Big Game Digest

Very surprised to see that DFW only cut the White Mountains sheep tags by 2 (from 6 to 4). Only one ram was harvested last year....with very few "legal" rams spotted. I honestly thought we would be looking at only 2 tags for this upcoming season...one draw and one random.

If any of you are still considering applying for this hunt feel free to reach out. I would be happy to share our experiences from last year's hunt with you.
 
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Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
 
I
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
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good catch… I wonder if the “open zone” auction tag holders that hunted the J 12 season and were successful figured into the calculation?
 
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
Click to expand...
Been happening for years.
“Estimate” harvest including roadkill?
 
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
Click to expand...
Same with Elk stats
 
highsierra said:
Very surprised to see that DFW only cut the White Mountains sheep tags by 2 (from 6 to 4). Only one ram was harvested last year....with very few "legal" rams spotted. I honestly thought we would be looking at only 2 tags for this upcoming season...one draw and one random.

If any of you are still considering applying for this hunt feel free to reach out. I would be happy to share our experiences from last year's hunt with you.
Click to expand...
I actually though there would not be a season for a couple years??
 
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
Click to expand...
I believe the stats reflect reported deer tags, and not all tags get reported in time to be factored into the success rates. e.g. for J12, 7 bucks harvested out of 9 reported tags would be 78%, one tag may not have been reported.
 
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
Click to expand...
Success rates reported are some sort of an estimate. Elmer Fudd and I know someone that has a DBHS in CA years ago and he didn't fill his tag. The CA digest the next year showed the success was 100%. Personally I don't trust anything related to success rates, % 4 pt, or any other harvest related data in the digest.
 
BradA said:
Did anyone notice the percent harvest for deer doesn’t reflect the mentioned bucks killed for a unit. Some of the units have percentage success that don’t even make sense like j12 with ten tags had a 78 percent success how does that happen? Someone shot three quarters of a deer.
Click to expand...
Fork by spike?...
 
There's no way that only two deer hunts issued tags to people with max points(21) last year in the preference point draw.
 
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The stats are a joke. Check the 2023 deer tag draw statistics, some of the numbers are just copied from 2022.

I suggest that in the future CA F&G post draft regs on MM for a week and let this crowd do the proofreading before CA posts an official version of the regs.
 
uphill said:
The stats are a joke. Check the 2023 deer tag draw statistics, some of the numbers are just copied from 2022.

I suggest that in the future CA F&G post draft regs on MM for a week and let this crowd do the proofreading before CA posts an official version of the regs.
Click to expand...
I agree with that ! What a joke, good thing I don’t really care about successful percent of hunters per unit.
 
highsierra said:
I wonder if the “open zone” auction tag holders that hunted the J 12 season and were successful figured into the calculation?
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I can't remember anymore but an adult with an open zone tag can hunt during J12 season? I can't stand that junior hunt but you've got to be quite the d-bag as an adult to go hunt during a youth season and potentially undercut a kid.
 
mulebuck said:
I can't remember anymore but an adult with an open zone tag can hunt during J12 season? I can't stand that junior hunt but you've got to be quite the d-bag as an adult to go hunt during a youth season and potentially undercut a kid.
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Sad but true….It happens!
 
VideoDude said:
Anyone notice that the draw stats in this year's (2024) book are the same one's as last year's Big Game Digest (2023).
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that, I was wondering the same thing. Checked a couple of archery hunts I’m looking at and it’s the 2022 draw stats. 🤦‍♂️
 
Note that 20 points is max in the "G" draw statistics. It should have been 21 points going in, 22 points now. But there are a couple of 21 points applicants for X5 (ok) and D14. (WTF?).

They need to update tag number status to approved sometime after the commission meeting April 17-18. They might update statistics at the same time.
 
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mulebuck said:
I can't remember anymore but an adult with an open zone tag can hunt during J12 season? I can't stand that junior hunt but you've got to be quite the d-bag as an adult to go hunt during a youth season and potentially undercut a kid.
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No, an Open Zone tag holder cannot hunt during the J12 junior hunt, unless that tag holder was a Junior Hunter. Adult Open Zone tag holders can only hunt Zones that they are legally qualified too. It can hunt during the G39 period. Only a Golden Opportunity tag holder can hunt during the J12 period.
 
DeerHunter said:
I'm seeing 3 bucks harvested for M5
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Don't know what you're seeing but it says 9.

Screenshot_20240415_074455_Samsung Notes.jpg
 
As I said above don't trust anything related to success rates, % 4 pt, or any other harvest related data in the digest. I worked for CDFW for a bit and know better after that short stint!
 
Some of the hunts are tagged:


* Pending adoption by the California Fish and Game Commission on April 17-18, 2024
** Pending proposal and adoption by the California Fish and Game Commission on April 17-18, 2024

I wonder if this means an updated Digest will be forthcoming?
 
The agenda says mammal regulations are set today. I'm not sure how long it will take for updated quotas to be posted to the web or if/when the application book will be updated. I'll wait on knowing the approved quotas to apply.
 
chrisamx said:
Tribes are being used by the Green Left to further their agendas.
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Absolutely! If I can find a link to a recording of the meeting I'll post it here. Everyone should hear some of the nonsense being spouted. We need to educate ourselves on this as it isn't going away.

Edit:
The April 18th meeting has not been posted yet. However, when it is you should be able to view it from their YouTube Channel:

www.youtube.com

California Fish and Game Commission

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

or at this direct link:
 
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highsierra said:
Absolutely! If I can find a link to a recording of the meeting I'll post it here. Everyone should hear some of the nonsense being spouted. We need to educate ourselves on this as it isn't going away.
Click to expand...
The Center For Biodiversity is our #1 enemy, however, they are one of many that all are working to end hunting and "rewild" the West. Reintroduction of predator (wolves, grizzlies) and protection of the existing (cougars) is part of this plan. The following for earth.org, a rewilding organization:

"The presence of top carnivores in an ecosystem not only holds ecological value but serves an economic and social purpose to humans. Rewilding, or more specifically trophic rewilding, is shedding light on the importance of predators and providing evidence of their benefits. The results will also help to advocate for the protection of existing trophic chains that are regulated by their top predator. "

"advocate for the protection of existing trophic chains that are regulated by their top predator." In other words, "protect the food chains of the predators" Their food is deer, elk , etc. This is the way they will try and end hunting.
 
chrisamx said:
The Center For Biodiversity is our #1 enemy, however, they are one of many that all are working to end hunting and "rewild" the West. Reintroduction of predator (wolves, grizzlies) and protection of the existing (cougars) is part of this plan. The following for earth.org, a rewilding organization:

"The presence of top carnivores in an ecosystem not only holds ecological value but serves an economic and social purpose to humans. Rewilding, or more specifically trophic rewilding, is shedding light on the importance of predators and providing evidence of their benefits. The results will also help to advocate for the protection of existing trophic chains that are regulated by their top predator. "

"advocate for the protection of existing trophic chains that are regulated by their top predator." In other words, "protect the food chains of the predators" Their food is deer, elk , etc. This is the way they will try and end hunting.
Click to expand...
thankyou for sharing
 

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