Big Bend

I'll apologist ahead of time if i offend anyone here but i used to Hunt, going back almost 40 years now, outa of a Pit of a little community in the C zones called Big Bend. It's closer to Burnry than Lake Shasta and right on the Pit River, you now might have a better idea of it's general area.

Getting there involves miles of narrow winding roads that take way longer than you would hope when wanting to hunt near there. These past 10 years or so, I have only breezed on thru that country during deer season a couple/few times but imagine that maybe a few here might have more current knowledge of how the deer are doing there abouts.

Years ago for a good duration, my old hunting Pard and i might include another various friend on a venture, a hunting trip there to hunt bucks in a huge steep cinder pit area there. On those weekend trips in the latter part of the season and even being a little picky, we still usually managed to fill our second tags. My Pard once killed a massive 24" 3X3 with 5" eyegards that was probably the heaviest Buck either of us has had to drag out of one of the devil's own hell holes. There was nothing remarkable in the bucks i took those years other than i can say modestly enough that they were all nice bucks.

Any thoughts or stories on Big Bend or maybe it's residents, Iron Canyon Res., the Pit River's fishing thru there, or maybe a buck hunting story? I don't doubt that's it's not near the Country it use to be but it is off the beaten path. Thanks!

Joey



"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

I won't give GPS coordinates, but we had 13 cameras in strategic locations the last 3+ months and couldn't get a picture of an incredible non typical that was in there last year. Possibly a lion kill or maybe poached.

PM sent.

NG, thanks for the PM!

YBO, It would be a shame if lion kill!

Of all the Places in N. Calif that i have pulled into and Camped- hunted, There are a couple places in there that are loaded with more Bears than any other place that i have been. I'm not talking seeing a bit of sign here or there, i'm talking sign ALL OVER THE PLACE!!

We actually had a bear come in to camp at night and pack one of our bucks off down a steep brushy canyon!! I tracked him up and took the deer back, maybe not the brightest thing i ever did, but he got his meal first.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

There have been fires in and around Big Bend on several occasions over the past few years that are beginning to regenerate, and there are some deer in these burns. Many of these locations lie behind locked gates today, but foot traffic is still permitted. I expected to hunt in there myself this year, but did not scout it well and so have decided to pass on it this archery season. Be alert to growers--there is a lot of pot grown in that area.

Plus one on growers, also lots of homesteaders.

I used to love hunting the Fountain Fire on both sides of the Highway. The side with the Towers, we've taken some decent bucks off that country but it's grown back to a thick mess and it's not near the open fun hunt it was even 10 years ago.

The other side, i used to go in by the rest area and drop down a bit over in that maim canyon. Pretty country, great habitat, and lots of sign but i never fired a shot at a deer over there. I heard they locked the gates into that side. Is it closed off all the way on up? Seems that would be hard to do...

From those towers, i can look way across the huge Pit River canyon and see that steep slide area that we used to hunt years ago and Bartel gap way up beyond that. There's lots of places, lots of Country to hunt. I just don't know if it's worth another long weekend hunt there anymore or work at finding some new spots that aren't hit near as hard.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

With the recent fires west of Old Station and Hat Creek (actually, several, over the past few year), it may pay to scout out the country near thousand lakes wilderness. Had I not filled my archery tag last week I would have been in there during the weekend. To my knowledge it has not been closed. Can anyone else confirm this?