Some advice for J10 (FHL Junior deer hunt)

danville80 · Jul 8, 2023

Hi All,

Our 15 yrs old daughter drew a J10 tag. Really great as this was her last year as a Junior. I have only been to FHL once, about 10 yrs back so not too familiar with the area and rules. I applied for the hunter access about 3 weeks back but haven't gotten the clearance yet. Did receive the firearms permit.

I could sure use some advice from someone who has had their kids do this hunt recently. Will probably want to go once or twice before then to get a bit familiar with FHL.

Will some of the better areas for J10 be shotgun only and she should practice with a shotgun? I have a savage 220 that I have never shot. If needed, I can put on a scope and have her practice. She is petite though. While hunting antelope in Wyoming, she preferred a weatherby 300 WM with a muzzle brake ove a 30-06 because the lower recoil with a MB.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. She is hoping to get a buck so she can get a shoulder mount in her room. She only drew doe tags in wyoming.

Best,
Bob

wildfin · Jul 8, 2023

you can use a muzzeloader with scope in restricted weapons areas

oljc · Jul 8, 2023

Depends on what units are open at the time, hopefully the junior hunt will have some good units open but if not it can be a crap shoot

Bwht4x4 · Jul 9, 2023

The dates of the J10 hunt are in the middle of the rut, especially Oct 7,8, and 9th!!

Moe · Jul 9, 2023

Those BT love rattling and grunting before and during the rut. Called in 3 different bucks for my junior hunters at Daughtery hill. Bet it would work at FHL.

danville80 · Jul 10, 2023

wildfin said:
you can use a muzzeloader with scope in restricted weapons areas

Thanks! Do they have muzzleloader specific areas for Deer? Or is it Muzzle loader or shotgun?

danville80 · Jul 10, 2023

oljc said:
Depends on what units are open at the time, hopefully the junior hunt will have some good units open but if not it can be a crap shoot

Thanks!

danville80 · Jul 10, 2023

Bwht4x4 said:
The dates of the J10 hunt are in the middle of the rut, especially Oct 7,8, and 9th!!

Thaks. The first weekend will not be in the rut?

danville80 · Jul 10, 2023

Moe said:
Those BT love rattling and grunting before and during the rut. Called in 3 different bucks for my junior hunters at Daughtery hill. Bet it would work at FHL.

Thanks! We can some antlers with us for rattling.

danville80 · Jul 10, 2023

I was looking for the wild life biologist for theat area on the FHL site. But could not find it. Anybody have any idea? Otherwise I could just call the main office and ask.

wildfin · Jul 11, 2023

I have seen some rutting that early, but not for several years and I have seen new borns at the start of archery , which would mean rutting like in January. Good luck reaching someone by phone. Be prepared to hunt primitive weapon and you will most likely be alone.

Buckmiser · Jul 11, 2023

Jim runs the hunt programs. Very helpful.

Bwht4x4 · Jul 11, 2023

wildfin said:
I have seen some rutting that early, but not for several years and I have seen new borns at the start of archery , which would mean rutting like in January. Good luck reaching someone by phone. Be prepared to hunt primitive weapon and you will most likely be alone.

The rut along the central coast is way different than the rut period for So Cal deer. I grew up hunting D-14, D-11, and LA County archery (S-2/A-31) and they were later. In fact, I can vividly remember hunting D-14 the last weekend and seeing the rut starting to kick in (mid November). Our central coast deer will start to rut in mid- to late September and can vary quite a bit by location. Right along the coast they can be rutting pretty hard the last few days of the season (mid-Sept), then in an area 30 miles inland they haven't started yet. I shot this buck on Sept 20 and he was full rut chasing does and fighting off smaller bucks. Last year I was in the same spot just before Thanksgiving and the bucks had grouped back up together without does. The buck in velvet walked down my driveway on June 19 this year and is nearly done growing. The buck in the brush was in full rut too and that pict was taken Sept 28th. FHL should be rutty on Sept 30th, but come Oct 7, 8, 9 they should be going pretty good.

GunSlinger · Jul 11, 2023

My oldest daughter drew it last year and my younger one this year. Bucks were in the rut on the first weekend. All the open zones were not officially announced until the hunter briefing the night before the hunt. There are zones open for all types of weapon, so prepare for what suits you best. It was/is a great hunt and you’ll see lots of animals. Elk everywhere to look at and buy a pig tag.

GunSlinger · Jul 11, 2023

This is the buck my daughter shot opening morning.

newguy · Jul 11, 2023

GunSlinger said:
This is the buck my daughter shot opening morning.

View attachment 115074

Great buck,

Mark,

danville80 · Jul 11, 2023

wildfin said:
I have seen some rutting that early, but not for several years and I have seen new borns at the start of archery , which would mean rutting like in January. Good luck reaching someone by phone. Be prepared to hunt primitive weapon and you will most likely be alone.

