If you haven't already, do some research on deer habitat and behavior, same for quail, or any game animal for that matter. Go out and do some glassing to see if you can locate deer in the area you plan to hunt, you may have to glsss for hours on end to see any activity. look for sign, tracks, droppings, rubs, and bedding spots. There are not a lot of areas in So. Cal. with good deer population, so you might want to see about hunting other areas to the north, or even out to state. Quail numbers are down from previous years due to the drought, Go out and look for water holes or gusslers, man made watering holes for game birds. If there is a local rod and gun club, join up and get to know the members, ask if anyone is willing to give a newbie some advice and are willing to take him out with them on a hunt.
