Green City Kid

jrtorresk · Jan 20, 2019

Hello all i'm a 22 year old city boy who knows nothing about hunting or outdoor survival (no bush knowledge but i do know all the liquor stores that will sell you singles under the table for quarter). I've become more and more interested in hunting by listening to bad-asses like Steven Rinella and Remi Warren. I'm ready to start getting my feet wet and i'd really appreciate any advice that any of you could give for someone ready to buy a freezer and start filling it.

Soj51hopeful · Jan 20, 2019

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education

Start here

devobrodie · Jan 22, 2019

If you can find a spot fairly close to where you live, get out there this spring, start doing some hiking around and observing things, try and locate water sources etc. Even in low success areas, you can really improve your odds by knowing the unit, learn the roads, then study the maps or Google earth to see places you can get a mile or so off the road if you can find that where there is a spring you are ahead of most people. Also, call the F&G once you find an area, ask them for the Biologist for that area, they are usually very helpful in pointing out general areas to look. If you are familiar when you speak to them and know the area in general, they will usually help more, they like to know you are putting in an effort and not just looking for a deer tied to a tree spot. You can do better in a lower success area you really know, than in an area you have never been in. Good luck!

Smithb9841 · Jan 22, 2019

What part of California are you in

270Hunter · Jan 23, 2019

My dad taught me a lot about hunting and he still is, but what really helped me understand deer hunting even better was Mike Eastman's book "Hunting High Country Mule Deer", now I know that you may not be hunting deer in the high country, but the book just contains a lot of practical information that you can apply to whatever country you are hunting. Also pre-season scouting is very effective and helpful, even if you just go for short walks to a place that you think might hold deer, you will get a better understanding of the land and if it would be a good place to hunt during season.

jrtorresk · Jan 23, 2019

I live in pomona the closest public blm land is FAR about a 2 1/2 hour drive and its more wild horse country then anything else

Soj51hopeful · Jan 24, 2019

Ive never been in the forests down there but it looks like you have a couple national Forrest's way closer than 2-1/2 hours. Why wouldn't you hunt there over blm?

Homer · Jan 24, 2019

....there isn't a wild horse within 2-1/2 hours either.....some donkeys but no horses.....

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bullskin · Jan 24, 2019

To start, don't be in too big a hurry to buy that freezer. It can be a pretty steep learning curve to achieve success in the field on a regular basis--and especially when the field is hours away. My advice is to just get out and explore. Use your summers to start hiking into basins with your fishing rod and pay attention to what you find along the way. The satisfaction in hunting revolves around getting out and seeing new country and learning new things. You kind of have to do this first-hand and most of the stuff you watch or read will be of little value until you have lived it. Get out, be patient, and remember--its not about being "bad ass." Such notions are silly and archaic, and only feed the stereotype that anti-hunters would put on us. Hunting, first and foremost, is about education and conservation. Good luck.

heywouldya · Jan 26, 2019

My suggestion is either hit the woods and start hiking. You'll learn tons by just being out there.
Maybe go to a deer association dinner or something like that and meet people that like to hunt.
My last suggestion would be to book a guided wild pig hunt and learn from the guides. I'll probably get a lot of crap on this forum for saying that, but its a great way to learn as well. I take a lot of first time hunting friends on pig hunts and its low pressure and action packed.
TJMO

HWY

devobrodie · Jan 31, 2019

I don't like too far from there, there are National Forest areas to hunt closer to you that 2.5 hrs, get the F&G regs and check out the maps on deer zone, they also have publications with the success rates for the zones, t