I have been hunting the same place in California for 30 years, it is my family property and I have never seen a year like this. The oak trees are all dropping their leaves, the grass is almost non existent, the brush is kindling wood dry and there are almost no deer! I usually see several deer when I go out and this year I have seen exactly two all season. I don’t know if it is the drought or the weather but there is something different this year!

What have you guys experienced?

I'm up in Humboldt and conditions aren't much different. Marine layer this summer was almost non existent, and I'm only a mile or so from the beach. I think there's at least one fire in each of the 4 B zones. And probably more to come. Hopefully El Nino will wet us down good this winter.

The drought is definitely hard on the trees (both pines and oaks), but I think it was tougher on the animals last year. This year we're seeing a lot more fawns and piglets than the last two years. And we've been seeing more bucks than last year too.

So far this season we've taken two nice bucks, one was really good for this area. And a week ago I saw one of the better bucks I've ever seen.

In the last two years we had okay acorn crops and while I've seen good acorn crops on other ranches in this region this year, I'm not seeing any on the ranch we're hunting for deer. So that's a bad sign for the future, but at least there is more other feed for game to eat this year compared to the last couple years so hopefully they'll pull through.

You've got some great country where you are so hopefully the game numbers will around for you after this coming winter.

(Now buckle up... because this might be the last constructive comment you get since 90% of the rest of this thread will probably be a handful of people repeatedly whining about how much they hate California).

It sounds like things are better a little farther up the coast than down here. Things are a lot worse this year than last in my area. I have never seen it this bad. I hope that we get some rain this year.

The other factor is the coyotes, they are really thick this year. They are eating grapes and getting fat! They don’t respond to calls, apparently when you are eating grapes you don’t care about a dying rabbit.

The two deer that I saw today were eating oak leaves and acorns off the tree. From the looks of things that is the only thing left to eat.

I know what you mean about the California comments, funny most of them have never been here or if they have they only visited the big cities.

That's good you've got acorns.

Too bad the coyote numbers are so high for you. I think in general they dipped in this area in the first couple years of the drought. I'm not seeing nearly as many as usual on the places I have access to, but I don't go nearly as far south as your area.

I'm sure you've got some good habitat in your area so the game should start to bounce back after this winter.

As you know we've always had droughts in the West. While they aren't always this severe, this isn't the first and it won't be the last.

Deer numbers are way down here (border B/C zone) while cat sightings are up. My trail cam is picking up a ton of rabbits and last week it picked up large bear destroying my favorite apple tree.

Hunting for coyotes in east C4 I have seen some nice deer and a ton of turkeys. Coyotes has been a tough go, lots to be heard before sun up, but they don't seem to be interested in my Alpha Dogg. Working on a plan.....

I start scouting my place in late June/early July and usually see several bucks while they are still in the velvet.
This year I have not seen a single buck on my place and there are only 2 does and one yearling. Only hope is that when the acorns drop and if the rut kicks in early enough some bucks may come out of the woodwork.
We are over run with coyotes and there are also lions
Deer populations tend to be cyclical and we are at the nadir at least in this area.

Bottom line is drought kills deer, effects the following years fawn crop..nothing good comes out of drought. Some states would do well to kill off a bunch of wild useless horses the liberals have been protecting for eons at the expense of elk, deer, birds...and I'm a sho nuff horse lover, but facts do not bare out the damage these horse do to range and wildlife not to mention the billions of dollars spent by the government to maintain them..We as tax payers are paying millions per day while the BLM is feeding those in pens throughout the USA at hundreds of thousands of US tax dollars per day for old wild horse Anne..its criminal, its a joke another cluster F for Uncle Sam.

On the South East slope of the Sierras there is nothing, no deer, no bears, and nothing. The only bit of wildlife we have had this year is the influx (think plague) of the Western Conifer Seed bug.

Desert animals are fine, but the Sierras look like a grave yard.

Things may be looking up here. The acorns are starting to drop and I bagged a 3 pointer the other night. It is still the only buck I have seen on my place this year.

The rut has started. Got this guy today being stupid chasing does (Him being stupid, not me).

Congrats Blacktailer! Looks like the season worked out for you.

So far I have drawn a blank, I have not seen a deer in weeks. We will se what happens over the next few days.

I shot a coyote the other night, I called him in to about 30 feet, he looked really hungry. Had a few chances at pigs, but let them go. I may make an effort for a pig after deer season.

I think that the drought is really hammering things down here.

Blacktailer, I'm not real familiar with blacktails, but that looks like a pretty nice deer given the conditions out there. I like that dark, heavy rack of his. Nicely done.

He is definitely above average for this area. Heavy horns and he weighed 105 pounds at the processer so probably around 150 live weight?
Used up my second tag but when I saw those horns I couldn't let him walk.
IIRC this is the first time I have killed 2 three pointers in a season.

That is a very nice deer. I didn't know California is a two deer state.

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:
That is a very nice deer. I didn't know California is a two deer state.

It depends on the zone.

I'm crying the blues. My So.Cal hunting ranch that I worked at during the summer in my pre teen years and hunted from then all through my adult life was sold 3yrs ago in a partition suit.. Every once in awhile I'll still sneak in on foot to look around for old times sake.. The deer are way down, quail are doing pretty good it seems. Bears appear to be none.. Very sad indeed.. Tried hunting public land around here is a joke.. All our little southern friends that are flooding the state have zero respect for nature, other hunters or anything living that walks crawls or flies.. I'm envious of you with access to private property still..

I know exactly how you feel Mike. As you can see I live in the NorthState with lots of public land, but all of the nice bucks hang out on private land that is leased to clubs or outfitters.

Not that it will make you feel any better but I have taken deer off Mulholland Dr. That would be in the early 60'. I used to hunt quail off Malibu Canyon behind the sheriff sub station. Way back when I have taken deer north of the San Bernardino Fwy. just off of Sierra in Fontana. Times have changed.

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
I know exactly how you feel Mike. As you can see I live in the NorthState with lots of public land, but all of the nice bucks hang out on private land that is leased to clubs or outfitters.

Not that it will make you feel any better but I have taken deer off Mulholland Dr. That would be in the early 60'. I used to hunt quail off Malibu Canyon behind the sheriff sub station. Way back when I have taken deer north of the San Bernardino Fwy. just off of Sierra in Fontana. Times have changed.

Santa Clara Valley in the late 50's and early 60's was very much the same.

I drew a blank this year, hopefully we get some rain and things bounce back.