BeDawg asked, "well what is the deal? Too many hunters? Too hard to get a tag? Too many predators? Too much development? The habitat is not and never was there? Was it loaded with deer 100 years ago? Or Californians are tight lipped and have plenty of deer ops."
Lot of question there but i'll give my $.02 to go along with the others. In my youth, anybody could hunt just about anywhere in the State they wanted with their second deer tag. A guy could shoot two deer a year, every year, and one could be a darn good muley hunt if he chose to go where they do live.
Now days, we are all still allowed 2 deer tags per hunter and one of those tags can be used to apply for limited entry hunts in Muley country. Similar to other States, if one doesn't draw a limited hunt X zone or special hunt, he will accrue a point that is cumulative. There are still several areas within Cali's best habitats, that there are max point holders patiently waiting and there are other areas that take much less down to near zero points with the hunting to naturally not as "good" but one can make of them hunts as he desires as all the LE units hold good bucks.
You answered a lot of your own questions, the habitat is not what it once was but there is still plenty of excellent habitat, many huge tracts just lacking of or missing deer numbers that once may have been near full capacity. Liberal Political influence has made this a predator friendly state yet we still pretty much hunt as we always have. We also had back to back severe winters years ago that with the predator situation as it is, the Mule Deer numbers have never fully recovered.
As for the regular guy's opportunity to hunt Blacktail or Blacktail-Muley Cross bucks, one can hunt them every year with over the counter tags. With that tag in his pocket, one can also apply for the LE Muley tags. There are at least 5 decent LE Muley hunts that i can/should draw this year with my 4 points, next year for sure. That's not a long wait but they're not the very best areas either. I choose to hunt local every year and maybe one more Wy trip. It ain't yet, near as bad as it could be.
With State wide over the counter Bear, Hog, and Turkey tags to go along with everything else, plenty of opportunity.
Joey
Keep your slimy Paws Off My, Yours, Our,.. Public Land!!!