New to hunting in Socal

[200gr]

Hello everyone!

I plan on deer hunting for the 1st time ever. Found lots of great reading on here on the matter, But still want to know what's ahead of me. I will be taking my hunters Ed sometime in March . After if I pass with no issues I will be starting on buying the gear and getting some range time.


I want to know what are good zones for starter's like me. I am able to travel from LA county to Imperial county.

I have a black diamond 55L -Would it be ok for hunting use?

If I able to get all my ducks in a row before season and then bag a deer I plan on boiling the head for mount. But is there a place where I can get the pelt done and for how much?

Foodsaver's....Which would be great for a starter like me?

I own a 8mm mauser but I think its too much gun for the job. So I might be buying a new one. What size round would work for deer in medium to short range?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Bubblehide]

First and foremost, the success rate in Southern Ca is exceptionally low. I'm betting that this drought only makes it tougher. Most Southern Ca zones run 10% success or less. It takes most new hunters several years to harvest their first buck, unless they have an exceptional mentor that has a real honey hole. You 8mm would work fine on deer... As far as a good zone goes, the zone is only as good as you know it. This is especially true in the southern Ca zones.

I would recommend that you first concentrate on knowing how to get the animal to an ice chest, over getting a pelt tanned; and then go from there.

 

[200gr]

Thanks Bubblehide,

I'll start putting more effort into scouting this summer and looking over reports and post's.

 

[slanttop357]

Thanks Bubblehide,

I'll start putting more effort into scouting this summer and looking over reports and post's.

Try for a zone close to home that way you will get more scouting/hunting in. What city are you in ? also the large A zone opens around Aug 9 good luck and welcome.

 

[jbcaptain11]

for a new rifle i would get a 270 or 243 good brands for the money are savage tikka remington and ruger happy hunting

 

[thewolfman]

Get D11 that way u can hunt D13 and D15...its true that the success rate is very low...but don't let that discourage u...u just gotta hike and scout...it could take u 1-2 yrs or it could be the 1st day of opening...you ll never know unless u get out..good luck to u

 

[Bubblehide]

You might want to put a little information in your profile (things your comfortable with others knowing), and posting in the mentors section, trying to hook up with a mentor; being bold, I'd suggest thewolfman, he would be a good guy to mentor someone. Seriously he would, but in all seriousness, if you can hook-up with someone experienced, you can greatly reduce that learning curve. But nothing replaces wearing out some boot leather.