New to the 16. Question for the experienced

[politefarts]

Hello all. Long time lurker, first time poster.
With the archery opener almost upon us, I'm hoping for some advice from those who have hunted D16 a bunch. Specifically about crowds.

As an intro, I previously lived in Humboldt County, so all of my deer hunting experience is in the B zones. Up there the deer were thick and the crowds thin.

I've put in the time/miles scouting here, (Side note: If any of you have a greyish haired dude with a blue backpack hopping around in front of your cam with two forked sticks as "antlers", DM me.. I may be hunting adjacent to you).

Ive got plenty of shooters on camera in different areas, but Im curious as to how thick the crowds will be for the archery opener. Up north, to hunt, I quite literally walked out my back door, past one neighbor's house, and onto a logging road that dropped me into national forest 100 yards later. In the rare occasion I saw another hunter, it was just one of my neighbors.

Which brings me to my question for the experienced D16/A22 hunters: I know the (human) population is way higher here, and read that the general opener is downright terrifying with the number of people, but is the archery opener also as crowded? I've got deer on cams anywhere from 400 yards from a road to 4 miles from a road. Would I be wasting my time on the archery opener hunting close to the roads because there will be so many people the deer simply won't be there? Im not scared of packing a deer out 4 miles, but as the hair turned grey, I've come to the conclusion that it's silly to carry a deer 4 miles when you can carry one 400 yards. I also know it's silly to do a sit 50 yards from another hunter because I was too lazy to hike in a bit further, so Im hoping to hear how successful D16ers balance the 2.

Ill be saddle hunting, so Im mobile.

Thoughts? Anyone?

 

[ilovesprig]

PoFar,

Welcome to SCH...Your question is kind of open ended...There's going to be more folks out than you had in Humboldt, but not all that many...Archery only areas will be busy, but the CNF is really big and lots of room to hunt...If you haven't seen or seen sign of anyone scouting, then there's a good chance you won't see many other hunters in that spot...Most the guys I know like to hunt archery later...So, the early hunts are way less busy...If you're targeting springs, seeps, or some other water source...You can bet someone else knows about it (everyone has OnX)..............

Good luck and post 'em when you fork one................

ps...It's a long season...So, I'd try that 400 yarder 1st..................

 

[mulveymo]

Don't be afraid to hunt near roads. In the age of Meateater and The Hunting Public, everyone charges miles down the trail and overlooks the spots right next to the road. Can often be very productive.

 

[politefarts]

Mul and Sprig, thanks for the quick replies!

Ive seen signs of other hunters in some arra. One funnel near Mt laguna had not 1, but 6 stands/screw steps in trees within 150 yards of 1 another. The area Im thinking of for the opener had 1 setup about 3 weeks ago where the hunter set up 2 sets of sticks near a cam with the bottom set of sticks removed.. Im guessing its a parent/child or hunter with a second set for a camera person?

Im not planning on hunting water sources - just funnels on travel routes.

I guess Im asking if all those stands I saw back in March will have people in them.

I do appreciate the heads up on people walking past deer to emulate the meat eater podcast. It reminds me of how divers swim out to 30' of water to hunt lobster when they could just hunt in 3 feet.

Last: If any d16/a22 people want to meet up and share beta Im happy too.

Edtit to add: I'm already assuming areas like mt laguna will be blown out on the archery opener. Im more asking about areas where people put cams on poles right next to power line roads as if no one else walks down them as those people have seen me too. Im a regular out there shooting rabbits and the like.

 

[HATCHET1]

And make sure to lock your tree stand and game cams up..tuff crowd out there. Also..I second the roads...as long as you got some good AC and a cup holder .

 

[mulveymo]

If you're at Laguna, it's a safe bet that those spots will have hunters. Your best shot is to hunt during the week, and early before the bikers and hikers get out there.

Re: cameras in obvious spots. That's a trick I'm guilty of. I'll throw a camera up in a trailhead to keep tabs on how many people use it, and also put off the appearance that the spot is already getting a lot of use. Definitely scout them and if you see good sign, give it a shot.