What's there to hunt in Fresno area?

sean english · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 05:45 PM

I have been warned that this town is not a place you want to live in. But there is a job opportunity up there. I am going to apply for it and see what happens. What is there to hunt up there? I love chukar hunting the most. I looked it up on google and looks like there are mountains and national forests north east of it. Do they have chukars? I have never been there before. Maybe head out there next time to check it out. Meanwhile, your help is appreicated. But dont forget to tell me about the closest chukar grounds up there.

db 183 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 05:50 PM

Just like any larger city, it has it's sections of town that are un-safe but there are plenty of nice areas in and around Fresno. I did a lot of work down there.

As far as hunting goes, wild pigs, deer, quail, grouse, et al are just a short drive away up to the mountains.

peter559 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 06:21 PM

im from Fresno and its not a bad place at all...dunno who told you but theres no chukar in Fresno.

jackrabbit · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 06:26 PM

No chukar. Lowlands are pretty much all private for upland game. Quail, tree squirrel, and rabbits in pleny of mountain national forest land within 45 minutes. Waterfowl at Mendota refuge. Deer in the national forests nearby, and A-zone 90 minutes away. And then whatever you want to pay for on private land.

I hunt only public land and I'm satisfied. Lived in SoCal for 27 years and I was satisfied there too. But if you like trout fishing in the mountains, it's here, streams and lakes; plenty of forest camping along stream corridors. Oh, and the mountains are not just big mud hills, they are real granite and if you really want to get into the national forest's less traveled areas -- you have to walk. Outrageous amount of official wilderness trailheads at 7-9,000 feet within a two hour drive.

If you can pick your place to live, definitely try to live north of Shaw Ave in Fresno, or live in Clovis. Clovis has the best K-12 schools in the state. A bit further north of Shaw, on the Herndon Ave corridor through Fresno and Clovis is prime real estate and pricey. Go to Willow dot com and check prices.

Don't mean to knock any of my fellow Fresno JHO guys who don't live in these areas, but that is the demographics of real estate in the area -- just take it as a very general statement meant to inform someone from out of the area. Realtors and other folks I'm sure can provide much better specific info re residential issues.

If you end up living up here, welcome. For the rest of the folks from SoCal who do not want to live up here, just remember -- THERE ARE NO DEER IN D7!!!!! Go to D8!

don766 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 08:25 PM

I believe you can hunt chukar South West of Fresno off of little Panoche Road, just the other side of I5

Frequently Asked Questions, Hollister Field Office, Bureau of Land Management California

Common Sense · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 08:27 PM

I hate Fresno, and there's nothing there; but it is within a short drive of anything you want. Ocean, Mountains, Deserts...

Not good for chukar, but great mountain quail nearby!

sean english · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 10:09 PM

Thanks for all the info. How about Sequoia National Park? or Kings Canyon? Its the continuation of the Sierras and I have hunted plenty of chukars on the others side. Isnt there any on the western side? and just curious: How come they have not made a road straight through the Sierras to connect the Fresno side to 395?

Common Sense · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 10:52 PM

Western side is a lush rain forest. Winter brings many feet of snow. A road is just not practical.

Lives2Hunt · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010, 09:51 PM

I am so tired of people saying there are no deer in D-7. Have you in fact walked every square foot at the same time, in D-7...of course not because that was a "silly" statement just like there are no deer in D-7.
There are the same amount of deer in D-7 as D-8, well at least there harvest success is about identical.

Fresno is not bad, compared to LA, its like a city full of kittens. I have lived in both and am only trying to go back to Fresno, NEVER L.A.! (If you do get the job look for a home/place to live in the Clovis community/city)

There is also pretty good, upland game and dove hunting in and around Fresno. As well as pretty good bear hunting. Deer hunitng is not as good, but its ok and always a good time. No chucks, sorry.

The mountains (upper elevations) are about 20-25 miles due east. About 35-45 minute drive depending on where you are in Fresno.

sean english · #10 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010, 11:00 PM

Lives2hunt
I got nothing to say about D-7 man. I dont know even know where that is as I am not much into deer hunting.
What do you mean with your comment about "Kittens" ? Where do I have to go for chucks if i move there? From LA , I drive 2 hours and I am in chukar country. How about Fresno? I know my cousin drives a long time to get to Independence from there even though on the map they seem pretty close. (I guess having an airplane would help.) yap , its good to be rich.

