2025 D16 Baddie

[gratefulhunter]

Just sharing and looking for some D16 advice. I mentioned in a previous post last year that it was my first year hunting in San Diego County. Navy moved me out here. I appreciate all the encouragement and even though it's tough to find success here, the process is totally worth it!

I ended up harvesting a little forkie (furthest thing from a trophy) and have completely fallen in love with how HARD it is to hunt in San Diego county. I've been hunting public land and back country since I was 12 and nothing is as hard as San Diego to be successful on public land. I also like how understandably hush hush folks are, besides to provide good general hunting and mentorship style advice. In this day and age, with the access we have to info and tech to be successful, we're starting to lose our ability to actually think like hunters, scout, find sign, pursue, and close on a hunt without beyond spoon fed. The San Diego terrain and what I've seen and heard from folks like you on this forum keep that ideal alive.

I'll step off the soap box now.

I've put another 100 miles or so on foot in just about every location this season.

I bumped a BEAST 3X3 (maybe 3x4) last weekend (see video)! He was bed down like 15 yds below me in a wash.
View attachment 1000009953-vmake (1).mp4
Wondering if anyone can provide some advice. How would you approach trying to keep track of him? What's the best method to try to re-locate him most efficiently? I've read some biology reports from the 80s that say the bucks in San Diego county are relatively stationary and maintain about a 1-1.5 mile range year to year.

Thanks all!

P.s. does anyone happen to know any outdoorsman or hunting groups that get together somewhat regularly out here. Would love to connect with some hunters who are as passionate as I am.

 

[HATCHET1]

Go to the turkey meeting once a month..cold beers and cheeseburgers also .it's somewhere down there...standby..info be coming I'm certain..

 

[gratefulhunter]

Go to the turkey meeting once a month..cold beers and cheeseburgers also .it's somewhere down there...standby..info be coming I'm certain..

Thank you! Hard to beat that menu - I'm sold.

 

[ilovesprig]

Go to the turkey meeting once a month..cold beers and cheeseburgers also .it's somewhere down there...standby..info be coming I'm certain..

Yep, NWTF San Diego Chapter has monthly meetings...3rd Monday of each month...Hamburger factory in Poway...Start time is 6:30 pm...If you want to talk all things hunting...Get there around 6:00 pm and have dinner with us.........

ps...Really nice buck you found...He should stay in that general area all year...May move some during the rut...(Oct-Jan)...........

pss...Can't believe that beauty is still alive on the "Best 40 acres in SD"..........

 

[gratefulhunter]

Yep, NWTF San Diego Chapter has monthly meetings...3rd Monday of each month...Hamburger factory in Poway...Start time is 6:30 pm...If you want to talk all things hunting...Get there around 6:00 pm and have dinner with us.........

ps...Really nice buck you found...He should stay in that general area all year...May move some during the rut...(Oct-Jan)...........

pss...Can't believe that beauty is still alive on the "Best 40 acres in SD"..........



View attachment 65022View attachment 65023

Thanks! Beautiful buck you got there as well.

Im going to make my best effort to attend one of the meetings. It's a bit of a trek for me, but the real hurdle is negotiating some more time with my wife while she's stuck wrangling the toddlers! I'll do my best, wish me luck.

Thanks for the info - in your opinion, do the deer down here get spooked or migrate to a different zone if I scout or push him too hard? I'd like to get a better pattern of life on him but I don't want to pressure him too much.

 

[ilovesprig]

I'm only guessing

Thanks for the info - in your opinion, do the deer down here get spooked or migrate to a different zone if I scout or push him too hard? I'd like to get a better pattern of life on him but I don't want to pressure him too much.

I'm only guessing (educated), but any wild animal pressured will move (Big cats can do the same thing)...That country where you spotted him looks pretty open...If there's chaparral nearby, he'll probably gravitate to that... He can also turn more nocturnal...I would try to spot and learn his habits from a distance, if possible (binos, spotting scope, etc).

Good luck and bring a good camera......

 

[gratefulhunter]

I'm only guessing



I'm only guessing (educated), but any wild animal pressured will move (Big cats can do the same thing)...That country where you spotted him looks pretty open...If there's chaparral nearby, he'll probably gravitate to that... He can also turn more nocturnal...I would try to spot and learn his habits from a distance, if possible (binos, spotting scope, etc).

Good luck and bring a good camera......

Thank you... that's the plan then. I'll keep you all updated with some action shots throughout the scouting season! Lots of does, some mature, spotted which is a good thing, especially since I was drawn for the G13 tag this year!

 

[180ls1]

Stud buck for sure. Steve is giving you top quality advice. I would exercise serious caution going right back to where you bumped him and spend time looking for other approaches where you can watch or hunt him should the wind switch or something when season comes around.

The NWTF meetings are absolutely the place to be. Lots of avid big game and all-types of bird hunters there.

 

[gratefulhunter]

Stud buck for sure. Steve is giving you top quality advice. I would exercise serious caution going right back to where you bumped him and spend time looking for other approaches where you can watch or hunt him should the wind switch or something when season comes around.

