31 replies to this topic

[baychef]

Hey all,I'm heading back to Emigrant for the 2nd year now to hunt. Zone D6. Didn't have a lot of luck in 2011 hunting. We hunted the area right below Nightcap Peak. We had a great vantage point, but I think the lack of water on this side of the mountain, we didn't see much.My dad has hunted the Nigtcap peak area for years, with great results. Typically, pack in a few days before the season opens, and the morning of, we would almost always see some large deer heading to the summit to get away from the hunters pushing them up.This year, thinking about heading over more inland, towards Emigrant Lake.Anyone have any experience hunting in this area? Thinking about Blackbird Lake, maybe Huckleberry lake also.If anyone has experience, or insight, that would be awesome. Looking to bag a few bucks with my dad this year, and any helpful information would be really appreciated.Thanks guys![/background]

[Tuolumne85]

Huckleberry is quite a ways out you almost gotta go for the whole week to make it worth while. I have heard the hunting is pretty good around emigrant lake but I have never been there. If your getting packed out talk to the packers they know about where the deer come out of.

[baychef]

Hey Tuolmne85,Thanks. Yea, it is a trek, which is why I'm going for like 6 days. Will def talk to the packers before we head up. Planning on doing a little reckon this summer, in the area to check it out.

[Tuolumne85]

You getting packed in or are you gonna hike in?

[baychef]

Getting packed in on horses and pack mules. So, should be fresh to scout the area for a few days before hunt opens on Sat morning.

[Tuolumne85]

Yeah ask Kyle if your out of aspen meadows he's a good dude and marks all the bucks he sees on his gps

[baychef]

Does Kyle work out of Kennedy Meadows? That's where I'm getting packed in from.

[Tuolumne85]

No but they have enough people there that will know where to tell you to go

[KNOCKED UP]

I love Kennedy meadows, but I almost got killed there, when some moron left a gut pile, and deer parts on the trail.
My horse spooked, and hauled me full throttle down the trail with no dirt or rock on one side of the trail. (straight down)
I had a heck of a time getting that horse stoped.
Tom

[modoc squeek shooter]

Yep Tom, that can be fun lol. Nothing like having a run away down hill lol. Thats why the old cowboys packed six shooters, to stop runaway horses lol. Ed

[KNOCKED UP]

That is some good trivia Ed.
I probally had a six shooter with me, but if I would have thought about it, I would have shot the horse.
That scared the snot outta me.
Tom

[mtn dog]

Man, this is reminding me of a scary section of trail above June Lakes known as "Angel's Flight" - a switch-backing granite staircase on the edge of a cliff. Packer claimed there were several mule skeletons at the bottom of the cliff below us. A sure-footed horse is worth his weight in gold.

This isn't my video but I found that someone else 'enjoyed' the same thrill I did.

[Bkwoodshorsin]

Have you checked to see if the packers will take you that far in a one day ride? From my recollection those locations are at, or just beyond the limit of where a pack string can reach in a 8 hour ride. If you are not a seasoned rider expect to be sore when you wake up the following morning after arrival. If you're not a horseman, then you can limit the soreness somewhat by relaxing in the saddle and not tensing up your leg muscles. Some Alleve, or Ibuprophen when you reach camp might get you off to a better start in the morning. I've hunted the Emigrant, mostly during Bow season. As a general rule the population in the basin has been on the decline for the last 20+ years, as it is with most of the migratory populations in the Central Sierra, the California Mule deer simply don't compete well with the Blacktail now that their winter range is predominantly urbanized (the lone exception being the Yosemite herd that winters in the Andersen Flat area). That being said there are still some bruisers in the Emigrant, just don't expect to see 15-20 deer per day in the granitic area in the central portion of the Emigrant. Those soils just don't support enough plant life to feed good numbers of deer. The perimeter of the basin has richer more volcanic soils which provide more feed but that is largely where the hike-in hunters can reach. Early in season when it is hot and especially after a wet year with lots of mosquitos (like last year), the bucks will be high in the rocks and at the edge of the rocks. In those nice photos you posted from Night Cap Peak (looks like the south side), last year the bucks would have been mostly up-hill from your position. At night they feed lower into brush, willows and gullies but they often spend the day in the shade of a rock out-cropping, ledge or under a sierra juniper up in the moonscape where there are virtually no plants except juniper. After a milder winter like this year that rule won't hold quite as true but should still apply. A good tactic is to glass the edge of the shale on opposite side of the canyon with your spotting scope, then after you locate them make a plan to get close. Of the two locations you have mentioned, Huckleberry is in a river-bottom, has great fishing but lots of insects and probably more people. I like the ridges, vegetation and undulating terrain around Black Bird, both eastward and southwest toward Maxwell Lake much better. Most of the hunting pressure in central Emigrant is within a mile or so of the lakes with good fishing. I could go on and on since the Emigrant and Carson Iceberg have been my home turf for the past 30 years, but I don't want to bore you with everything I know on my first post.

