New to Hunting D15, Not so New to D15
- Thread starter twoniner
- Start date
That scorches the earth...Sometimes it takes years to recover...No Bueno for wildlife.
I have forestry keys thru work and have to visit the peaks in the LA basin on a somewhat regular basis. Last time I was up at Santiago/Pleasants/Sierra Pks, I talked to the ranger patrolling and he said they wouldn’t be opening the area for at least another year. The bush build up burned so hot it’s a moonscape. There was a possibility that Rangers would be stationed at the gates to let vehicles with valid tags thru but I don’t if that had traction.
Driving up Trabuco Canyon is still scorched, I had to do radio surveys with the rangers. If you want a look at Trabuco just hike up Bell Ridge trail and look down it’s only 5 miles. Everything south of Bell Ridge is still there, I don’t know if the deer just pushed south but I haven’t seen much sign when up there although in my one haunt to Bell Canyon I saw does and fawns, but there are also cats.
Driving up Trabuco Canyon is still scorched, I had to do radio surveys with the rangers. If you want a look at Trabuco just hike up Bell Ridge trail and look down it’s only 5 miles. Everything south of Bell Ridge is still there, I don’t know if the deer just pushed south but I haven’t seen much sign when up there although in my one haunt to Bell Canyon I saw does and fawns, but there are also cats.
just act big, those cats will leave you alone. Besides those are the rare almost extinct inbred ones. Kinda like cougar Arkansas up there.
In my experience, D15 is one of those places where you can be successful at sun up and maybe last light. I’ve learned to avoid other hunters fairly well, it’s the hikers that I can’t seem to get away from. No matter where I go, they are always there. 5-6 miles in from the road, groups up to 12-13 hikers clunking their way through. Yeah it’s frustrating, but like it’s already been said, public land.
Now, as for places to hunt...I’ve seen more deer in the most unlikely of places. Last year, 3.5 miles deep into the wilderness, nothing...a week prior to that, 50 yards off a highly trafficked road, bucks chasing does in a meadow.
So my plan this year, go find a spot that seems “too obvious” and give that a try.
Now, as for places to hunt...I’ve seen more deer in the most unlikely of places. Last year, 3.5 miles deep into the wilderness, nothing...a week prior to that, 50 yards off a highly trafficked road, bucks chasing does in a meadow.
So my plan this year, go find a spot that seems “too obvious” and give that a try.
If you are asking about the Holy Fire burn area, it reopened September 1st, but now the entire forest is closed.
Hey there - also local to d15/newbie. Hope CNF opens soon...cheers
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From the firefighters I have spoken to the Holy Fire area will be closed for another season. I just hope that the Forest Service doesn't extend the recent closure order for another week because although cooling off for a few days the temps are going to kick back up next week.
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Just talked to the Ranger Station and asked about the expired closure order for Holy Jim and they said new one being draw and will be closed another year. Going to drop a few game cams in another spot, roads are closed so the starting line just got pushed back miles for CNF.