CA Deer Season Looming On the Horizon – July 11 A-zone Archery Opener
Hog hunting has been going on all year, but this weekend marks the beginning of the season many Californian hunters have been waiting for… the deer season!
On July 11, bowhunters can take to the field in the A-zone (one of the largest zones in the state). It’s one of the earliest seasons in the country, which is a mixed blessing. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not at all unusual to find the early season hunters sweltering in 100+ degree heat. Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.
Seriously, I know I’m eagerly awaiting my first opportunity to get out there with the Mathews (my recurve is in semi-retirement) and see if I can put some blood on it. I’ve locked in the weekend of July 24-26 at the Hedgepeth Ranch (a Golden Ram property), and look forward to getting a rematch with the smart-aleck buck that grinned at me multiple times while hog hunting in the post-season.
I know where you live, Mr. Buck.
The CA Seasons that I’ll be hunting this year are as follows:
- A-zone Archery – 07/11-08/02
- A-zone rifle – 08/08-09/20
- B-zone Archery – 08/15 – 09/16
- B-zone Rifle – 09/19 – 10/25
I may choose to get an “Archery Only” tag for my second tag this year. If I do, I’ll technically be able to hunt from this coming Saturday through December (although, realistically I’d be hunting through November 1… the remainder of the zones are too far away for me to hunt).
If you don’t have the CA Mammal Hunting Regulations booklet, you can find a downloadable version right here!
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July 8th, 2009 at 10:58 am
AAARRRRGGGG!!!!
Am I The Only One Not Hunting!!! Or Fishing!!! Or Anything!!!
Albert
Real Men Hunt
The Mark Osterholt Files
July 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Albert, you’re on the hunt for bigger prey right now, if I remember correctly. That can be just as rewarding (if not moreso) when you bring that rat to bay.
And the peacock bass ought to be tearing up the topwaters down in the canals right now…
July 8th, 2009 at 11:56 am
This year I didn’t draw the either-sex archery-only for Monterey County, so I’m hunting D 3-5, starting in August. However, you just made me seriously consider buying a second tag for A Zone… my wife’d kill me, though.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Man, hunting in July! I’m not to sure about that one, Phillip. I am kind of jealous that you have hunt deer for so many consecutive months, though.
Good luck!
July 9th, 2009 at 8:59 am
And bring your water bottle. I remember Phil’s story of a serious dehydration in one of his hunts. Seems I forgot that lesson myself even after reading it and commenting on the topic. I was hunting FHL right in the height of summer and I nearly pass out on an unbearable heat. I was too lazy to bring my small back pack and wrongly reasoning that my 4runner with all my provisions is only a short 2 to 3 miles away. Walking a few steps and resting once in a while under the shade of trees on the way back was still no relief. I was nearly crawling and fighting extreme light-headedness when I reach my vehicle.
Be safe!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Good points, Beastslayer!
This dry heat out here will sap the water right out of you, and you often won’t even notice until it’s dangerously late. Dehydration and heat sickness SUCK!
It’s an important consideration in any of the early season hunts, by the way… used to have some pretty rough days back in Carolina too, during the September and October seasons.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Never hunted in July – but our seasons start August 30, and the big issue is making sure meat is taken care of properly. Those ‘next day recoveries’ don’t work out so well in this kind of heat – makes the importance of making sure we’re taking good shots that much MORE important. Good luck to all you Californian A zoners!
July 9th, 2009 at 8:32 pm