[modoc squeek shooter]

Bkwoods has some sound advice for the novice rider. I have never hunted that section of Calif, but have spent many years on top of a horse. Eight hours on a horse in rugged country makes even us old hands tired. You will find you have muscles you didn't know you had lol. They will be screaming at you in the morning lol. Ed

[clampdaddy]

There's a small trail that takes off out the backside if one of the camp spots around Kennedy lake. It goes back into soda canyon. Always saw deer back there when we used to pack. Never hunted it though. I quit riding horses about the time I started deer hunting......go figure. Lol!

[baychef]

Thanks guys for all the helpful info! Getting all my gear ready here for our trip soon. After speaking with Matt, who heads the operation @ Kennedy, he recommended some nearby spots out by Emigrant.
Will spread out, and take my chances. I'll post if I end up getting lucky

Thanks again.

[Thumper Dunker]

Thats a nice area seen some nice ones back there. Used to run up night cap the night before opening morning. But that was long agoe when I was a bit younger and had legs and was a bit slimer.

[baychef]

Did you mean Blackbird lake? Can'f find Blackhawk anywhere in Emigrant...

Getting our gear ready, and man, looking forward to it. Didn't factor in being close to X12, so I'll have to keep that in mind. Heard there are some wardens on the boarder to make sure you hunt your area... Thoughts? Just thought the view from Grizzly would give me a good vantage point...hunting to the south of course. Some other locations I've heard from the pack guys that are good spots, Shallow/Frazier lakes, Horse Meadow, and Mosquito Lake... Got some 10x50 Binoculars, gear, etc...

Would you think its overkill to pack in a blind ? Thought it may be a good idea to limit my smell, etc when the deer are close. Any info is much appreciated...

Something small like this... http://www.cabelas.c...80;cat104365080

Thanks guys!


Thanks Stick! My dad has got some memories, of hiking up to Night Cap a few days before season opens, and seeing some big boys up there. But wanted to try my luck further out, away from the other hunters...

[OrneryOlMofo357]

Good luck with the hunt. looks like great country!

[mtn dog]

I hope your deer don't have a good map.
I remember taking a backpack hike from the Twin Lakes area (Mono County X12) one day before deer opener many years ago.
The trail crossing over the boundary into Yosemite National Park back country was absolutely covered with deer tracks heading west, like there was a mass migration going on. I wonder if those Emigrant Basin deer to the north of Yosemite do anything similar.

Good luck. Pack a fishing rod in case you get some down time.

[baychef]

Hey Big Shooter,

My dad has hunted a lot, much closer to the pack station, around Night Cap Peak, with great success in the past. But its littered with hunters opening day. He says the big bucks head towards Yosemite after the hunt season opens. They're smart buggers! As soon as they hear gunshots, they hit the ridges, and try to get the hell outta dodge...towards Yosemite. Thats why I like this area...see if we can cut them off at the pass somewhere. You have any experience hunting D6 Shooter? It'll be my 3rd year hunting... Just deciding on if I want to pack in a blind with me? Thoughts on that? Don't know if this area is good for that kind of hunting, or not. I was going to find a peak, and get there before season opens, and scope the valleys. Hopefully seeing something. But now that I think about it, a blind setup in the top level of brush...so we can get closer doesn't sound too bad...


The land is pretty rough out there...lots of granite, with valleys of brush and trees.

Anyone have any experience using blinds up in the D6 area, near Emigrant Lake, Blackbird Lake, or Shallow Lake?

Just looking for some advice...

Thanks guys!

[ShooterJohn]

Blinds in a situation like these areas are impractical at best. Just sit quietly and limit your movements and you'll have much better luck and be less restricted than in any sort of blind. Think of it as coyote hunting for big game as all of the same values apply.

[baychef]

Thanks for the helpful info Admin. Think I'll just stick to the old school way... get there early. Scout for a few days, and get situated at my spot the night before. Let's hope we see some bucks this year!

[mtn dog]

Dang! I'm getting excited about this guy's hunt and I don't even know him!

[baychef]

Thanks to all you guys for the help and info! Really appreciate it... Think I'm set for now. I'll post after the hunt to let you guys know how we did....

A few more pics from our trip... View towards Relief Reservoir near Kennedy Lake



Panoramic..



Chicken the first night...



Huckleberry Lake...



Near Blackbird Lake...

[baychef]

Success!! somewhere near Emigrant Lake...landed this nice 2 pointer. Thanks guys for the help!

[Bkwoodshorsin]

Happiness is a warm gut pile! Good Job.

[mtn dog]

Thanks for the great report and beautiful photos. Very nice.

[OrneryOlMofo357]

Great going!

[baychef]

Thanks Guys!! Got a draw for a late season hunt in Tehama Wildlife Area...any of you have experience hunting around there? Just a day hunt, but wanted to see if people have had luck out that way...

Thanks!