Hunting on the West Coast in California

[liber]

I was replying to @huntinghuasna about pig and deer recently, so leaving this thread generic, and would like to hear from others on this topic.

I currently live in San Jose, which is the southern part of northern A zone 116, and huntinghuasna is in the southern A zone 110. This is mostly applicable to deer in both northern/southern A zones as you can buy a tag in either zone that is valid for both. A zone is huge, it's the largest hunting zone in California.

Pig

Currently a reasonable resident license of ~65/year and a pig tag is $27/year. The beauty of pig is that as of this past season, the tag is unlimited. You are required to call in your harvest, but then are allowed to take another one. You also need to report if you don't harvest. It is a more than fair program, but pigs are becoming a huge problem in California. Anyone with a pig tag for the current season can still hunt pig until June 31st.

Deer

Currently the season is closed and for the new coming season tags will be available mid April. Deer season moves around between the different zones, and you can't use a tag purchased for deer in a different zone, and this is where the system gets a bit complicated. Deer is ~40 for the first deer, and ~50 for the second.

Black Bear

Can be used throughout the entire state, but you need to abide to hunting within the zones. The hunting zones are typically for about 1 to 1-1/2 months, so you need to travel if you want to be able to hit the zones at the proper time. Most Black Bear are either in the Sierras or the Mayacamas and/or along the coast. Bear tag is about $50 for a resident.

Ok, I'm looking for any advice and primarily hunting pig this coming season, black bear after that, and deer after that. Most black bear boars are ~175-200 lbs., hence why I would use a 6.5mm bullet. The reason for my preference is based on cost vs meat harvest, and it seems easier to get a big boar than it is a big buck. Please school me, is that correct? My contractor got a bear this year in the Sierras (one of the X zones), at close to 400 yards. He shoots a 300 RUM, a much larger cartridge than I will use. I would feel comfortable to take game at that distance...but that's about my limit.

Any advice would be appreciated, either in A-North-160 or other. I have some friends to hunt with in 160, and hope to find some pigs and/or a bear or deer. Good thing about pigs is that once all the zones end on Dec. 31st, you can still hunt pigs until the end of June, but you can't hunt with a rifle during any archery season. Is that a common regulation in other states? I've never hunted out of California, but would drive to Nevada or Oregon possibly.

 

[dfanonymous]

The advice is look at the fish and games notes on the website of the zone in question. It tells you everything you need to know of where to go. The rest is up to you as far as the hunting.

Bear taste like **** to me so, I'm no good to you on that. Especially those Bear. They are hunters and dumpster divers a lot because of the ****** campers. The sierras are a good bet though. There's a lot of them around there x-10 and especially d8 have a decent amount. A lot of cats some wolves too.

There's a few counties that have pigs on public land, but the majority of them are on private land. Anyone that has a spot won't give it up and the areas I'm talking about are pretty public and thus over hunted. You can try the oil fields in Bakersfield but beware of cartel activity up there. Stay strapped or get clapped. People go missing and are found in pieces in the river there all the time and hardly anyone cares.

 

[liber]

Bear taste like **** to me so, I'm no good to you on that.

I like it, I have a bear roast in the freezer now... Some folks like venison better, or elk. I like the backstrap of elk, but not crazy about the tenderloin, it's pretty livery taste. I'll eat tongue or heart, but not liver.

Especially those Bear. They are hunters and dumpster divers a lot because of the ****** campers. The sierras are a good bet though. There's a lot of them around there x-10 and especially d8 have a decent amount. A lot of cats some wolves too.

I'll go up there if I need to, but would rather stay at the coast, if possible.

There's a few counties that have pigs on public land, but the majority of them are on private land. Anyone that has a spot won't give it up and the areas I'm talking about are pretty public and thus over hunted. You can try the oil fields in Bakersfield but beware of cartel activity up there. Stay strapped or get clapped. People go missing and are found in pieces in the river there all the time and hardly anyone cares.

There are pigs in 160, just more farther down south. And that's what I would like to understand in CA, where public land is available. There are 2 places around Clear Lake I do plan to hunt this coming season. Cache Creek to the southeast and Cow Mountain to the northwest. Pretty steep but has some water down off highway 20, on the way to Ukiah. The other Eel River Campground is just north of A zone

Seems to me that the majority of pigs are in Monterey County. That was my original question about A-South-110 and/or if I would be better looking for pig down there. That's about a 3 hour drive, well within reasonable distance. FWIW, most of the trails and campground are currently closed as of Feb 3rd, due to the heavy rains.