Thank you so much! I went through the area maps for FHL on their website. I see some areas like 29, 13E, etc marked as "No rifles". Does that mean all these areas can be hunted with shotguns with slugs? I did not see any area marked just muzzleloader.
I don't think I have enough time between now and then to procure a muzzleloader, become proficient myself and train my petite daughter on that.

danville80 · Jul 11, 2023

Buckmiser said:
Jim runs the hunt programs. Very helpful.

View attachment 115025

Thank you so much Buckmiser! I will connect with Jim.

danville80 · Jul 11, 2023

Bwht4x4 said:
The rut along the central coast is way different than the rut period for So Cal deer. I grew up hunting D-14, D-11, and LA County archery (S-2/A-31) and they were later. In fact, I can vividly remember hunting D-14 the last weekend and seeing the rut starting to kick in (mid November). Our central coast deer will start to rut in mid- to late September and can vary quite a bit by location. Right along the coast they can be rutting pretty hard the last few days of the season (mid-Sept), then in an area 30 miles inland they haven't started yet. I shot this buck on Sept 20 and he was full rut chasing does and fighting off smaller bucks. Last year I was in the same spot just before Thanksgiving and the bucks had grouped back up together without does. The buck in velvet walked down my driveway on June 19 this year and is nearly done growing. The buck in the brush was in full rut too and that pict was taken Sept 28th. FHL should be rutty on Sept 30th, but come Oct 7, 8, 9 they should be going pretty good.

View attachment 115028

View attachment 115029

View attachment 115030

Thank you very much Bwht4x4! That is super helpful and the pictures are extremely interesting to see! I think it will be very interesting to be there that weekend in October to experience the rut.

danville80 · Jul 11, 2023

GunSlinger said:
My oldest daughter drew it last year and my younger one this year. Bucks were in the rut on the first weekend. All the open zones were not officially announced until the hunter briefing the night before the hunt. There are zones open for all types of weapon, so prepare for what suits you best. It was/is a great hunt and you’ll see lots of animals. Elk everywhere to look at and buy a pig tag.

Hi Gunslinger, Thanks for sharing! Thats a great picture. She must have been delighted! And great that your younger daughter drew it this year! Hope she joined you last year on the hunt with the elder daughter. Look forward to seeing you at the briefing the Friday before. Are you planning to camp? I was thinking of the IHG hotel on base (Gibbs). Hope to make a couple trips before that. Have a few overseas trips to make before that so hope we get the access approved soon.

danville80 · Jul 11, 2023

GunSlinger said:
This is the buck my daughter shot opening morning.

View attachment 115074

That is such a nice buck! How long was the shot?

GunSlinger · Jul 12, 2023

danville80 said:
That is such a nice buck! How long was the shot?

100 yards, it was hit on a doe. Did you receive your paperwork from the base yet?

danville80 · Jul 12, 2023

GunSlinger said:
100 yards, it was hit on a doe. Did you receive your paperwork from the base yet

GunSlinger said:
100 yards, it was hit on a doe. Did you receive your paperwork from the base yet?

No, have not received it yet. It's been a month. Did receive the firearms permit a couple weeks back though.

canyoncrosser · Jul 12, 2023

GunSlinger said:
This is the buck my daughter shot opening morning.

View attachment 115074

That is a beautiful deer. Does your daughter still bring a bag of Cheerios to eat in case she gets fussy in the car?

GunSlinger · Jul 12, 2023

danville80 said:
That is such a nice buck! How long was the shot?

100 yards, it was chasing a doe. No clue we were there.

GunSlinger · Jul 12, 2023

danville80 said:
No, have not received it yet. It's been a month. Did receive the firearms permit a couple weeks back though.

Interesting, I have not received anything yet. I’ll wait another week and reach out to them.

KGParker · Jul 13, 2023

I sent off my Daughters info days after she drew also, nothing so far.

danville80 · Jul 13, 2023

GunSlinger said:
100 yards, it was chasing a doe. No clue we were there.

Was this on the second weekend of the J10 season?

danville80 · Jul 13, 2023

GunSlinger said:
Interesting, I have not received anything yet. I’ll wait another week and reach out to them.

I had sent out applications on June 16. For our daughter it was just a copy of the junior hunting license since the do not need clearance for access. Still taking this long for both of us.

danville80 · Jul 14, 2023

KGParker said:
I sent off my Daughters info days after she drew also, nothing so far.

Just the Jr Hntg license right?

GunSlinger · Jul 14, 2023

danville80 said:
Was this on the second weekend of the J10 season?

It was on opening morning at 7:45

GunSlinger · Jul 14, 2023

danville80 said:
I had sent out applications on June 16. For our daughter it was just a copy of the junior hunting license since the do not need clearance for access. Still taking this long for both of us.

