17 replies to this topic

[Single Six]

I go to the D19 area to escape the desert heat in the summer. If you've seen my picture threads, you've seen I run into deer pretty often, and there are more I don't get pics of. Usually does and fawns with the occasional spiker. I went to another place last weekend and saw a doe and mostly grown fawn, either two pairs or maybe the same pair twice, dead camera battery, oops. Only once, early on when I started going to the mountains I stumbled on a big old buck, he scared the tar out of me crashing through the brush in the ravine below the road I was walking on, and I only got a glimpse of his rack. I'm going to dig around and read up on hunting deer, but I figured I'd ask here for tips on finding bucks too. I'd like to get a deer for meat, but the bucks seems to elude me.

[Shoot-it]

When the rut starts go back and look for the doe's a buck will be with them.

[TonyS]

Right now it is too hot for bucks to be out. They are up high where it is cool. Later on they will come down.

[Single Six]

I've been ranging from 3400 to 6400 feet... I assume they'll be in the upper end?

Thanks

[rabiddog]

Ive been seeing bucks at all altitudes couldn't get close enough during archery to dry and crunchy, But rifle is a whole other story. I did however notice that I wouldn't see bucks till around 11 am and would see them till around 1-2 pm go figure that one out.
Rest assured they are out there just gotta get high and start glassing the bottoms and cross ridges thats how I found most of the ones I saw.
Good luck

[Single Six]

Good point. I've just been following deer trails between water and cover, etc. mostly just to explore and been catching them (or them catching me) moving between them or bedded down. I'll try staying put high and watching. Though staying put is hard for me to do. :-D

They seem to like the oak tree cover in the draws, but can't get close to them oaks without sounding like Bigfoot in those leaves.

[Hipshot Percussion]

If all your seeing is does, find another area. Usually bucks hang out with each other or alone. Usually the bigger bucks will not be running in the same area with does. The rut does not start until Nov. and deer season is over by then. I live at 2000' elv and am seeing large bucks everyday, unusual for this time of the year. Best I can figure the bucks have moved their range out of the canyons that hold lions. It's starting to get cold in the higher elevations at night this will usually put the bucks on the move. Seeing lots of does incicates bucks are in another area usually higher.

I have observed over the years as soon as guys start hunting deer, camping on water holes, running the roads searching for bucks the deer change their habits completely. They stop watering as usual spots because idiot hunters have to camp by their water holes, and are using roads nobodys been on in months. In other words they get smart real quick. A few years ago my buddy and I drew tags for the Eagle Lake area and we spent a week without seeing any deer.....period because so many people had run the roads and disrupted their habits....we packed our gear and got ready to leave the area...on the way out we drove the back way out which led by some alfalfa fields in the flat lands...low and behold here's a herd of deer all bucks... needless to say we filled our tags and headed for home. A suggestion here look in areas no one thinks will hold deer and you might get lucky.

[tommybuilt]

The only input I can give is based on my trail camera photos. I get alot more pictures of bucks at or near sunset than I do after sunrise. The buck pictures in the morning are usually well before sunrise, like 2 hours before. But as Hipshot said, once they're pressured everything changes.

[bretmoua]

In my opinion, I think bucks can be found at any altitude....if you work hard enough, you'll find them. But, you have to take into consideration that the buck to doe/fawn ratio would probably be 1 to 3 or so....give or take a little. That was just an estimate. You must also take into consideration that bucks are much smarter than does and will only appear in the opening for a very short amount of time to either feed or move about. With that being said, be persistent in the hunt, hunt early and late (into the very last minute that's legal to shoot), and hope you'll run into them. Good luck everyone.

[Single Six]

Thanks for all the good tips and thought material guys, I appreciate it.

[jawbreaker]

If you want to find bucks just get a doe tag, you will see nothing but bucks then.

[Single Six]

I was under the (mistaken?) impression CA doesn't do doe tags? I'm hunting for meat, them bony things on the head ain't edible.

[bretmoua]

CA sucks with all their regulations regarding deer. In my opinion, we need to have an X amount of doe tags per zone and make it a first come first serve basis on the tag.

[sportyg]

Many more does in the zone around here then bucks, that said you can find a few bucks out and about , you just need to get away from everyone else and stay off indain land and the game presurve. Oh wait those areas are where all the bucks go... LOL.. Not to worry they are here you just have to burn gas & shoe leather to learn the zone and where to find them..

[FUR CHASER]

I've been seeing quite a few does and fawns in D19 as well. There was one buck from this zone i got back in 2001 but i'm pretty sure there's gotta be another one by now! LOL
I'm with Sportyg, just keep hiking, and visiting Chevron and you'll see the bucks one of these days...at least that's what i'm hoping for! Come on opening day, get here already!!!

Good luck!

[KNOCKED UP]

I have hunted California all my life,
It has never been great hunting, but fifty years ago it was pretty good.
I have hunted several other states, and California is, Let's say very mis managed.
Almost all other states have very good deer hunting.
Sad but true, and I will probally still hunt it as long as I am able.
Just my worthless opinion.
Tom

[StephLuvsHunting]

I'll probabbly be 60 by the time i get on my first buck, seeing as how things have changed..last year not a single buck in site for me, and that was a week long trip. :/

[PigHostile1]

As Bretmoua, had mentioned on his comment...

I strong recommand you to be patient and wait for the does and visually inspect there signals (ear flaps signals, noisy, foot stomps, walking in circles) these are signs that a hunter must understands if there's any bucks around. As look on the walking path deer's are smart games but will use the same path over and over until they're scaried away. I was in D7 on Sunday spotted a small forky but didn't take the shot cause I know there was a bigger buck (6pts) around that area. At the end of the day the bigger buck was harvest by my friend.