X zone guys

X6a in the second day, a buddy's sister

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I'm leaving on Monday to help a buddy the last week of the X2 deer hunt. Not sure if the incoming weather is enough to get those deer moving south out of Oregon, but it should be fun anyway. Next week the weather looks like highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s with scattered snow showers here and there.
 
Many will say that there is no migration anymore. I disagree.

I have hunted it twice and helped others there. Even without weather we saw more bucks on parts of the unit as the season progressed. With weather it is even better! Cover as much ground as possible. There are more deer in the burn but also more hunters.
 
I was wondering how many people with an X2 tag returned it a few weeks ago when the Modoc NF was closed. My guess is that 10% to 20% of tag holders returned their tag when they heard of the closure. I bring that up because I'm hoping that there's hardly anyone out the last week of the season, especially mid-week.
 
I was wondering how many people with an X2 tag returned it a few weeks ago when the Modoc NF was closed. My guess is that 10% to 20% of tag holders returned their tag when they heard of the closure. I bring that up because I'm hoping that there's hardly anyone out the last week of the season, especially mid-week.
Even without the closures, the times I've hunted it the number of hunters dwindled quickly. With almost nobody there the last weekend.
 
Even without the closures, the times I've hunted it the number of hunters dwindled quickly. With almost nobody there the last weekend.

I've hunted the Garden quite a bit myself and it's a giant area. Even with all 189 X2 tag holders in the field at the same time it's not that many people for such a huge area.
 
What elevation you guys seein bucks at? I’ve seen a ton of does and fawns between 5500-6000 but no bucks! Are the bucks just not movin a bunch or did they move on? I thought the cold snap would start some pre rut but it doesn’t look like it where I’m at
 
i was up at 9500’ on saturday to get above the weekend crowd and was surprised by all the tracks i saw in the snow. saw a buck but as always on the other side of the invisible zone line…
 
Nothin that high where I’m at, max is about 6500’. I’ll be back at it Wednesday till I fill my tag or the season ends. Hopefully these bucks start movin a little more
 
What elevation you guys seein bucks at? I’ve seen a ton of does and fawns between 5500-6000 but no bucks! Are the bucks just not movin a bunch or did they move on? I thought the cold snap would start some pre rut but it doesn’t look like it where I’m at
It’s to early for pre-rut activity and yes the bucks are not moving during daylight hours a lot right now, any buck that has made it through more than 2 hunting seasons will generally be bedded down or in cover by about an hour after sunrise. Some sooner and some a little later but that’s a good rule of thumb. The cold helps sometimes but right now bucks still don’t like being in the sunlight, they feel exposed and very visible, which they are so that’s why they don’t do it. Elevation is all going to be different in all units, some higher country units the bucks will already be moving out because there’s not a lot of feed left and other units the bucks are still on the same ridge that they spent all summer on. My best piece of advice for finding bucks right now is get off the roads even if it’s only a quarter of a mile, the farther the better though generally And glass in the morning with the sun at your back and glass the edges of trees and brush and open pockets in the cover. Best of luck to you!
 
My brother and I have X5a muzzy tags and are looking forward to getting up there. Crossing our fingers for some weather.

We haven’t hunted that unit so don’t know where the best camping spots are. I saw some camp grounds on the west side, are there any other places that folks would be willing to recommend?
 
My brother and I have X5a muzzy tags and are looking forward to getting up there. Crossing our fingers for some weather.

We haven’t hunted that unit so don’t know where the best camping spots are. I saw some camp grounds on the west side, are there any other places that folks would be willing to recommend?
Pad Eagle lake and ramhorn are good campgrounds neither are in x5a tho. I’m not quite sure of any other than those 2.
 
Thanks, that is close. We’ll have a look around when we get there. Crossing my fingers for inclement weather.
 
It’s been cold up there that’s for sure. I was in x5b the middle part of the season when the rain hit and the deer were up moving. Cool temps are there just need a sprits of water.
 
I had an M4 tag and was stoked to be heading up Saturday 10/23. Rain turned to snow Sunday night and we had high hopes as we drove out of camp. We got up to about 6400’ before we turned around and came back down out of the snow. The highlight, if you can call it that, was the trio of wolf tracks that crossed out truck racks in the snow. The next day we were scratching our heads over the three sets of wolf tracks we saw in the soft wet dirt 12 miles away as the crow flies. We wondered if there were two packs or just one that just liked to travel.

No buck sightings until the snow melted off mid week. The last day of the season we saw a spike a fork and a tiny basket 3x3. The 3x3 was 3/4 of a mile from the road and nosing 4 does when my brother clipped him high in the shoulder and rolled him. Long story made short he got up and I missed a running shot. I was able to see him for .5 mile and we jumped him from the sage only to Miss another running shot. He definitely wasn’t mortally wounded And there was no blood trail to follow so he’ll be there next year for someone else.

We may be the worst deer hunters in California because we saw more deer on Horselake road than in any of our hikes out away from the road. We saw several large buck tracks in the snow and mud. But no sightings. The bucks were completely nocturnal a week after the rifle hunt. I hope the X5a hunters slammed them cause we sure didn’t.

All in all we had a great time being out in the country, hiking in the snow trying to drive in the mud, and watching the sunrises and sunsets. Till next time.
 
Maybe I missed it but what specific zone number was "here's one for you" taken? Not the only one wondering I suppose? yalo
 

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