jryoung
Well-known member
Temps in CA dropped considerably yesterday and today so I tried to make the most of it and headed out to hunt a little patch of public land near the Bay Area. It was a long day, I left the truck at 4:45am and returned at 7:45 with a few blisters, cramping muscles and an unquenchable thirst for a beer.
The area is at the crest of the Diablo range, which translates to winds that could rival Wyoming when a cold front like this rolls in. There was no worry of overheating on the way in, the fog and wind raced from west to east. For contrast I've been in the same parking lot when it was 85 degrees at 4:45am. The oaks sucked the moisture right out of the air leaving "rain" underneath them. The normally sun drenched grass was soft and silent for the morning unit the fog broke and the sun reclaimed all moisture remaining on the flora.
I perched myself on a point with two smaller drainages to my right and left and a long main in front of me where the two intersected. I got to the parking lot about two hours early as it wasn't until 9 or so when the fog finally began to lift and I could start to see. I was hoping this turn in the weather would get the deer up and moving, but I think much of the wind kept them in the bottom of the drainages and on the leeward side.
I spotted a couple of does and a spike about 9:30, I tried to put a fork on him (to make him legal) so I could put a fork in him, but I had no luck. Throughout the day I spotted a couple other groups of does, but no bucks. The rut occurs early here and is just a couple of weeks off so I was hoping for an early sign or two.
I found one other buck later in the afternoon. I snuck right in on him in his afternoon bed, but unfortunately he saw me first and only gave me a brief tease. He appeared to be a spike again, but I never got that good of a look.
I made a big loop through the property, about 10 miles in all. It is heavily pressured, but everywhere you go there are deer, pig, coyote, bobcat and quail tracks. It's just an area where the weather and pressure turns them nocturnal so a good dose of luck is required. Even found poor little "Mr. No Shoulders" who did not appreciate the cold front. He had slightly more energy than me after plate number three on Thanksgiving.
It's a really pretty place. Golden sunbaked grasses contrasted by oak trees that keep the deer, pigs and squirrels fed. The winds yesterday kicked a lot of acorns off the trees and the acorns appeared to be in great numbers after a pretty wet winter. I'm hoping to get back out there for pigs in October and November if I can. The acorns should have them good and fattened up if I can get lucky and find one. The quest continues to fill a tag here.
The area is at the crest of the Diablo range, which translates to winds that could rival Wyoming when a cold front like this rolls in. There was no worry of overheating on the way in, the fog and wind raced from west to east. For contrast I've been in the same parking lot when it was 85 degrees at 4:45am. The oaks sucked the moisture right out of the air leaving "rain" underneath them. The normally sun drenched grass was soft and silent for the morning unit the fog broke and the sun reclaimed all moisture remaining on the flora.
I perched myself on a point with two smaller drainages to my right and left and a long main in front of me where the two intersected. I got to the parking lot about two hours early as it wasn't until 9 or so when the fog finally began to lift and I could start to see. I was hoping this turn in the weather would get the deer up and moving, but I think much of the wind kept them in the bottom of the drainages and on the leeward side.
I spotted a couple of does and a spike about 9:30, I tried to put a fork on him (to make him legal) so I could put a fork in him, but I had no luck. Throughout the day I spotted a couple other groups of does, but no bucks. The rut occurs early here and is just a couple of weeks off so I was hoping for an early sign or two.
I found one other buck later in the afternoon. I snuck right in on him in his afternoon bed, but unfortunately he saw me first and only gave me a brief tease. He appeared to be a spike again, but I never got that good of a look.
I made a big loop through the property, about 10 miles in all. It is heavily pressured, but everywhere you go there are deer, pig, coyote, bobcat and quail tracks. It's just an area where the weather and pressure turns them nocturnal so a good dose of luck is required. Even found poor little "Mr. No Shoulders" who did not appreciate the cold front. He had slightly more energy than me after plate number three on Thanksgiving.
It's a really pretty place. Golden sunbaked grasses contrasted by oak trees that keep the deer, pigs and squirrels fed. The winds yesterday kicked a lot of acorns off the trees and the acorns appeared to be in great numbers after a pretty wet winter. I'm hoping to get back out there for pigs in October and November if I can. The acorns should have them good and fattened up if I can get lucky and find one. The quest continues to fill a tag here.
