Moving to California

[Red]

Hello gangers,

I lost my job and will be headed from Southeast Michigan to Fremont, California. I hunted everything in Michigan, birds, deer, turkeys, ducks and need help figuring out the options to hunt in the East Bay area. I will be looking for a home in Livermore or Pleasanton. Anyone from that area or anyone that has experience with hunting in North/Central California please pm me? I appreciate any guidance or advice, I have checked out the links for the trad clubs in California and the archery clubs in SF and I plan to check those out when I get settled. Wish me luck, I have never lived anywhere but Michigan!

Red

[JStark]

Red,

Welcome!  I live in Sacramento, but have found a spot in the South Bay.  
http://bhuarchers.org/newSite/?q=node/63

It's a range outside of Sarasota.

Into the Central Valley Mike G. (Mike's leather) knows spots around Modesto.  I work in Stockton, and there is a good archery shop in town.  
As for hunting, try to get to know some ranchers and farmers in the hills around Livermore.  Down South of you, the pig hunting gets better and better.  Blacktail deer are everywhere, but very different from whitetails, and tough to find on public land.
Turkeys live in every county in California but one:  San Francisco.  The Pacific flyway is about 30 East of Livermore, down the Central Valley, so you can find tons of spots for ducks (if you want to hunt really good spots, I can take you out on the Delta).  Pheasant hunting is not the best, but it ain't bad.  
I could go on and on.  If you like, PM me and I can give you more.

[BTH]

Hey Red!
Welcome to California. There's a few of us out here and I'm sure they'll chime in. Another ganger, curlis, just moved out here about a year or so ago. Hopefully he'll check on this thread.
Let us know when you're coming out.

[vermonster13]

I hope it all works out well for you.

[ducslayer]

Red send me a E-mail when you get here I live in the east bay and will help you with some places I go.....Jim

[Roadkill]

welcome, read CA laws carefully as they have some strange ones.

[curlis]

Hey Red,

I grew up in Ohio and moved out here from NY. If you are a hunter you will find places to go and things to get after. The folks here have made me feel very welcome.

Let me know when you get out here. I'm in Turlock. That's not too far from where you'll be.

[Bjorn]

I'm about 10 minutes from the BHU range mentioned above, and a half hour from Fremont. There is plenty of game in all parts of California, the tough part is getting access to the good stuff.

[aromakr]

Red:
I lived almost my entire life in California. One thing to be aware of. In Michigan hunting is a way of live, and openly discussed in public. Not so in the Sunshine state. alot of anti's espically in the East Bay. And California Fish and Game has really changed in the past 20 years, there not there to assist the sportsman, they spend more time writing tickets to livestock producers for water pollution than they do to protect wildlife or helping hunters and fishermen
Bob

[wtpops]

I live in Coalinga and travel up to that area to two very nice ranges/clubs, one is BHU mentioned above and  www.sfarchers.com  both are very nice ranges/clubs, both have very nice people and large trad followings. San Francisco Archers are located in Pacifica just south west of San Francisco.

Deer hunting will be good east of you for mule deer and north of you for Black tail. Pigs all over the place, but most on privet land and they charge a fee.

And as mentioned above DFG (department of fish and game) is politicaly driven in this state,IMHO. And the antis are outspoken here.

[Red]

Thanks for all the responses, it makes my move much more managable knowing that I will still have some hunting/shooting opportunities. For those of you that mentioned contacting you once I get out, I will be starting work in May and moving the family in late June. I will post again when I am settled. Are all the archery deer tags issued through lottery, and if so, what would be a good unit to put in for Mulies or Blacktail on state land with longbow? Also, any good privage ranches nearby for hogs that have set-ups for stickbows?

[JStark]

The best archery tag to go for is A-24, Monterey late-season either-sex archery only.  You will hunt some of the most beautiful, and if you choose, rugged, country in California, and have a great chance at a deer.
Not all archery seasons for the general zone hunts are by a lottery.  They offer many lottery special hunts (like A-24 above).  But for the general archery seasons, you just contact the DF&G and tell 'em which zone you want to hunt.  Some zones are harder to get tags for, but many are pretty easy.  Go to their website and study the zones, as there are many.

