Muuzilla

Haha like I tell people...if I was still a Marine I'd be able to shop in the commissary. It definitely sticks with you tho. The worst part about a burning tank is the smell...it never goes away. We just had an AAV get blown up killing a Marine. Vehicle is still here awaiting disposition. I've seen pics of some of the deer people get and some of them are huge compared to some white tails I've seen in Oklahoma (my parents retired there on the OK/AR line) but the taste is different...not corn fed that's for sure.

I was a Marine here until 94, been a civil servant since 95 when I started at the EEAP as a tank mechanic.

Haha well, gotta stay positive to live in the desert (I hate the desert but the job is good). I'm not sure if I will get into predator hunts or not? There is a ton of BLM land around and some of the guys shoot their deer there but I'm not a fan of deer meat from deer that eat a lot of creosote and sagebrush. How long ago were you up here?

I camped a bit near Big Bear and even had a big doe walk within 30 yards of my family as we were eating dinner! About an hour later she walked by again (guessing she went to the stream to drink?) So I followed her tracks and came across 2 other sizes of tracks...good thing is it was in the National Forest and a no firearms area. If I can get everything done by Friday I'd like to head out and camp (brr) for the night and look for her on Saturday... that's the only time I will have this weekend. Yay...stumps! At least its a job, right?

Yes, out here are mulies. I work on the 29 Palms base. The bow shops near me are in Indio and Riverside (both about an hour away) and they have a Bass Pro about 90 minutes away.

Thanks for the welcomes and info. Sadly, the nearest shops for me are about an hour away so if I am lucky I can make that trip once a month or so (wife is a RN for the emergency room so she works differing days each week and on the weekends if she is working, I have the kids...the young ones are 2 and 4). I am going to try to get a tag and hit up an area we've camped at and seen a couple different size deer tracks at. Hopefully...I can get that done this weekend. Straight Shooter...I'm jealous of you! I was born in Macon and wish I lived out in GA! Or maybe even AL.

First time posting here and looking at going hunting for the first time. My question centers around a couple of things. 1. I dont know anyone else here that bow hunts, let alone has a bow. 2. I havent had much time to scout out any hunting areas (as a rookie I would have to spend extra time trying to learn it all) due to getting married and being a lucky federal civil servant that lost 20% of pay during the summer due to sequestration (no money=no traveling to scout) So...my question is this: Does anyone on here hunt or know anyone that bow hunts in southern California and can anyone give some advice as to a decent area to start in? Any help would be appreciated.