AO tags

[ericl23]

I was hoping to get some clarification on where and when I can hunt with an AO tag. I called the CDFW this moring and the gentleman said it was only good for A Zone. When I read the Big Game Hunting Digest it says the following:

Archery-Only (AO) Hunt Tag
The AO (Archery-Only) tag allows hunting with archery equipment
only during the archery and general seasons in A, B, or D
zones and Hunt G10 (military only). To hunt during an X zone
archery season, you must have an Area-Specific Archery Hunt
tag for the appropriate zone. You may not possess a firearm
or crossbow when hunting under the authority of an ArcheryOnly
deer tag except as otherwise provided.

If I read it correctly I should be able to hunt during the A31 or A32 season. Can someone let me know if I am way off base or not?

Thanks

Eric

 

[ilovesprig]

Eric,

A, B, and D ZONES are different than specified archery hunting tags within zones (A-22, A31, A-32, etc).......D-16 for instance has a archery portion of that zones hunts (starts 1st Saturday of Sept). Then the rifle portion of D-16 opens the last Saturday in October.........A-22 is within the boundaries of D-16, but is basically a totally different hunt with different dates (both open 1st Saturday of Sept. though). Just like muzzleloader (M-6) is within the D-16 zone, but a different hunt........Confusing eh?........ :-[

 

[Bonejour]

Eric, what office did you call?

 

[ericl23]

I first called the long Beach office but the girl who answered couldn't answer the question so she told me to call the Sacramento office.

Thanks

Eric

 

[ilovesprig]

Eric, what office did you call?

Don,

Does it make a difference?......Most the people working the phones at DFG have no idea what a zone or hunt is............. :-[

 

[longbowhunter2]

Eric, what office did you call?

Don,

Does it make a difference?......Most the people working the phones at DFG have no idea what a zone or hunt is............. :-[

sprig agreed ,

eric
it is very confusing. what sprig said is correct. if I may add, general hunting tags include an Archery before the gun season. and you may use the AO tag during the general D-16 rifle season. which is Buck Only, forked horn or better.
this an analogy. it is even difficult to explain. with out causing trouble.
so there is a general archery & rifle hunts. included with the D-16 tag. A-22 is not allowed during the rifle hunt unless the dates overlap. you have to read the regs carefully. I email them, and bugged the hell out of them until it was very clear as mud. A-22 has it's own specific season dates. which are ether sex. well there I said hope I explained it correctly. AO tag can not be used during that season.
O ya I forgot to mention the D-16 archery & the A22, overlap during the the first part of the season.
which is even more confusing but both have different season dates. read them carefully.

Ghost

 

[Bonejour]

Eric, what office did you call?

Don,

Does it make a difference?......Most the people working the phones at DFG have no idea what a zone or hunt is............. :-[

Haha you're right and Eric proved it.

 

[TaftHunter]

Hah people that work the DFG phones don't even know people still hunt with stick and string..

 

[ericl23]

Ok now my head hurts. Let's put it in D11 terms since I am going to be hunting that area. If I put in for the A31 tag and D11 tag and get both then I can hunt with bow from Sept 26 - Dec 31 for either sex and with a Rifle from Oct 10- Nov 8 for forked horn buck?

But if I don't get the A31 tag then I need an AO tag to be able to hunt with a bow during the archery part of the D11 tag (Sep 5-27) for forked horn or better and then can hunt with a rifle from Oct 10- Nov 8 for forked horn or better?

Thanks for everyones input. They definitely don't make it easy for a newB.

Eric

 

[ilovesprig]

Ok now my head hurts. Let's put it in D11 terms since I am going to be hunting that area. If I put in for the A31 tag and D11 tag and get both then I can hunt with bow from Sept 26 - Dec 31 for either sex and with a Rifle from Oct 10- Nov 8 for forked horn buck?

But if I don't get the A31 tag then I need an AO tag to be able to hunt with a bow during the archery part of the D11 tag (Sep 5-27) for forked horn or better and then can hunt with a rifle from Oct 10- Nov 8 for forked horn or better?

Thanks for everyones input. They definitely don't make it easy for a newB.

Eric

Eric,

If you get drawn for one and can buy the other, then you can hunt each of the separate seasons. Or if they overlap like D-16 (A-22 & D-16 early archery start the same day), then you can pick which tag you want to use (bow only)......If you only get a D-11. You do NOT need an AO to hunt the archery portion of the D-11......An AO tag will allow you to hunt the entire D-11 season (bow & rifle) with a bow.

 

[ericl23]

Got it.

Thanks again Steve.