CenCalChris · #11 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 09:02 AM

I'm tired of the L.A. & Bay metro areas bashing Fresno. The only reason they do it is because they think they are so progressive and we are all a bunch of stupid farmer hicks. Fresno/Clovis has a lot of going for it, and all is in close proximity compared to the other metro areas. You can go from Riverpark shopping center to downtown in 10-15 minute, depending on trafic, which is a gift from god when compared to L.A. traffic. That is my two cents and I live 30 miles south of Fresno.

As for hunting, IMHO there is no better place for the amout of game. Upland game is everywhere. Dove in the country, Duck & Geese 30 min away in Los Banos and the local sloughs, Quail are making a come back in the country, Mountian Quail close in the Sierras. Phesant are very hard to find, but there is a farm in Chowchilla that sells birds raised in flight pens. I must admit your best bet is to find someone to get you to private farm land for dove. You got a chance to get Deer in the Sierras. Pig and I think some Chucker 1hr to the west.

I have been born & raised a Cen Cal Country Boy, so I am a bit biased, but give us a chance. Damn that was a long post.

bobby7321 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 11:13 AM

I agree, the whole area gets to be the butt of a lot of jokes. But I have to say Fresno does kinda suck. had a business there for many years, and hated having to go up there. Hunting wise I think its great (i'm in visalia). you can head to the sierras, coalinga, or down to tejon, all in less than a couple hours. I go on day hunts all the time in every direction.

CenCalChris · #13 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 11:40 AM

Well you take the good with the bad. I wouldn't move to L.A. and build a house in Compton. All I'm saying is that is not as bad as it is advertised to be. Fresno has some great communities to live in. Sean, treat it what it is, an opportunity. Who knows maybe you will fall in love with Fresno/Clovis. If your a city slicker and can't live without a Nordstrom, you might not make it here.

jdjtexas · #14 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 12:00 PM

Id take Fresno over LA anyday... I went out to fresno last year for some camping and bout fell in love... LA is to hustle and bustley. everyone there has a chip it seams

Lives2Hunt · #15 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 07:09 PM

SE, my original comment that seemed like I was upset about the D-7 comment was not directed to you. It is to every other person who makes comments like that.

As for chucks, IMHO, its the same place you may go now. Head up and over to 395 . In reality, it would be maybe double time, at the very most from what you maybe driving now. I go to NV, to chuck hunt, on our ranch and the surrounding area.

The other side of I-5 for hunting chucks, just outside of Fresno (SW)? is still over an hour drive and maybe more like 1.5 hours and I dont think the hunting would be as good. I am only going off my previous experiences with "chucker country". I am not trying to say in any way that I am some kind of professional hunter, but thats just what I have experienced. I would just drive the 3-4 hours to 395 for the weekend, if I wanted to chuck hunt and have a good opportunity to kill a few birds.

559hog · #16 (**permalink**) 03-06-2010, 11:00 PM

I think the whole saying "there are no deer in D-7" is meant with sarcasm. We all know there's deers in D-7, it's just that every opener, there's A LOT of hunters out there, so people say it to keep others out.

Anyway, I've lived in Fresno my entire life, never seen a chukar here except at the bird farms my parents go to. Yes, I know hunting them would be more exciting, but you can buy the chukars and have them killed and cleaned for a minimal fee. Dove hunting is phenomenal here, but I have access to private farm land, mountain quail is prevalent, and the deer hunting is mediocre at best. Pig hunting is very hard, I've done the whole tracking pigs at pine flat, auberry, coarsegold, prather, with no luck. In the end I weighed the price of gas and the pigs I've seen on public land, and just went ahead and booked private hunts. What kind of work are you looking to do here if you don't mind me asking?

Lives2Hunt · #17 (**permalink**) 03-07-2010, 03:08 PM

559, I know it is a bit of sarcasm, but some feel that D-7 is "theirs" and that there are too many people in "their" spot. Its public land! It is open and free for all to hunt and fish and camp on. If its too crowded, pick up and go somehwere else or deal with it.

We used to have a great little honey hole near Pagosa Springs CO, and we slayed the deer and elk there, year after year. Heck we stayed in the same exact camp spot for 4-5 years straight, after driving 16 hours and it was still open. Then the word got out, outfitters and horsemen, got there 2-3 days before the seasosn would open and take all the prime to even decent camp spots. What did we do? We felt territorial and told people there were no deer and elk in these spots anymore and told them to go to another unit...oh wait...NO WE DID NOT!!! We researched and talked to good people to find another decent area. People are people, some people hear of a great spot, show up, litter, degrade the camp spots and even the outdoors at times, are unethical at best, shoot their forked horn and go home after the first few days of opening season. (dont get me started on these type of people)

Now there are also some that have a special place where their dad and grandfather took them 40 years ago where they try and go back time and time again, but over crowding became an issue.

