First Time Hunter- CA Muley

Tbone78

FNG
Joined
Sep 21, 2021
Messages
1
I finally did it. Took much longer than I hoped but I got out there for a few days opening weekend. I didn’t get a buck, in fact I didn‘t even see one. I know I made plenty of mistakes and apologies to the hunters I’m sure I pissed off, but I was thrilled to finally be in the game. Going back out in a couple weeks, so need to regroup and come up with a new plan. Proud to be a part of the this community. Now I need to work on getting my first buck so I can truly call myself a hunter. Good luck to all of you out there and hope you have a fantastic season.
 
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
1,226
Glad you got out and got after it! Everyone makes mistakes, it’s learning from them that’s important. It doesn’t hurt to take a journal and keep track of where you saw deer, sign, what time it was, wind direction. That’s all valuable information for future hunts.
 
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Messages
1,422
Congrulations on the move too hunting, but it does not take a kill too make one a hunter. I know hunters who have hunted many years before making a kill. For me the hunt is matching wits with a animal in his turf, the kill is the bitter sweet part of the ending.
 

Moserkr

WKR
Joined
Feb 26, 2020
Messages
997
Location
Mountains of CA
Good luck tbone! Dont ever get discouraged from failing to kill in CA. The hunting is hard here and the animals have the advantage. They dont act quite like the deer from other states either. Enjoy your time out there and the constant learning it gives you.

From my years hunting in CA, heres a few tips Ive learned.

Follow the green - greens are their groceries. Thick cover near the groceries will be their beds. Buckbrush is called that for a reason.

Follow the water - yes they can live in small pockets of minimal water. To find more deer, find larger sources of water. Larger sources of water will have more food generally.

Draws, saddles, and sidehills - I find more deer using these paths than traveling atop ridges or hanging out in the open (rare).

“Buck islands” - topographical rises on or near the mountain. Like benches, I believe they love em for the thermals and escape routes they use for protection. Play the wind.

Last, dont skip hunting midday. 2 biggest bucks ive come across were out at 1-2pm milling around.
 

Ztait

FNG
Joined
Sep 7, 2021
Messages
11
Location
El Dorado Hills
Congrats TBone78! This is my first year hunting in a while and my first year hunting in CA, so I feel like a newby again! This is good info, thanks.


Ztait
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PhotoHunter

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
Messages
156
Location
So. Cal.
It's great to see new hunters get started. Listen to all advise given. My advise: slow down or find a good place to stop when you find fresh sign. Stay downwind. Find water. Enjoy every minute.
Best of luck!
 

ixous

FNG
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Messages
12
Congrats on getting out there. You’re already a hunter in my book. Best of luck!


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270Hunter

FNG
Joined
Aug 17, 2018
Messages
27
Location
Western Montana
Just keep after it and always stay positive, hunting can and will get hard sometimes but that’s when you grit your teeth and keep after it. One of my most “successful” seasons I didn’t even fill a tag, but I learned a lot. For where I hunt and how I hunt scouting is the best way to find deer consistently, glassing is always a good way to find deer, setting trail cameras is another good way, and even just sitting on ridges or points that overlook several different trails. Best of luck to you, hunt hard and hunt often.

P.S. I also hunt in California
 

TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,263
Location
OC, CA
I finally did it. Took much longer than I hoped but I got out there for a few days opening weekend. I didn’t get a buck, in fact I didn‘t even see one. I know I made plenty of mistakes and apologies to the hunters I’m sure I pissed off, but I was thrilled to finally be in the game. Going back out in a couple weeks, so need to regroup and come up with a new plan. Proud to be a part of the this community. Now I need to work on getting my first buck so I can truly call myself a hunter. Good luck to all of you out there and hope you have a fantastic season.
And when you get that first buck? You're going to feel like a God for about a month and a half!

Keep at it and don't give up! Stay til end of shooting light every day.
 
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