- Thread starter miensean
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It is very small, on a hill side and I would be afraid to shoot a rifle there. Too many hikers and too many fisherman down below, not to mention an RV resort.
If I were going to hunt it, I would go shotgun only.
It is still open to hunting according to the DFG regs. They even have a photo tour of it on their website. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/putahcreek.html
I went there with my shotgun one time during quail season. There were so many non-hunters walking the trail, I felt kind of odd passing them with a shotgun slinged to my shoulder.
It is a nice drive and good fishery. Take a ride up there, hike it and see for yourself. I did not explore the whole area, there may be some good spots in there.
When you get done, catch a couple of trout and take them home for dinner. Putah creek has rainbows and german browns.
If I were going to hunt it, I would go shotgun only.
It is still open to hunting according to the DFG regs. They even have a photo tour of it on their website. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/putahcreek.html
I went there with my shotgun one time during quail season. There were so many non-hunters walking the trail, I felt kind of odd passing them with a shotgun slinged to my shoulder.
It is a nice drive and good fishery. Take a ride up there, hike it and see for yourself. I did not explore the whole area, there may be some good spots in there.
When you get done, catch a couple of trout and take them home for dinner. Putah creek has rainbows and german browns.
Putah creek hunting
I was there on the last day of the A zone season in 2007. I used the directions on the Yolo Hiker website. On the highway side of the river there are a couple of county parking areas. These are signed with no firearm possession signs, so I parked up the road in a turn-out. I used a waveski towing an inflatable raft to get across the creek. I got there before light, but because I had no idea where I would be able to get out of the river, had to wait until dawn. I eventually found a spot not overun with berry bushes and landed, pulled my boat(s) out and got dressed into my hunting clothes. The Yolo hiker directions warn about a lot of poison oak, and you should take the warning very seriously. I walked around it on the way in, but on the way out, not wanting to ascend about 100 ft and traverse around it (since it was getting dark) I decided to try to walk trhough it. It was so thick that there were no deer trails through it, and I wound up pushing through about 50 yards of poison oak hedge before I got back to the creek (I'm immune to poison oak, but in this case I was really pushing my luck. I could smell it on my clothes.). I got to my stuff after sunset, and discovered the raft had deflated. I just piled everything on the waveski and paddled across the creek in the dark, towing the partly deflated raft. This was a nice Sunday and I didn't see anyone, just some quad tracks. Didn't see any deer, either. I think it's worth a look, particularly in the archery season. I agree that a rifle my be more gun than is safe to use, unless you are ultra careful about the direction you will be shooting. Be forewarned that if you do it the way I did, you might have too much fun.
Andy
I was there on the last day of the A zone season in 2007. I used the directions on the Yolo Hiker website. On the highway side of the river there are a couple of county parking areas. These are signed with no firearm possession signs, so I parked up the road in a turn-out. I used a waveski towing an inflatable raft to get across the creek. I got there before light, but because I had no idea where I would be able to get out of the river, had to wait until dawn. I eventually found a spot not overun with berry bushes and landed, pulled my boat(s) out and got dressed into my hunting clothes. The Yolo hiker directions warn about a lot of poison oak, and you should take the warning very seriously. I walked around it on the way in, but on the way out, not wanting to ascend about 100 ft and traverse around it (since it was getting dark) I decided to try to walk trhough it. It was so thick that there were no deer trails through it, and I wound up pushing through about 50 yards of poison oak hedge before I got back to the creek (I'm immune to poison oak, but in this case I was really pushing my luck. I could smell it on my clothes.). I got to my stuff after sunset, and discovered the raft had deflated. I just piled everything on the waveski and paddled across the creek in the dark, towing the partly deflated raft. This was a nice Sunday and I didn't see anyone, just some quad tracks. Didn't see any deer, either. I think it's worth a look, particularly in the archery season. I agree that a rifle my be more gun than is safe to use, unless you are ultra careful about the direction you will be shooting. Be forewarned that if you do it the way I did, you might have too much fun.
Andy
upcedarcreek
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I had a hella big mountain lion cross the road just in front of my car just before dark just downstream from the dam a couple of years ago. The distance from the cat's nose to tail was a lot wider than the hood of my car.
JaegerMeister
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Fished Putah Creek a couple weeks ago. Not a single strike for 4 very skilled fishermen...seems that DFG isn't stocking???
Tuffy
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This is one thing they can't blame on the budget. Our fishing licenses not tax dollars pay for stocking. Somebody sued them saying we need a Invironmental Impact Study done on the stocking (that has been going on for how long). The reason being how "stocked fish" impact the "Native Fish"
Just another Mountain Lion/ Black Bear stall tactic by the Tree Huggers.
Trout Plant Ban Will Have Wide Ranging Impact - California Progress Report
Just another Mountain Lion/ Black Bear stall tactic by the Tree Huggers.
Trout Plant Ban Will Have Wide Ranging Impact - California Progress Report
Welll, not much to report, except it was a hot weekend, interms of the weather of course hehe. I was not able to locate the actual hunting area, but did find the Stebbin Cold Canyon Reserve - no hunting was allowed. Did an hour long hike just to stay in shape for the riffle opener. Manage to met a lot of hikers so it was an enjoyable weekend.
On a separate note, have any JH members here have any luck hunting in the Cedar Rough WA? This place seem to be more productive.
Thanks for your info.
On a separate note, have any JH members here have any luck hunting in the Cedar Rough WA? This place seem to be more productive.
Thanks for your info.
Rampage1
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Once you cross over the HW 128 bridge that crosses the creek, pull into the parking lot on the left(assuming your coming from winters). From there hike SE up the ridge. Once you get to the top you can work your way east for about a mile and a half. There are no signs or trails in the hunting area.(At least there wasn't, I have'nt been there since '04) Your definitly going to want a good map and a GPS to aviod crossing onto private property on accident. BEWARE: There are a lot of rock outcroppings on the ridge top that always hold some snakes, I would wear chaps for sure. Very rugged steep country, you get in trouble back there it's going to take a bird to get you out.....
gozarca2
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putah cr
i've hiked up that hill too, was wierd seeing other hikers w/o guns. it was hot and steep. I also about hit a mountain lion with my truck about 1/2mi downstream from there @4am, last year. wasn't too big a cat, but enough that i wouldn't want to get close to it.
i've hiked up that hill too, was wierd seeing other hikers w/o guns. it was hot and steep. I also about hit a mountain lion with my truck about 1/2mi downstream from there @4am, last year. wasn't too big a cat, but enough that i wouldn't want to get close to it.
Rampage1
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If you're seeing a bunch of hikers you may have wandered into cold canyon (no hunting). The hunting area has no good trail access.
gozarca2
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update
yah i know where that area is, to be correct, i went up the steep hill on the left side of the valley (that sharp turn). there was some hikers headning down when i huffed my way up. i saw a ton on the other road at the bottom, on the right side of the valley/turn
yah i know where that area is, to be correct, i went up the steep hill on the left side of the valley (that sharp turn). there was some hikers headning down when i huffed my way up. i saw a ton on the other road at the bottom, on the right side of the valley/turn
