Muuzilla Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 welcome to RT, id start out by finding a local archery shop, use the indoor range and meet other people and go from there. i'm sure they has to be some public land there to hunt someweres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Hello and welcome to RT.. There used to be a member on here that was from Southern California a few years back. He would have been a great contact for you. Also, contact the local DNR office to find some hunting locations, you should be able to get some good information from them. I wish you luck and hunt safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Where at in southern CA, I was stationed there for four years. Toward the end I actually had some time to hunt, on base of course there at Pendleton. I have been to two bow shops, one in Escondido, the other in Mirmar. As far as I could see, it was TOTALLY different than huting whitetail, scrub mulies is what they called them. I would focus around water, seemed like that was a limiting factor out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I'd recommend a state forum, I noticed one with a google search called southerncaliforniahunting.com that may could hook you up with some hunting partners. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Good ole 29 stumps, was there for a 120 day TDY. I'd say looking to Arizona for over the counter mulie tag or Big Bear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 MAN, you have one positive attitude, if it wasn't for having such an awesome command, it would have really sucked. I did take my 270, I don't know if the gun shop is there on main street in Yucca, but he re-did my stock, and fixed my magazine plate. I bet there's some AWESOME predator calling out there, and a TON of BLM land. Go to Joshua Tree national forrest, and they have paplets of BLM lands around there, there's quite a bit! I did find some, tried calling, didn't have much luck, later found out that it was for shotgun only, believe due to dessert bighorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I was stationed there from June of 2006 till September. I was a training cadre, or coyote as we put it, for Mojave viper. It was integrated with CAX for a 30 training op for pre-deployment. The team I was attached to did SIM rounds, 9mm rounds tipped with paint balls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I was a Marine here until 94, been a civil servant since 95 when I started at the EEAP as a tank mechanic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Was a Marine, seriously? Once, ALWAYS! I saw a tank burn when I was there, not a pretty sight, out by the rifle range! Are there any good mulies that come off of BLM land out there, there has to be some stud mulies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muuzilla Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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