That sucks and most hunters, probably even on here, would see that the area is pretty crowded as is and want to be more respectful, safe, ethical, what ever, and move to another area a couple/few miles away. And others are there to shoot their forked horn and go home.

The bottom line is it is public land for now, that all legal hunters and fishermen can enjoy. Dont start telling fibs or what not because someone feels there are too many hunters in one area. This guy is clearly not from here Fresno area) who was asking the question in the first place. I didnt mean to do it, but I kind of hijacked this thread, sorry.

MULEY51 · #18 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

I think the whole saying "there are no deer in D-7" is meant with sarcasm. We all know there's deers in D-7, it's just that every opener, there's A LOT of hunters out there, so people say it to keep others out.

559hog has it right. Lighten up guys. "THERE ARE NO DEER IN D7" is just a little joke.

As for Fresno, I grew up 15 minutes away towards the Sierras in a small town, Sanger. Spent most of my youth hunting areas around there and in the mountains. Some of my best memories are times spent there in the field. It has definitely changed, as has everywhere ealse, in the past 40 years, but I could still live in my old hometown without a second thought. Dad and Mom still live there, so I'm up there several times a year. Me and the old man, he's 83, still make a yearly deer hunt in D7 (where there's no deer.....

).

559hog · #19 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 03:22 PM

I'm not saying it's "mine", I was merely addressing it.

central cali fishin · #20 (**permalink**) 04-12-2010, 04:21 PM

If live In D7 In a little ole town named Oakhurst. I agree and disagree for the most part about telling people there are no deer here. My family has lived up here for 4 generations, and there are plenty of deer. Hopefully the hunters who read this are respectful hunters. Please don't trash our land if the locals are kind enough to share the information they know then be respectful. Not implying your not. I don't know i guess its a touchy subject id love to share a good time with visiting hunters, but at the same time i have seen more hunters and campers than i can count come up here and destroy the land and kill the forkys. I understand what someone said about its not our land its public but at the same time our relatives spent there lives up here and lived off of that public land.
As for Fresno if your use to the city life it a great place to live i lived there for 1 year when i turned 18 and moved out but i had to move back home and leave the city there wasn't enough dirt roads down there for me. In my opinion its much better than Bay area or L.A., as most have said try Clovis its a great place to live. stay away from down town and you wont have any problems. If you like fishin send me a message ill show you some beautiful lakes in the high country

timsbluehouse · #21 (**permalink**) 04-13-2010, 05:35 PM

I'm from Missouri got stationed out here in Lemoore about 30 miles south. I've just got into hunting out here in Cali. So far it's like any other place it has it's goods and bads. It's just what you really are looking for. We like the Lemoore and Visalia area just because they are smaller towns. But if you want any big retails or decent malls it's Visalia or Fresno. The hunting out in this region seems to be decent. Just about anything you want to hunt is only a short drive away. I did some turkey hunting last year in the southern part of the Sequoias (Don't mind the spelling) but I was chasing jakes all season. This year just went up there to let the dog run and hike a little and saw 4 jakes and 1 mature Tom. Only problem was this is in ppls front yards and I couldn't get them to travel into the public hunting land. I've seen allot of deer too. Small but mostly does. Quit abit of dove and quail too. I was taken to a ranch for pheasant out in the Coalinga area. Pigs are just about anywhere you go. Bear I've seen tracks and signs. Just haven't physically seen one. I'm not able to get to the woods allot but what I have I've always seen something. Fishing is good lots of lakes and rivers to fish out of. From trout to crappie to bass and cat. Now my recommendation I will throw Atwater out there. He is the most knowledgable person I've met about waterfowl. So he would be able to clue you in that area. From what I have heard is the central valley is upland game galore. The housing market still sucks. It's pricey but it is California. It's not so bad in the valley. But I would suggest Clovis it seems less of a hustle and not as busy as Fresno. The only thing I've seen since I've been here is the gangs and drug dealers have branched up north to Fresno area due to less hassle from the LEO. Not saying they don't do a good job. But they see more opportunities up in this area. So as I said before it has it's good and bad. If you can come and stay a week or so and then that gives you a better idea of the area and what we've been talking about. Good Luck with your new job opportunity.