Last year for my other daughter I got paperwork from FHL to fill out and send in, and also info to get base clearance and register hunting rifle.

danville80 · Jul 16, 2023

GunSlinger said:
Last year for my other daughter I got paperwork from FHL to fill out and send in, and also info to get base clearance and register hunting rifle.

Did you get the same paperwork from FHL to fill out thos year.I got nothing so far.

KGParker · Jul 16, 2023

danville80 said:
Just the Jr Hntg license right?

I sent off everything...Gun register and background info.

danville80 said:
Just the Jr Hntg license right?

GunSlinger · Jul 17, 2023

danville80 said:
Did you get the same paperwork from FHL to fill out thos year.I got nothing so far.

I have not received anything from them this year.

GunSlinger · Jul 17, 2023

KGParker said:
I sent off everything...Gun register and background info.

Did you receive paperwork in the mail from FHL this year? I’ve got the tag from DFG but nothing from FHL.

KGParker · Jul 19, 2023

I received an email from FHL saying we were both cleared from vetting and approved to buy our yearly pass, which I then did.
I think my daughter is all set now.....

Redbluff77 · Jul 19, 2023

Bwht4x4 said:
The rut along the central coast is way different than the rut period for So Cal deer. I grew up hunting D-14, D-11, and LA County archery (S-2/A-31) and they were later. In fact, I can vividly remember hunting D-14 the last weekend and seeing the rut starting to kick in (mid November). Our central coast deer will start to rut in mid- to late September and can vary quite a bit by location. Right along the coast they can be rutting pretty hard the last few days of the season (mid-Sept), then in an area 30 miles inland they haven't started yet. I shot this buck on Sept 20 and he was full rut chasing does and fighting off smaller bucks. Last year I was in the same spot just before Thanksgiving and the bucks had grouped back up together without does. The buck in velvet walked down my driveway on June 19 this year and is nearly done growing. The buck in the brush was in full rut too and that pict was taken Sept 28th. FHL should be rutty on Sept 30th, but come Oct 7, 8, 9 they should be going pretty good.

View attachment 115028

View attachment 115029

View attachment 115030

That last pic with the deer in the brush is a bomber of a buck. I saw one like this at FHL many moons ago. Of course it was 1 day after deer season closed.

danville80 · Jul 21, 2023

KGParker said:
I received an email from FHL saying we were both cleared from vetting and approved to buy our yearly pass, which I then did.
I think my daughter is all set now.....

We got that as yesterday. Are you planning to camp on the base, and any plans to go there between now and the J10 weekend?

KGParker · Jul 24, 2023

danville80 said:
We got that as yesterday. Are you planning to camp on the base, and any plans to go there between now and the J10 weekend?

yes, we will camp at the base and hunt from there....not sure if we are going to hunt the general season or not...I try and stay away from FHL...it's not like it was in the 80's & 90's.....I did sign up to maybe hunt pigs and turkey, but not sure if I will hunt the A just yet...we live in Salinas, so it is only a little over an hour away.

ofdscooby · Jul 25, 2023

Hi Guys I'm a little late to the game but my buddy let me know there was a thread going on this hunt. My daughter got this tag as well and we have received nothing. I was vetted for last season when I helped out on an elk hunt but forgot to redo it so that's in the process, I got my guns cleared, and my daughter should not need to be vetted since she is 14. What am I missing. I can't wait she hasn't hunted much but has been with me and my son on a ton of hunts. All of a sudden she says she's ready so here we go. Thanks and good luck to all.

danville80 · Jul 25, 2023

ofdscooby said:
Hi Guys I'm a little late to the game but my buddy let me know there was a thread going on this hunt. My daughter got this tag as well and we have received nothing. I was vetted for last season when I helped out on an elk hunt but forgot to redo it so that's in the process, I got my guns cleared, and my daughter should not need to be vetted since she is 14. What am I missing. I can't wait she hasn't hunted much but has been with me and my son on a ton of hunts. All of a sudden she says she's ready so here we go. Thanks and good luck to all.

Good you have your vetting in process. At some point before the hunt we are supposed to get some additional info on the hunt. None of us have it yet

ofdscooby · Jul 25, 2023

Copy thanks. My friend had his elk hunt info by this time last year so I was getting nervous.

danville80 · Sep 10, 2023

Anybody receive the info packet in the mail yet?

nogoodtags · Oct 9, 2023

Well, how did the junior hunt go?

danville80 · Oct 10, 2023

Good fun for all. First weekend was cooler weather too. Our daughter was able to get a buck as well. Thanks to all for all the good advice.

KGParker · Oct 10, 2023

My daughter got her buck last night 10/9 around 5pm....we were on bucks every morning and evening, however she had issues finding them in the scope or the bucks just not being giving her a good shot to take. This hunt was so much fun! we did see some VERY nice bucks too.