Hunting San Bernardino National Forest
Hello, Im from Pennsylvania but have an aunt and uncle who live directly along the southern edge of the San Bernardino National Forest. They invited me to come out and try some hunting sometimes, but I dont know a whole lot about the area. Im looking for somebody to maybe help me around, show me the ropes and how to hunt the muleys and coyotes in or around the SBNF. Im a very avid hunter in PA and know most about whitetail deer and deer hunting, but pretty clueless to muleys and that area. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :)
Welcome! Im sure your going to see a lot of differences hunting here. I probably wouldn't be able to help you with anymore then you already know. But I would be more then happy to try to answer any questions you have. I have been hunting the SB mountains for the last 25 years and know them pretty well. However, so do most of the SoCal people on this forum. You should have no problems finding the resources you need here. Good luck!
Thanks a lot! I appreciate any help I could get. I guess it would not be a whole world of difference considering theyre both deer, but I know terrain and food/water sources and temperature could change it.. Are there a lot or a good amount of deer out there? I dont expect to see one behind every tree, heck around here you can go days without seeing any. I havent even seen a deer since the first week in december..
But just wondering if theres good specific places or areas to go, or if I can go anywhere and have a decent chance at seeing something.. I have no problems with covering long distances and steep terrain, and can basically handle anything really..
Thats the great thing about California is the terrain and climate diversity. You can hunt the desert or the forest, hills steep mountains, canyons and valleys. It all depends on how you want to hunt. Some guys pack in for days. Me personally, i deer hunt on weekends. Usually, anywhere i can park my trailer overnight and then hike in about 3-5 miles (thats all my knees will allow for). Its more about getting out and spending time with my freinds and family. As for how many deer, well.....Everything you stated above would be accurate to deer sighting in season. My dad took one last season, it was his first in 20 years. Ive seen many deer in my lifetime of hunting but never taken a buck. Take into consideration that the season is 5 weeks long and we only hunt 7-10 days. Some are more hardcore and see far more deer as you will come to find out soon enough monitoring this forum. I have included some references for you below. The first is the Firearm discharge map. Basically it gives you a good idea where you can hunt legally depending on what your are hunting with. Use this against Google maps to pick your spots. I can help you with that to as soon as you determine What, when, who, where and why. I personally hunt for deer, bear, coyote, fox, bobcat, quail. However, hunting is just one of my many hobbies so you wont see me out there as often as some.Originally Posted by o2Smitty02
http://www.specialdistricts.org/2/FishandGame/docs/2010_cnty_shooting_areas_final.pdf
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/
WOW! Those are some sweet maps, Ill have to get on the computer and print them out!(im on my phone) I think they will really help me out, as finding where I can and cant actually hunt is pretty hard without actually going and asking around and walking around which could be pretty valuable time!(tome i would rather be hunting! Lol)
But im certainly fine with not shooting a deer, I enjoy just being out there and watching the sunrise and all that good stuff. Ive only shot 1 deer in each of the 6 years Ive been hunting here in PA anyway.
How is the bear hunting out there? Theres some good bear here and the second largest in the world was actually shot right behind my camp.. I see a non-resident bear tag is quite expensive, but may consider it if there a good amount of bear around..
Also, how about bobcat? Theyre pretty cheap and i see you get 5 tags, which is pretty crazy to hear as here in PA you can only get 1 tag every 10 years, and it is incredibly hard to even find yet kill a bobcat. I have only seen one live one, and thats more than most guys that I know! Lol
Oh, might as well add about turkey? Im a big turkey hunter too, and would love to chase some rio's or whatever is in CA, but I heard the coyotes and fires have done a pretty good number on them..
But, I will probably be out for a week in June, and maybe can do some coyote hunting. I will have to see for the fall yet...
Can't help you with Turkey, never done it but would like to try. As for deer, I have been pretty fortunate to get a buck once every other year in D-14. I do spend 15 days a month out in the woods during season and I do put in a lot of miles. If you want to do some bobcat hunting and coyote hunting, PM me and we'll head out and I'll give you a tour of the mountain areas I normally hunt. It seems every time I hunt the front side, start at hwy 18 and end up at hwy 330, I see wildlife, and a ton of scat. Backside of Crestline towards Lake Gregory is very prevalant with bear, deer, and bobcat. PM me when you're out in CA.
If I am around still for this October I too tend to hike out the hills. I have been mostly on the desert side but almost the same as you Firemen Luke. PM anytime you want a 2nd. Colorado is first this year and I will stay this time till I get an elk. Hopefully day one like the others near me did.
Coyote hunts are great also on the desert side. I will be trying to get a couple hunts together just to help the deer stay closer to home. Way too many yotes pushing the deer further east. I'll post results as the hunts go so PM if it sounds good for you too o2smittyo2
Can someone point out a general area that I can look at in google maps so i can scout around for coyotes. Im willing to hike the miles and am just looking for a place to start. Any information at all would be much appreciated.
Henmar, that special district map is SWEET! Is there one for Riverside Co?
unfortunately not. I wish there was! There are some website where you can pay for a similar map but not with that detail. mostly just private property displayed.
All is for nothing, if not for GOD.....
"Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me"
I'm surprised at you guys! First, get out your hunter safety card. In order to get a license to hunt you HAVE to have one. Then go to a DFG license dealer and get a license.
Then plan your hunt or just do some scouting. But first get your license for California!
A PA hunting license will at a minimum get you a ticket but probably more like a sit in a squad car, and an invitation to court. Get it?
Tony calm down. I didn't see anyone say they were hunting without a license. Besides you can get one at KMART here in Big Bear the day you want to hunt. Part of the scouting is asking locals where to start. This is the first site I have ever seen anyone tell where the game is.
For yotes look in the Baldwin Lake area east of the dried lake. I believe it was called the bighorn area but it has been a long time since any Bighorns have roamed there in numbers. Cactus Flats is also good but there are a lot of bikes running there too. Look for the rabbits and the yotes will be close by. Rabbits are easy to find, yotes you have to call out.
If you make it out in June and still do not have a hunter safety card valid for California look me up I should be up and running to help out. Check with your game wardens to see if the hunter safety is valid.
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