CA D3-5 and Muley's!

[chukwithak]

Ladies and gents, I have many questions on behavior and patterns. I was raised road hunting X1 so I never learned to watch patterns and instincts. After living in CO for many years, I learned quite a bit about Elk but for some reason never really got into Deer hunting out there.

I've been building up point applying for X1 and last year hunted B2 quite a bit. Boots on the ground already this year and have a decent little spot in D5 where I know there is a buck and many doe, but I'm not satisfied. I want to understand and know more about these creatures.

I'm finding deer about 6k-8k right now, which I expect them to get as high as they can with the summer heat. Obviously sticking with water and dense area's to where it's cooler. What confuses me is rocky areas. I hiked up the trail west of Sierra at Tahoe the other day to do some scouting, but the granite threw me off.

Also I have been considering boots on the ground in the Granite Chief Wilderness.

First priority is meat in the freezer, second priority is size, third priority is rack.

What are these deer eating?

I'm seeing deer up at 2pm on my game cam?

I learned with Elk to hunt NE facing slopes, but I'm finding deer in NW running draws?

Any education is greatly appreciated. I'm hunting HARD this year. A lot of E-scouting and boots on the ground.

If anyone is interested in doing some backcountry this year, I'm hunting Archery and Rifle, D3-5, B2, and Bear, but everything I do now is physically earned.

 

[Jimmy]

Can't beat boots on the ground and learning from observing. Lots of these deer don't do what mule deer 'are supposed to do'.

As far as not being on certain facing slopes, I can confirm that is bs. In fact, I've had great success hunting bucks in places they weren't supposed to be.

 

[huntnful]

Can't beat boots on the ground and learning from observing. Lots of these deer don't do what mule deer 'are supposed to do'.

As far as not being on certain facing slopes, I can confirm that is bs. In fact, I've had great success hunting bucks in places they weren't supposed to be.

Agreed. Get somewhere that you can glass east and south slopes in the morning, and west and north slopes in the evening. They’ll tell you where they are. Don’t be afraid of the granite, they’re in there also.

 

[chukwithak]

Agreed. Get somewhere that you can glass east and south slopes in the morning, and west and north slopes in the evening. They’ll tell you where they are. Don’t be afraid of the granite, they’re in there also.

Sounds like youre referring to have the sun to your back. The concept I miss here is dont these deer want to stay on the east side of slope and avoid the summer heat?

 

[huntnful]

Sounds like youre referring to have the sun to your back. The concept I miss here is dont these deer want to stay on the east side of slope and avoid the summer heat?

The deer will really just do whatever they want man. There's normally plenty of shade on all slopes. They only need one small group of trees for shade. They don't need an entire shaded mountain side. That's why I'm saying to get somewhere that you can glass at least 3 of the 4 slopes. Don't be afraid to look at all slopes at all times of the day. Glassing into the sun is helpful also because you'll be looking into the shaded areas, it's just tough to see at long distance. I've glassed big bucks on west slopes in the evening and big bucks on east slopes in the morning.

 

[SOJ51]

Love all the insight. Ill be in D3-5 for my first hunt this season. Been a busy summer trying to scout the area out!

 

[chukwithak]

I’ve found some good forkies on the cameras. 3 forks and 3 bears in the area too. Should be meat in the freezer for sure this year, just would like to find a little more mature of a buck.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You are way ahead of most with getting in there and scouting early. Don't overlook heavily populated areas and areas close to the roads.

These are all photos from last year in D3-5 not too long after rifle season ended. Notice how these photos are from cabins in the foothills at 4.500-6,500. These guys come down and make themselves known. They are in there during the season and I’ve killed many bucks like these over the last 20 years hunting in the Sierras.

These Muley hybrids are fun deer to hunt and it takes different strategies and adapting to get one in your freezer. Glassing all day works sometimes but a lot of these bigger guys are holed up and you gotta go get in bed with them in my opinion. The last 3 seasons we’ve had way more success with this strategy and killing and seeing the bigger bucks.