I, personally, have never had a negative experience with DF&G, and I grew up rural, with encounters.  I've always found them helpful and friendly, though with our population, they don't get to be game wardens so much as cops.  It's a tough gig, and their union really gets them bad deals, too.

As for hogs, it depends on the guide.  We have a lot of 'em, but they are on private land, mostly.

[BTH]

Red,
archery tags are issued by lottery in the special units and over the counter in the rest of the state. You can get an archery only tag that will be good in A, B and D zones over the counter. You need to draw for the others. When you get a chance take a look at the CA DFG website. You'll be right in the middle of the state for travel to most locations. D-zone is the Sierras to the east and south east of you, B zone is Northern CA coast and inland to I-5, A zone is South of B-zone starting in Mendocino County all the way to Mexico. Here is the link to the archery only opportunities in CA
 http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/2007tags/areaspecificarchery.pdf

Everything but AO tags requires a draw.   You can only buy two tags for deer. If I were in your shoes I'd apply for a couple of draws and when I receive my unsuccessful letter buy two AO tags and hunt state land in the D-Zones.  

Check out special draw archery for Roosevelt Elk, Rocky Mountain Elk, Tule Elk, and Antelope also. We have a nice, hard, either sex archery only hunt for blacktails in Lake Sonoma. I think it's A25 code. There should be plenty of opportunity with an over the counter AO tag out in the D zones though...I've heard Spicer Meadow up by Arnold is good; D-6 or 7 I think.
There are definately some good pig ranches to hunt on. The names escape me at the moment. Some of them also have exotic goats on the ranch.

Good luck. Definately let us know when you're settled in.

[chuckbowhunter]

Hi Red,

I'm a transplanted Wis. Badger but I will still help you out.

I live in Danville, very close to Pleasanton & Livermore.  Lots of archery clubs in the area with a lot of Trad Shooters.  Some bowhunters but mostly target guys.  Everyone is friendly and you won't lack for places to shoot.  Really excellent hunting right in the Bay Area but extremely difficult to get permission.  This area is loaded with deer, turkey and hogs.  I have shot 12 P&Y Blacktails over the last 20 years, however, all the places I hunted are now housing developments so I have no place local to hunt anymore. Anyway, welcome.  We need more hunters to combat the antis.

[wtpops]

A very good ranch for hogs is  www.birdsandboars.com  (Choppers place) it is archery only, 4000 acres, and pigs all over the place. The one in my avatar was taken there this month.

edit: here is some better pics of the hog(i cant help but show it off)

[Tom Uselding]

Red:  When I was active duty military I got bounced around alot.  The idea of going to a new state to live and hunt was exciting and somewhat intimidating.  The newness was intimidating - especially having to go out and find new places to hunt.  The easiest way to cut down on that learning curve is to get involved with an archery club or Rod and Gun Club.  You will be around people of like mind and like interests rather than standing alone.

[Ausable]

Hello everyone(this is Red),

Well, I'm officially a resident in California! Well, not exactly official yet but will be by the end of the month. If any of you East Bay or delta guys wants to send me an email or pm that would be great. I've been driving around and hiking a lot checking out the different areas and have seen a lot of turkey, quail and blacktail. I've talked to a few local ranchers with no luck so far, but will continue to work that option. What is the deadline for the blacktail draws? Not sure if I can call myself a resident yet or not, I don't close on my new house until the end of June. Anyway, I'll be in living in Livermore and working in Fremont, anyone with advice on public hunting options or reasonable private options please contact me. My primary hunting interests will be turkey, blacktail and hog with the long bow and some birds or ducks for the dogs with the shotgun! Thanks guys, I can honestly say other than the traffic I have really enjoyed my first month here!

Tim

[M60gunner]

Welcome to California. I live in San Diego now over 30 years, from Chicago area. Do not know if you checked game and fish yet but tags for the best areas are due tomarrow I belive. Also you will need a hunter safety course card to get a license. I do not know if a bowhunter course will let you get a hunting license here? I am pretty sure you have to be here a year to be a resident.Oh yes, traffic is a way of life here.