Hunting in Zones D3-5 & 6 (Alpine, Columbia: buy, legally, plantation)

[family first]

Any of you outdoorsmen had any success in these zones? What was your experience and how high in elevation were you? Have the heards started moving down yet? How were the crowds? What model and caliber were you using? Lastly what part of the day did you see the animals?

[ferretkona]

I primarily hunt D6, but I have had permits for the others. I hunt around 3000 to 5000.
I am carrying a new Marlin 45/70, but my old trusty is a Winchester 94 in 44 mag.
I have got them all thru the day, but sunrise and sunset are best. I look for them sitting under trees during the day.

Don't really see many other hunters, but be careful - fish and game is out and will bust you for carrying if you have a gun in the cab. A worthwhile thing to get if you qualify is a disability hunting card. Lets you shoot from the front seat legally.

[DMenscha]

I could fill a freezer with the bucks that come up on my deck to eat my flowers, but my wife won't let me

The Alpine county Sheriff's deputy up in bear valley used to have his hanging by about 8:00 in the morning on the first day of the season by hunting between the town and the ski area

[family first]

ferretkona, what's the latest on laws? Can you legally have your gun in the cab riding down the forest roads? Can you have a round in the gun just not chambered? What about riding quads with your gun in a rack? Did you go out this year? How close to the Stanislaus river were you in D6?

[family first]

Dmenscha, if I buy a night out on the town for you and your wife can I have your address. LOL I'll leave some steaks in the freezer on the way out.

[ferretkona]

By fish and game laws we can not have firearms in the trucks cab with ammo within reach. If the firearm is in the cab they want the ammo in the bed.
Unless they have reason to search it can only be a look thru the window search. Some people might keep a few rounds in their pocket. My Browning has a magazine so five rounds could sit very quietly in my pocket.
On bikes I always perferred a pistol.

[family first]

ferretkona, side arms go without saying when I'm in the woods. Never know when an emergency may arise. Trusty old wheel gun from ruger makes me feel better. Any secret spots in 6 you want to give up. I may try it next weekend, before the zone closes.

[ferretkona]

I like above Tuolumne City at the old lumber mill.
Paper cabin is in the future.
There is a lot of bucks around Columbia.

I have seen a buch of deer and bear around Natural Bridges.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by family first

Dmenscha, if I buy a night out on the town for you and your wife can I have your address. LOL I'll leave some steaks in the freezer on the way out.

NO! Actually it would be illegal to shoot them with anything except a bow and arrow because of the proximity to the road and neighbors. I do pretty good with thrown rocks, but I have yet to drop one

Years ago when I worked for the USFS, we were responding to a fire and came around the corner of a dirt road and a couple of hunters were standing in the back of the pickup truck as it moseyed down the road, loaded rifles in hand. (A big no no) They saw the red lights and they both pitched their rifles over the side (Not the brightest thing to do) into what has to still be the biggest, baddest plantation of poison oak I've ever seen. We blew on by and waved to them. They may still be itching