Laytonville Area

kilowatt · May 2, 2005

Pictures were sent to me from a friends son, he got them from the fella who took the pictures two years ago.

Blueoak · May 3, 2005

Man, that is a stud blacktail! They get big over there, but its mostly private. What a bumber

csutton7 · May 3, 2005

wow now we're talking--he looks like he's on his way to be a toad--hopefully they can get some more photos of him as he progresses--that would be neat--I guess I'll have to call my buddy and see about hunting up there this year---chris

CAjackrabbitWCP · May 3, 2005

What zone is Laytonville Area?

kilowatt · May 3, 2005

Zone A in Mendocino County, but where exactly the pictures were taken, I do not know and I'm sure the photographer is not going to reveal it either.

Brian

Sheepshooter · May 3, 2005

Wow , great pictures Brian ! Where we have hunted Laytonville in the past , it is in B-1 .

kilowatt · May 3, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-03-05 AT 11:15PM (MST)[p]I stand corrected, wasn't looking at the map that close. It is up there somewhere out of Laytonville, but don't know if north,south,east or west. Only a guess maybe out Spy Rock Road to the end as a family I know has a large tract of land at the very end of the road where the old railroad station use to be. They are close to the Eel River.

Brian
P.S. But that whole area is a "hemp growing" mecca too.

eelgrass · May 4, 2005

What a buck!!!
Brian, my father spent 35 years working on the (now abandoned) railroad that ran from Eureka to Willits.It was called the Northwestern Pacific RR. He has plenty of stories of the big bucks they used to see all through the Eel River canyon. He worked there from 1950 to 1986.

As a kid, I used to ride the train and get dropped off down around Island Mountain in the winter months for steelhead fishing. Spend the night along the river, non-stop action. Wild country back then. You're right, pot farmers would bury a guy out there now!

Steve

kilowatt · May 4, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-04-05 AT 11:08PM (MST)[p]Steve,
I use to work with a fella back in the mid-70's up at the Geysers Power Plants and he was a fishing fool.
He use to hike from Dos Rios at the bridge and go back up the Eel for Steelhead fishing, he sure would bring back some beauties. Also had to rub in to me and some other hunters about the big bucks he was seeing back up there.
Nothing like the "good old days" that is for sure.

Brian
P.S. Recently heard or read where they are re-opening the Skunk Train from Willits to Ft. Bragg. Also talks in the work about re-opening the railroad from Willits-Eureka but in order to do that, someone is going to have to shell out a bunch of money to repair the tracks along the Eel river where it has slid down into the river and/or hillside covers the tracks.

Devlin · May 5, 2005

I use to hunt the Island Mt.ranch for archery hogs and I use to see some huge bucks on that ranch but the owner,Ted Winters wouldn,t let me rifle hunt the bucks.I sure had some good times there tho...Devlin

eelgrass · May 5, 2005

Devlin,

You lucky dog!

I used to dream of being able to hunt that country. I have a friend who was able to hunt a ranch bordering the Dean Witter ranch. He has several blacktail racks that qualify for B&C but he's not interested in entering them.

Good luck this season,
Steve

Nelly · May 6, 2005

Cool pics,
About 5 years ago my friend (Gordy) use to run the Dean Witter ranch. Another friend was able to go there and hunt also. Seems the Witter familey does not go up there to much any more.... My buddy finally got tired of being by him self and quit and moved back to Id. I guess some younger guy and his girlfriend took over for him. If I would have know it was that good of hunting I would have made a trip up there my self... OH well now I know.
Curtis

Sheepshooter · May 6, 2005

Are you guys talking about the Witter ranch that's where 162 and 101 meet ? We only hunted it for a year or two but took a couple really nice bucks off of there . One scores in the low 140's .

eelgrass · May 7, 2005

Sheepshooter, I made some calls and found out that indeed the Witter ranch does extend to Hwy 162 and 101. I knew it was big but I didn't know how big. The north end is actually north of Island Mtn, on the east side of the main fork of Eel River. Access is on the Zenia to Covalo road. The ranch itself has several hundred miles of road, or so I've been told.

Devlin, the Winters ranch is on the west side of the river, before Island Mtn?

For those that don't know, the corners where Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties meet, is known as the Emerald Triangle. It doesn't take much thought to figure why.

