[BrandonA]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VIKING3500 @ Dec 15 2007, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I'm new to hunting and need some help. Like most Joe-shmoes, I can't put up the coin for guided hunts so I turn to public land. I am fairly new to the area (Fresno, CA) so I don't know people with private land. I would like to know how to get hooked up with areas to hunt (private land opportunities) and deciphering where to hunt public land. I would also like to know if someone can help me break down the seasons for different game. The CA DFG handbook is not an easy read. It is very repetitive and does not clearly state what I am looking for (or I don't know how to read it correctly). I have interest in hunting deer, turkey, pigs, squirrels and waterfoul. I got a deer tag last year for D7 (which I have found is fairly desolate) and no luck. I got an upland game bird stamp for turkey and tried a bunch of areas (I don't know any good places so I'm winging it. Driving around with a forestry map is all I've got.) to no avail. I would love to find a pig since I think they are the only larger game I can hunt this time of year but don't have the slightest idea where to go. I would like to try the ducks at the Mendota Slew someone told me about but I guess I need the other stamp, some HIP stamp and fill out a survey or something.

Basically, can anyone help me clear this up? When can I hunt what in my area and what do I need from the DFG to hunt it legally? I'll also put this out that if someone needs a hunting buddy and could pass on some knowledge, let me know. I'm ready to go. I'm a good shot with my rifles, bow, and shotgun (yes, I have them, they've just never been pointed at game).

If you have the patience to post a reply, then thank you. It can do nothing but help.[/b]

If you want to hunt ducks I would look for refuges you can hunt (they are public and open to duck hunters). I'm not from your area so I can't help with areas to hunt but I can help you with a quick breakdown. To hunt waterfowl and do it safetly you'll need 2 stamps. Federal and State.. To hunt Upland Birds (Turkey, Pheasant, Quail, ect..) You'll need to have an upland game stamp. To hunt ANYTHING you will need to have your Hunter Survey stamp (Which is FREE and you can get from any place that sells licenses). That's a quick answer for me to answer a coupleo f your questions now back to Steelers game!

 

[PaHaSaPa]

First step is to go the the California Fish and Game Web site. There is a ton of information
there. They have several large PDF files for download. Their "Guides to Hunting ** of California"
They have them for quail, turkeys, deer, and pigs. I have had a hard copy of the Quail quide
for 15 years. There is a lot if information just in that publication. I did a quick check and found
a great interactive Zone map.
Look for local organizations such as a Quail Unlimited chapter or go hang out at the gun range.
And hey, you live in Ag country.
Drive down 99 for awhile, take one of the major east/west highways. Drive until you
find a diner with a gathering of farmers. Go in and buy them a coffee and start asking. Take a
kid with you.

I have not hunted in the D7 area, but have spent some time doing other recreation things.

Bass Lake, which seems to be on the edge of D7 has hunting opportunities. There is private land
mixed with NF there, but....Valley Quail, Mountain Quail, Turkey, deer, bear all can be found here.
I have been to Huntington Lake on several occassions. Even backpacked out of there and Edison many
years ago. Great place, one of the best in the Sierras IMHO, with the same availability of species.

Maps, Maps, Maps, all you can get your hands on, Topo, AAA, BLM.
I have DeLorme Topo USA running on a cheap Dell laptop with a Garming GPS 12.
Print my own and have a moving map. The only way to go

 

[easymoney]

Welcome to JHO and the world of public land hunting...
Good info already said considering your broad range of questions,
more advice is to get good topo maps(you can't have too many maps), read the DFG booklets and read "between the lines" as well when searching around, break down your hunts as to game and compile the info accordingly because many species are area or habitat specific.
You said you went up to D7(an excellent area for deer or upland game and some of it is very desolate) you will need to hike in to get away from the road hunters and this zone has few to no pigs, but it is right in Fresno's backyard.
Mendota WA is very good for waterfowl, it is a big refuge, can handle up to 600 hunters and is in Fresno's backyard.
For pigs on public land (always a sketchy proposition) get the DFG booklet on hunting them on public land and it is a good start(look up at the links provided by JHO at the top of each species forum), do a little research on pig populations per county, pig harvest numbers per county, areas that have pigs and start there. The best public land pig hunting is FHL or Camp Roberts, yet they have specific seasons and open dates or closings for troop training.
Good luck...

 

[NorCal Cazadora]

I just started hunting last year, and I know what you mean about deciphering the DFG booklets. You really need a friend and mentor. I wish I could help, but I live pretty far from "The Big 'No," so I don't know hunting in your area at all.

I was lucky - my boyfriend asked me to start hunting with him, and he'd already done the work of figuring out - all on his own - how things work here. I benefitted a lot from that. It's amazing how having someone explain things to you a bit helps you understand those DFG booklets a little better. And there's so much to know that's not written in the books.

To find people who hunt, you just need to put yourself out there. Are there any hunters where you work? You might be surprised at who hunts but doesn't talk about it. A discreet DU sticker on their cars' windows may be the only clue. Have you ever visited a refuge just to chat with the DFG staff? Most of 'em are really nice people glad to share advice, and you'll run into a lot of hunters there. It may be late in the season for this, but DFG does a lot of special hunts that are nice big outings where you meet lots of people who can become hunting buddies. Have you joined an organization like California Waterfowl Association or DU? Check out their dinners. The cute chicks will bleed your wallet dry before you know it, selling you smiles and raffle tickets, but you'll meet a lot of cool fellow hunters who may just invite you out with them someday.

We didn't know any fellow hunters when we were getting started here a few years ago, but we've found a couple hunting partners on the internet (through forums like this, and my blog). And we've discovered the hunters among the people we work with. And we've even encouraged a few people to get started an join us. It just takes a little time.

Good luck!

 

[VIKING3500]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A PLACE TO START, WHICH YOU HAVE PROVIDED. I WILL KEEP ASKING AROUND AND HOPEFULLY THIS FORUM WILL BE ADDED TO. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL GUY LAST WEEK AND WILL TRY OUT ONE OF THE DUCK HUNTING SPOTS NEARBY. THANKS. BY THE WAY... WHAT IS THE NEXT SEASON COMING UP? I HAVE TO CHECK THE DFG BOOKS BUT SOMETIMES THIS IS EASIER.

 

[BrandonA]

After this season, the most popular season is spring turkey... You might want to try on the Waterfowl or game specific boards for some info because I randomly checked in here one day and those forums are visisted way more than this one

 

[Captain Jack in Sac]

If you can make the drive up to Sacramento this weekend, might want to try attending the ISE show. There will be a lot of vendors and non-profit groups, along with state and federal agencies there with a bunch of information.