PM me for more details.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Check out the body on this D3 buck from last season. Get excited friends! He’s still up there. Saw him in the same spot 2 weeks after the season ended and got this photo of him.

 

[chukwithak]

You are way ahead of most with getting in there and scouting early. Don't overlook heavily populated areas and areas close to the roads.

These are all photos from last year in D3-5 not too long after rifle season ended. Notice how these photos are from cabins in the foothills at 4.500-6,500. These guys come down and make themselves known. They are in there during the season and I’ve killed many bucks like these over the last 20 years hunting in the Sierras.

These Muley hybrids are fun deer to hunt and it takes different strategies and adapting to get one in your freezer. Glassing all day works sometimes but a lot of these bigger guys are holed up and you gotta go get in bed with them in my opinion. The last 3 seasons we’ve had way more success with this strategy and killing and seeing the bigger bucks.

PM me for more details.

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Appreciate the reminders. I’m trying to learn more and more while having to put in more work for the same success. Weird to say. I grew up road hunting X1. We always had quality deer. Dad and grandfather grew up up there and grandpas friends were loggers, so we always knew where the deer were.

I’ve moved away from road hunting, spot and stalk only, and REALLY try to get away from the crowds. I have a tendency to go to the high altitudes because I know there’s going to be few people where I go.

For me it’s about getting out and being “one with nature”. While most important to me is just getting the meat and I know the younger bucks tastes better, I always try to get a slightly more mature buck so the youngins can grow a touch.

 

[chukwithak]

Check out the body on this D3 buck from last season. Get excited friends! He’s still up there. Saw him in the same spot 2 weeks after the season ended and got this photo of him.

View attachment 319948

Had to go get the cameras because of the fire. A couple besties all within .1 miles of them selves. Have a couple other good sized forks and bears that were showing up around the area. All D5.

 

[PVHunter]

That's a nice looking bear.

 

[chukwithak]

I have 4 on camera all on the same ridge. One of them I would guess be being about 600lbs. Found a nice little nook of life in D5.

 

[SOJ51]

As a first time hunter I love all the insight! Been scouting all summer, well, until the Caldor fire came through. Hope everyone stayed safe

 

[AAABucko]

Love D3-D5 hunting for blacktail! Nice pictures

 

[Kpfarm]

Love D3-D5 hunting for blacktail! Nice pictures

Not blactail

 

[Moserkr]

Seen blacktail, benchlegs, and muleys all in the same basin. Sometimes herding together (does). Saw a big, old 3x3 during archery with hoof prints the size of the palm of my hand, benchleg (CA muley if you want). Then later in the season saw this bigger 3x3 and his hoof prints were the size of my whole hand! “Pure” rocky mtn mule deer. They dont act normal cause none of them are truly pure out here. Bet those two bucks were related but their size difference was unmistakable. Body and hoofs were night n day, but very similar 3x3 racks, living within a mile of each other. The genetics of CA bucks on the coast vs the sierras vs true rocky mtn mule deer is pretty amazing and unique.

Another big buck, 4x4 for fun, never seen him in person. Big bear I almost shot last year. And the rare blacktail at 8k’ close to where the other pics came from. Was a hard winter years back and didnt see any big bucks for a few years, assumed those bucks for dead. Their genetics live on though. Missed an archery shot on a smaller son of the big 3x3, then met the guy who took it with a rifle later last season. Small world.

Seen a ton of bucks down lower too. Some of the blacktails near where I live in the foothills are just insane.

 

[Hunt_Jefferson]

Im seeing people post pictures of big bucks in much lower elevations than usual for this time of year. Usually I’m seeing these in November, must be the fire pushed them west and they just kept going.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Love D3-D5 hunting for blacktail! Nice pictures

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Not blactail

There are still pure black tail in some areas of D3-5 just FYI