Question for D11,D13 & D15 hunters and the roads

[mchava]

Hi fellow cal gunners and hunter. I have a question regarding access to this zone. This will be my first time hunting and wanted to know what kind of road access is there. I know most will recommend getting away from the rd and hiking in. My question is are most Forrest road open and how hard are they to travel on? Will I need a 4x4 or can a regular 2wheel drive SUV be ok. I've been looking at maps and doing arial view using google maps but it's hard to tell how the terrain is. Any help will gladly be appreciated. Thanks

[Bull Elk]

I always have a 4-wheel drive. As for roads, look at the CA F&W regulations under the D zones. Here is a good description of the zone boundary, private/public access and road access. Find a location you want to hunt and then get a good map. Remember that as the weather changes so do the road conditions.

[StraightShooter]

The roads are pretty good and there are plenty of roads. Most of them take you through extremely dense areas that are pretty worthless for road hunting. Your best bet is to find a hillside that has water at the bottom that isn't super thick and just glass it. I would say 90% of the roads in those zones are fine for a 2wd SUV if it's not wet out.

[Tanner68]

Most of the dirt roads in those zones can be driven in any car with good clearance. Problem is the FS closes most of our important dirt roads for most of the year. They cite maintenance needs, fire damage, winter, or whatever, and most roads are closed now most of the time. This has bent he case now in LPNF and ANF for the last fifteen years.

[mchava]

Hmm well that sucks. Now here's another question. Let say I find a place I want to scout and the road is closed (gate locked) can I park some were close and hike in to the area I want to scout. Not lot looking to road hunt but hiking in say 3-7 miles in while glassing.

[Tanner68]

Road closed just means closed to motor vehicles. So you can hike or bike.

[DirtyDave]

Mt Bike is the way to go on a lot of the closed roads. Get out there NOW and SCOUT so you know your way around. Even if you are just scouting the roads and access. See whats open and whats not.

[TheGDog]

MtnBike huh? Hrmm.... (Imagining the looks on all my city-folks faces where I live if they saw me on my MTB with a .308 win across my back, HaHA! Fun thought!)

Hey mchava, tell me the next time you plan to go up there. I'm in West Garden Grove. Don't have my license bull**** yet. But no big deal. I'd be down to scout the place to learn where signs of them are for when I'm legit to go next year.

I'm gonna be in northern part of D11 Sunday. Brother has some property up there (has his own hill) so gonna shoot my new rifle for the first time, and take my 7yo boy to shoot his first rifle I got for him. Teach him gun safety, etc. Brother's told me he's seen dear and boar more north of his place and tracks of mtn lion.

[mchava]

Hey theGdog Iam actually planing on heading up to wrightwood (eastern part of d11) and scout a few place on Sunday as well. This will be my first deer season so I am sure there is lots to learn. I do want to get some time scouting before season opens. I am also new to hunting but have hike in the general area before. Awesome job on showing your son how to safely shot. I am sure he will enjoy it. I will also be heading to the same area the opening week since I'll be on vacation. Let me know if your interested to head out there.

[TheGDog]

Hey theGdog Iam actually planing on heading up to wrightwood (eastern part of d11) and scout a few place on Sunday as well. This will be my first deer season so I am sure there is lots to learn. I do want to get some time scouting before season opens. I am also new to hunting but have hike in the general area before. Awesome job on showing your son how to safely shot. I am sure he will enjoy it. I will also be heading to the same area the opening week since I'll be on vacation. Let me know if your interested to head out there.

Send me a PM with the dates you will be going back out on your vacation. You never know... maybe I can take some vacation days too... as long as Mama hasn't booked as for some other silly isht.

[B W E]

Where I go, I ride my mountain bike and pull on of those kid trailers behind it with a Kolpin gun boot mounted to it. My partner does the same. One trailer for gear, one for meat. So far it works perfectly.