Steve

theridge · May 8, 2005

Is that ranch also known as the Lone Pine Ranch?? Next to the Stewart Ranch??? Thanks

Sheepshooter · May 8, 2005

eelgrass , my mistake the ranch we hunted was called the Whittacker ranch the entrance was right where 101 and 162 meet . Sure wish I could hunt there again.

bigLouis · May 9, 2005

Note to theridge The Lone Pine,TheHorse ranch and a third piece of property west of The Stewart Ranch are all owned by the Dean Witter company/family.This is one of the largest stock brokerage houses affiliated with the Pacific Stock Exchange.Their logo used to be a Rearing up horse,hence the name Horse Ranch which starts on the road between Zenia and Covelo.You could go all the way to Alderpoint without leaving their property but youd have to go down to the river when you came to the Stewart property and follow the RR and then go back up to their other holdings.They are one of the largest private land owners in Northern California.Also heard there is very little if any hunting going on with permission.Can only imagine the bucks which die of old age there. Big Louis (Louie)

RACKMASTER · May 9, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-09-05 AT 09:45PM (MST)[p]I will not say how I know but it is hunted from time to time!
Guys are dropped off and they snake down and cross the river and then up the other side over tracks same place every time!
There are in great shape once on the other side, can pack in for days!
They don't hunt meat!
RM

CAjackrabbitWCP · May 9, 2005

Rackmaster knows what's going on. Getting dropped off is the only way to go, the vehicle will lead you to get caught. This happens everwhere that there are deer on big ranches. And no I wouldn't expect them to meat hunt either. All up and down california coast people get dropped off, at the ranch I hunt in central cal. we have trespassers that do this too. When you have a giant ranch it is impossible to patrol the whole thing.

bigLouis · May 10, 2005

Mornin Guys. I am not so old that I believe the property is not hunted at all.I should have made myself clear and mentioned the (with or without permission)when I said I didnt think it was hunted.My cousin used to say quote That no hunting sign is a baldfaced lie!That is some of the best hunting in the county!Funny how trespassing is viewed by people as o.k. in some circumstances.I know a guy who never respected a fence or sign his whole life, til he invested in a small piece of property that would give him a place to park his truck legally and gain easy access to trespass on three adjoining neighbors.Upon traveling overnight to his out of state property and sneaking to his favorite goose ambush spot on other property he found the owner in a new blind.After slithering out un noticed he made his way back to his own property after daylight.Low and behold some local had built a blind on the river on HIS PROPERTY.He spent the next two days doing detective work trying to find the dirty scumbags who would have the nerve to pull such a blatant trick to an absentee owner.In telling me the story he got quite upset with me for laughing in his face and I have never been invited to his property because I dont appreciate his New view on property RIGHTS.

Blueoak · May 10, 2005

I have taken a few long walks in my day. Daddy taught me well! With all the private property in A-zone it is bound to happen. I am sure people do it to me now on my place. I would rather have a few fence jumpers that one lion though!

CAjackrabbitWCP · May 10, 2005

Well said blueoak. Where in A-zone are you? How big is your ranch?

eelgrass · May 10, 2005

Thanks for the boundary clarification BigLouis. My dad used to "drop us off" from the train down in the eel river canyon to go steelhead fishing.(he worked on the railroad). We had strict orders to stay between the tracks and the river. At the most it would be 100 yards or so.

I once belonged to a deer hunting club that was surrounded by other hunting clubs. All the land owners got together and agreed that if any of their members was caught "over the fence", that member would be kicked out. The challenge of not getting caught was just as fun as the deer hunting! A couple of our guys knew the surrounding ranches better than the ranch they were supposed to be on. The thrill of the forbidden fruit I guess. LOL I left, but not because I got caught.....honest!

Steve

theridge · May 10, 2005

Hey guys, if there are so many of us blacktail gurus that know about the tracks and the middle fork of the eel river, how come none of us have ran into each other after we jump the fence? Hell, I'am more concerned about getting caught by dope growers than land owners!

RACKMASTER · May 10, 2005

some of the Indians in that area hire out as security guards and when they get a bottle of juice in them....well.....that scares the hell outta me and most all Deputys of the law!
I don't want to get caught doing anything illegal in or around
Round Valley or Dos Rios (F&G)district (that wardens a prick and I tired of having pissing matches with him!).
RACKMASTER

Sheepshooter · May 10, 2005

Wow !!!! Never seen so many people proud to be POACHERS ?????

CAjackrabbitWCP · May 10, 2005

No one here is saying that they are poachers, poachers make a profit off of what they kill either by selling the meat or antlers. The guys are simply admitting that trespassing and hunting without permission exits, is not easily prevented, and is something that a few of us have done.

Chef · May 11, 2005

WTF!!

NO one has to sell meat or antlers to be considered a poacher! These guys are talking about trespassing...not taking game illegally!!