The NWTF meetings are absolutely the place to be. Lots of avid big game and all-types of bird hunters there.

that makes total sense to me! thanks for the advice. Would be a shame to not spot him again!

 

[KennyQuacker]

Just sharing and looking for some D16 advice. I mentioned in a previous post last year that it was my first year hunting in San Diego County. Navy moved me out here. I appreciate all the encouragement and even though it's tough to find success here, the process is totally worth it!

I ended up harvesting a little forkie (furthest thing from a trophy) and have completely fallen in love with how HARD it is to hunt in San Diego county. I've been hunting public land and back country since I was 12 and nothing is as hard as San Diego to be successful on public land. I also like how understandably hush hush folks are, besides to provide good general hunting and mentorship style advice. In this day and age, with the access we have to info and tech to be successful, we're starting to lose our ability to actually think like hunters, scout, find sign, pursue, and close on a hunt without beyond spoon fed. The San Diego terrain and what I've seen and heard from folks like you on this forum keep that ideal alive.

I'll step off the soap box now.

I've put another 100 miles or so on foot in just about every location this season.

I bumped a BEAST 3X3 (maybe 3x4) last weekend (see video)! He was bed down like 15 yds below me in a wash.
View attachment 65021
Wondering if anyone can provide some advice. How would you approach trying to keep track of him? What's the best method to try to re-locate him most efficiently? I've read some biology reports from the 80s that say the bucks in San Diego county are relatively stationary and maintain about a 1-1.5 mile range year to year.

Thanks all!

P.s. does anyone happen to know any outdoorsman or hunting groups that get together somewhat regularly out here. Would love to connect with some hunters who are as passionate as I am.

San Diego Varmint Callers https://www.sandiegocountyvarmintcallers.com/sdcvc-meetings I used to belong to this group a lotta years ago. All nice guys and some are more into ducks, others varmints and deer and some are target shooters and reloaders etc.... You'll be able to tell which guys actually bust tail and hunt a lot.

Also, from my experience, to keep tabs on your buck, I would pick a high spot, at least 300 yards away from where you last saw him. Get in there quiet, in the dark. Play the thermals and if the wind is dicey, leave. Use a spotter or binocs with a tripod and start pickin where you last saw him. If no luck, move a couple hunnered yards and do the same. Bustin brush and looking for his track is too risky....bucks don't like pressure. You can drive them out or nocturnal, if you bump them one too many times.

Years ago, in early bow season, I bow hunted a spot in the morning, then went back to the truck at 11am for sammich and a nap. Mistake. It poured rain hard and stopped. At 2pm, I went back to the same spot and found a nice steaming fresh buck track in the mud, right next to my boot print near my sit. Never saw him again during the bow season. I went back during rifle on the opener and killed him dead at 8am, same spot. There's a reason why you see them where you do and on the chance they don't get pestered, they will stick around.

 

[gratefulhunter]

San Diego Varmint Callers https://www.sandiegocountyvarmintcallers.com/sdcvc-meetings I used to belong to this group a lotta years ago. All nice guys and some are more into ducks, others varmints and deer and some are target shooters and reloaders etc.... You'll be able to tell which guys actually bust tail and hunt a lot.

Also, from my experience, to keep tabs on your buck, I would pick a high spot, at least 300 yards away from where you last saw him. Get in there quiet, in the dark. Play the thermals and if the wind is dicey, leave. Use a spotter or binocs with a tripod and start pickin where you last saw him. If no luck, move a couple hunnered yards and do the same. Bustin brush and looking for his track is too risky....bucks don't like pressure. You can drive them out or nocturnal, if you bump them one too many times.

Years ago, in early bow season, I bow hunted a spot in the morning, then went back to the truck at 11am for sammich and a nap. Mistake. It poured rain hard and stopped. At 2pm, I went back to the same spot and found a nice steaming fresh buck track in the mud, right next to my boot print near my sit. Never saw him again during the bow season. I went back during rifle on the opener and killed him dead at 8am, same spot. There's a reason why you see them where you do and on the chance they don't get pestered, they will stick around.

Incredibly helpful advice and greatly appreciated! I'm glad you ended up closing on that buck can't imagine how you felt during bow season when you just missed him.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

Thanks! Beautiful buck you got there as well.

Im going to make my best effort to attend one of the meetings. It's a bit of a trek for me, but the real hurdle is negotiating some more time with my wife while she's stuck wrangling the toddlers! I'll do my best, wish me luck.

Thanks for the info - in your opinion, do the deer down here get spooked or migrate to a different zone if I scout or push him too hard? I'd like to get a better pattern of life on him but I don't want to pressure him too much.

Scouting before season shouldn't spook him too much unless you run up and try to touch him. Biggest thing is if you're in a popular area, since come general opener, it'll get crazy and smart deer bail. Big tip during season is to come back on a random day like a Wednesday. Less (or no) hunters and pressure's died down. Most deer (and turkey) hunters give up after opener and the beasts may come back. Also keep tabs on here for folks talking about a second rut. Often towards the end of general, after everyone's given up, bucks will enter rut again and the boys will be back out acting a fool.