Nor cal d3-5 deer hunt help?

[John_pulskamp]

I have a tag for d3-5 and am still a new hunter. I'm in good physical shape and would like to get into the backcountry far from the crowds. Of the three zones which boast the highest chances of any legal buck? Also any hunting tip/specific areas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, john
P.S how has this years dryness effected deer numbers and movement? And has anyone hunted these zones recently?
P.S.S due to my location i will be unable to do any scouting before the hunt

 

[hks95134]

We have already gotten into a big pizzing contest over this once or twice before for D3-5.

 

[John_pulskamp]

Alright I'll look into that. But do you know any areas in d3-5 that you've had any experience in? Feel free to DM me if you like. I was looking into some of the areas east of the little grass valley reservoir close to the d3 border. Any thoughts on that area? Also was considering the public land around bucks lake. Any ideas on these areas? Any info would be cool

 

[slanttop357]

Welcome i dough u will get any feed back on "Specific" areas people just don't give up hard worked for places, tips yes good luck.

 

[John_pulskamp]

Yeah. I'm not looking for anything too specific just something I can start to work from. I'm not going to be able to scout so I hoped maybe I could get a basic area I could work from. Thanks

 

[Bankrunner]

I have a tag for d3-5 and am still a new hunter. I'm in good physical shape and would like to get into the backcountry far from the crowds. Of the three zones which boast the highest chances of any legal buck? Also any hunting tip/specific areas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, john
P.S how has this years dryness effected deer numbers and movement? And has anyone hunted these zones recently?
P.S.S due to my location i will be unable to do any scouting before the hunt

Hi John,
As your new to hunting I would start with the dfg guide to deer hunting, follow the link below.
I don't know how much time you have spent in the woods (off trail) but please be sure you know how to care for your meat and understand what it will take to get it back to your truck that is several miles away.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=23228
You can also go to the DFG website and get information on individual zones by going to the zone map and clicking on your zone.
The Areas you mentioned will hold deer but you are at huge disadvantage without being able to scout.

 

[slanttop357]

What u can also do is drive the back roads stop at good looking mountains and give it a good glassing over maybe you will see something then come up with a good stalk to put on them.

 

[John_pulskamp]

Ok thanks for the replies. I was really curios to know what time of season I should as well. Late season or early, especially because of this years dryness. Thanks for the info.

 

[Waterguy]

The deer numbers are down at both bucks and little grass valley, lots of mountain lions. I live in oroville and I like hunting in d5 better than d3. In d5 drive up hwy 50 and take the pacific crest trail north and go in 3 or 4 miles and start hunting, this puts you in desolation wilderness area and it has real nice country with decent deer.

 

[auburnhunter]

This is my 2nd year hunting. Before I started hunting, I had spent a lot of time in the outdoors/forests for rec, pretty much my whole life. I shot a buck last year in the d3-5 zone-I wont say where, please don't ask. I spent the summer and many hours planning and scouting. There are deer everywhere if you look. The biggest bucks I have ever seen come to my house, but I can't hunt here (~1600 feet Sierra foothills)- they are residential. Just get off the roads, don't road hunt, and look for decent areas deer/bucks might like. Look for game trails-they are everywhere. Look for scat and tracks. If you don't find any move on. Topo maps/sat images will help you figure out a place to start if you cannot scout. Don't be afraid to enter the forest in the dark to get an early start. Bring a GPS, compass/topo maps so you don't get lost. Well, I always get a little lost, but I can always find my way back. I also carry a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) as I hunt alone, getting older, and have a family to worry about.

 

[Live2hunt]

Pray for rain and snow. Then when it does rain and snow, drop everything and go do some drive by shootings on those forest roads.

 

[auburnhunter]

Unfortunately we had no heavy rain or snow last year. A crazy number of hunters during the opener-I feared for my life, but after a week most were gone. So were most of the deer Still there but hiding during the day. From my observation, 90+% of the hunters didn't even go into the forest. They just stayed near their trucks or drove around looking into the forest.

 

[John_pulskamp]

Ok thanks for the info, I might even try around soda springs?? Any info around there. Like I said I have no interest in road hunting. I want to get away into the wilderness.