CAjack, if you kill a game animal out of season, for the meat, you are poaching. I don't think any of these guys here are talking about taking game out of season, without a tag, etc.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

BOHNTR · May 11, 2005

Well, not sure if "poaching" is a correct term.....BUT taking a deer by illegal means would definately fit. Would also fit the criteria for a trip to jail, confiscation of hunting gear (firearms, etc.), and a black eye to law obiding hunters who hunt on the "right" side of the fence. Something to think about when your near the next fenceline in life. Remember, once you cross the line, it's hard to come back! JMO

BOHNTR )))---------->

RACKMASTER · May 11, 2005

CHEF"
I never saw an reply that said that they or ...whoever they
know never not had a tag or it was not deer season or late at night when the "events" happend!
Did I miss something? Hunter trespass is against the law! Someone said "slithering" earlier and its funny because those Buds I sorta know(he!he!he!)they call their trip across the Eel slithering!
These dudes are in shape(one races motocross! another is a drill instructor, the other guides the Kenai and such!).
They hunter trespass for sure and recover the bucks rack,and meat but never hunt for just meat and never fire more than one shot at a trip!!
Their are many types of "POACHERS and some believe it an gray area and worth the risk.
Two years ago the most rightious anti poacher (man what an talker!!!) person you ever meet. The guy never shut up about how he hated poachers and bad worded them all (I was topping off the trailer with water in McCloud!
In "X-1" Sunday Night I was heading out to the spot to call out on my cell phone(funny how that works). Turned off truck, lights out, dialing, ringing, start talking(to my 8yrs old son, then his mom!). Not noticing the pale blue Chevy that past 10 minute ago. BANG!....BANG!...wtf? So I finish up the call and start up the rig and wanted to drive down around the bend to turn around
about 1/2 mi at the most then back to camp and for the bulls$hitting around and a stiff Jack and Coke by the fire! Turns out THE MR RIGHTIOUS ANTI POACHER spot lighted F&G's ROBO BUCKS at the bottom (a 4x4 and a massive 3x3)
before the officiers could stop him!!!(ROBO deer is there every year) motor mouth shot both from the window of the truck and they let me watch the video over and over what a laugh!!
Just goes to show the face people put on sometimes!!!!!!!!!
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
JACK

eelgrass · May 11, 2005

While a member of a deer hunting club, I caught several "poachers" on the ranch I hunted. They always said they were lost........yea right! We always pointed them in the right direction and let it go at that. I even gave one guy a ride to the fence and a beer to boot. I think I was well liked and respected, as I never saw the same person twice.

I certainly don't condone poaching or trespassing, it's against the law. But in most cases I don't think it's a hanging offence either. Notice I said MOST cases. Some wildlife offenders need to have the book thrown at them for sure. JMO

Steve

Chef · May 11, 2005

Rackmaster,

Sorry for the confusion. I wasn't directly responding to this particular thread but to a poster on this thread that assumes that poaching is somehow condoned on this post.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID6/9868.html

...several posts down, about #21, after all the pictures.
Hope this clears things up.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

RACKMASTER · May 11, 2005

LAST EDITED ON May-11-05 AT 09:41PM (MST)[p]THANKS CHEF!
Some poaching cases turn every ones stomachs(sp?)!
Some you just got to say what where they thinking and have an laugh!(robo deer cases!)(THAT GUY ALSO GOT AN DUI)
all never good!
WHOS A GOOD POACHER? AND WHOS BAD? The guy who punches a hole thru a Mt Lion(and never tell a soul) a guy who mercy kills a doe with an arrow thru her neck (seen it before Medicine Lake Ca 5yrs ago)or the people who slither on to private land for 3 days to harvest(poach!) a really nice buck?
Never good just differnt views!
HAVE FUN GUYS
rackmaster

theridge · May 12, 2005

The only time I cross the fence is with night vision goggles and a 3 gallon can of Round Up. I'd go ask permission to trespass but the friggin dope growers own the land and I don't believe they would be too fond of some redneck killing their cannabis. Always packing the heat and looking out for booby traps!

five_point_buck · May 20, 2005

The "who gives a crap" "it's our right" attitude of this post and most of it's content make me sick. Tresspassing and poaching are birds of a feather as one usually walks hand in hand with the other. This casual attitude that causes people to brag about guys who don't hunt for meat just bone, or those that make it a point to break the law will be the number on reason why our kids won't be hunting. Just put another log on the anti campfire.

Glad I wasn't brought up that way.

five_point_buck
aka Larry Pasero Jr.

Blueoak · May 20, 2005

Great to hear from ya 5point. It was bad years ago around here but most of the guys who did it are to slow and old to do it anymore. Not me though! I love to slip across a ranch and lob a couple M80's. By the way, I raised my son right and he won't do it! All I had to do is keep him from hunting with my dad. 75 years old and bad as ever. He drives me nuts. I don't like to look over my shoulder, so I am a good boy now.