25 replies to this topic

[Severum]

Hello Everyone! I was wondering if anybody has hunted in the Mojave National Preserve? I am looking for a weekend hunting spot and it looks promising from what I can tell from the internet. Any information would be helpful!Thank you,Sam Mitchell (Severum)

[onecoyote]

Only one way to find out.

[Cranky Farmer]

Guys, I've heard from a few guys who've found good hunting there. I am guessing you will have to find the general areas where water is still provided to find the better hunting. I've never been there, so I can't give you any better info than that.

[Severum]

Nothing like a good scouting trip! I will try to check it out and report on what I find!Severum

[MojaveJ]

The MNP is about he only place that I hunt and there are lots of dogs out there we have also called in two bobcats there this year. The guy I hunt with usually fills all of his cat tags but he hunts alot more than I do just be ready the rangers like to harass you sometimes even though it is legal to hunt there it is run by the park service and they seem to have an anti-hunting agenda. There are also some private ranches in the preserve so watch where you go. I live up in the high desert but work in San Diego during the week. Ben If you want to find some places to hunt just up in the high desert I would be glad to show you around up thereI generally use my quad when out hunting the desert but you can't use them on the MNP it beats the heck out of that gas hog F250 of mine if you're interested shot me a PM with some contact info and I'll give you a yell

[.243Win]

just found this threadrather than start a new oneI plan on heading out there for hunting next weekend with a couple friendsI have only deer hunted out there once about 15 years ago, before NPS took oversomeone told me about an old pit mine that's full of water in a canyonthis sounds interesting, and I will try and get more detailsalso was told there are some old cinder mines that make a great place to base camp fromanyone else heading that waymaybe we could meet up

[Cranky Farmer]

Nothing like a good scouting trip! I will try to check it out and report on what I find!Severum

So how did it go?

[onecoyote]

I hunted the area before Allen Cransten "the living cadaver" and "do nothing" Diane Feinstein took everyones desert away so they could save the Mojave stick lizard from the man eating bighorn sheep. Use to be ok hunting years ago. I'd sure like to hear how the trip went too.

[.243Win]

my brother and I visited the MNP yesterday, leaving at 5:30 amwe entered from the Baker end (I-15) arriving there about 7:45we followed the Kelbaker Road and explored some dirt side roadsit seems the utility roads (gas and electric) off the best routes of travelthere are some dirt mine roads off the beaten path, but we didn't have the timeto follow each and every one we came acrosswe did follow dirt road to a cinder mine, Aiken I believe it wassome old mining buildings and mine junk lying aroundthe road we followed and the area around is somewhat volcanic with lots and lots of smallcanyons and drainagesthere are lots of rabbit and coyote tracks we exited onto Cima road and traveled to Mid Hills campground areathis area was burnt badly last year; moonscape describes it pretty wellcampground is open, but not many folks in therethe north end of the Providence Mts. looks to be unburned and probably a better opportunity for hunting successfrom Mid Hills, we traveled the road south, past Hole in the Wall area; lots of campers/people, avoid areawe took a gas line road (rough and slow) west, just south of Mitchell Cavernsthe map shows it as Foshay pass; we took our time, looking for anything that would interest usas we went over the summit and started down. the terrain changes rapidlysmall canyons and lots of heavy cover; we headed down the canyon and saw some huge mine tailngs pileswe parked the truck and walked aways towards a huge open pitthe map calls this Vulcan minehere we found the open pit full of water I was told about earlier; it's like a small lake; there was also some running water on the surface of the old road we were walking in onlots of quail/chukar trackslots of coyote tracksI think the open water has something to do about thatwe headed down the canyon; the road is in really good shape; we didn't see anyone in the canyon, but vehicle tracks suggest frequent visitorswe headed south on Kelbaker and intersected a gas line road going back east, the way we had just come fromwe didn't know it at the time, but later found out it intersects the same canyon road, just below Foshay pass; the terrain looks good to me; very large canyons and brushy draws that offer good critter coverwe saw too large coveys of quailthis area offers privacy and seclusion, ran into nobody over herewe ran out of daylight and headed for home via I-40, arriving about 8pm460 miles for the trip, a long day behind the wheel, but very much worth the effort.I'm glad I ran those roads in the daylight hours; I now have an idea of what to expect for this weekends night outing; I don't know where I will end up being, but definetly out in that area somewhereIf anyone gets a chance, head to the MNP

[.243Win]

forgot to mention that yesterdays weather out there was never over 50* and included some snow flurries late in the afternoonif you go, dress warm, for it will be cold

[.243Win]

couple of pics from saturday scouting tripVulcan Pit Mine

[Cranky Farmer]

the pictures didnt come throughalmost .... change the "htpp" to "http"

[.243Win]

tryingdumb newbie here.....got 2 of them upI will downsize the others...too large....I think I know how to do that

[.243Win]

mid hills campground after the firekelso dunes from vulcan mine road

[ShooterJohn]

Go back into photobucket and it will say resize. Choose 50% and hit resize and they'll fit on the page much better. You don't have to change anything back here just in photobucket.

[Thumper Dunker]

Looks good.

[.243Win]

anyone headed out to the MNP this weekend ?should be good weather

[Switch]

.243win, I'm headed out there this weekend to hopefully break in the Ruger VT .204. I'll be headed more towards the northern end near Jawbone. I'll be taking the FX3 and maybe the jack-in-the-box decoy. I'm getting there early Sat. morning and hiking a few miles off the road to call. Last chance for bobcat.

[Cranky Farmer]

Switch,I think he means the Mojave National Preserve? Good luck and let us know how you do!

[.243Win]

I'll be heading out tomorrow about noonhope to see some critters

[Frank]

You can hunt in the Mojave National Preserve... Years ago, if memory serves me right, the words "preserve, park or monument" etc usually did mean no hunting, especially in Ca. That changed, I believe around the Clinton yrs, with him wanting to "preserve" everything. Part of the "deals / battles" however was to allow hunting in these new area's. Although the MNP possibly could have been prior to Clinton's time, the road closures in the MNP with hunting allowing to remain, seemed to happen around his time? I may be all wet on that part, but something to that effect I think?!Frank

[.243Win]

hunting allowed during hunting season, no target shootingDFG administers the hunting regs out therewell, my brother is dreading another long drive out therewe may just stay local for our last flinggood luck to all

[MojaveJ]

Trust me there are alot of dogs out there but they move around alot and they do get hit pretty hard.I have been out there for about a month but my buddy has and he called in 10 and got 4 the last time he was out.

[.243Win]

I went out as well, had no lucklots of rabbits and birds, the food is thereI didn't even see a coyote this time, let alone hear anyyet the scat/tracks in the washes I visited was very heavythey have to be there somewherehad to go solo as my brothers 7 year old son was admiited to hospital with flu/dehydration/kidney problemshopefully, he's released tomorrow, poor little guy