California Black Tail

California B Zone Hunt 2021

After hunting for deer in B Zone in California for 3 years and over 10 days in the field this year we were able to put all the pieces together. I was able to harvest my first California blacktail and it was an unforgettable experience.

We started the season with some early scouting in some areas and we were seeing lots of deer. After heading out of state in September for archery elk we got back towards the end of the month and started hunting blacktail.

Our first trip we headed to the trinities to where Austin had seen deer earlier this year. Due to all the wildfires the national forest was closed and that limited our ability to be able to hike in and camp like we had planned. That being said we had to come up with a plan b quickly. When we got there we spent mornings and nights glassing and never saw a single deer. At that point we decided to change elevation and headed lower.

We found some great areas with timber and open grass hillsides and decided to explore the terrain a few days. Each day we ended up seeing at least 15 does but never saw a buck or even a spike. After that we spent another day close by but still never saw a buck only does. Austin was able to shoot a grey squirrel while we were out hunting. During the middle of the day we would take Jax out for a walk or a swim in Trinity Lake. After 4 days we decided to head back home and hunt south of where we live. Early morning hikes and glassing sessions ended with the same result, still no bucks had been spotted.

At this point I had spent over 8 days in the field within a week and half and was getting discouraged. With work commitments and home obligations I had to give it a rest for a few days. My next day off, despite the frustration we headed out to yet another area where we had been hearing of success near trinity county.

After a morning getting used to the area we found some great glassing areas and saw a nice bear and a handful of does. The hillside had a lot of game trails all over it and we both felt good about the area. We had spotted a hillside one canyon over and really wanted to come back the next day and check it out. Well, that’s what we did. We woke up earlier and made sure we made it to the hillside by sunrise so we would be set up to glass and wait. After a long morning and no movement at all we kept at it. Just as I was about to close my eyes for a few minutes I hear Austin yell, “get the spotter”. I jumped up and brought the spotting scope over to him and he set it up to take a closer look at the deer he had spotted. Both of us tend to prefer glassing with our binoculars and then when we see something a little too far to identify we pull the spotter out to confirm what we are seeing. I’m not going to lie, I thought for sure he was going to realize they were all does and back to the drawing board we would go… But, moments later he says “Its a buck!”

I was ecstatic and took a look at the spotter. There were 5 deer moving along the ridge. Three of the deer were bucks and two were does. These were the first and only bucks we saw all season!! At this point it was almost noon and surprisingly they were on the move. I grabbed the rifle and attempted to get set up and get the bigger buck in the scope. We could tell one was bigger and appeared to be a 3 point and the other two were forks. However, with how much they were moving I had a really hard time finding them. My landmarks kept changing as they were moving up and down and to the right frequently. They had to of covered over 400 yards within 20 minutes and between trees and brush they kept disappearing and we would spot them again as they would move into an open area. At one point they went over a ravine and I lost them in the trees and I just kept starring with my binoculars at areas I anticipated them walking out. My heart started to sink as I thought my time delay getting them in the scope could have ruined my chance at my first California buck.

Austin and I moved laterally on the hillside we were on about 100 yards and finally spotted them again. At this point I knew I had minimal time until we would lose them again. I got the bigger buck in the scope, Austin ranged, I dialed in the MOA and after a few breaths I slowly pulled the trigger. As soon as I shot, I continued looking through the scope and at the same time Austin and I both stood up and emotions flowed! I hit the buck at 588 yards and he hit the ground and rolled downhill until coming to a stop. All the long days and dedication felt like it finally paid off!

(I spotted my buck in this picture across the hill from me on the way down)

Now, we had our work cut out for us. We needed to hike down the hillside into the canyon and half way up the other side to locate my buck. We hadn’t packed much for food that day since we hadn’t been home much so we ate the little food we had with us and threw our packs on. The hillside was steep and once we got to the bottom we had to cross a creek and climb up the other side to find him. We crossed the creek and found a tree that we had aimed for. Austin and I had crossed at different areas and as I was getting up the other side I headed in the direction I thought he would be. Austin called me in his direction and as I made my way up I spotted the buck! A feeling of accomplishment, excitement, and gratefulness for this opportunity came over me. I respect these animals and am always astonished by their ability to live in such diverse habitats. When we harvest an animal I always thank the animal and have a moment to appreciate how this will feed my family and friends. To me, that is one of my biggest reasons for hunting.

This video captures my excitement and when I realized this buck I was fortunate enough to harvest was a small 4x3 buck! After finding the buck I pulled my tag out and then got to quartering him out and placing the meat in game bags.

I have really grown to love the process of breaking down the animal. We started using rubber gloves that we pack in our packs because it helps A) keep your hands a little warm without having to wear your non disposable gloves and B) keeps your hands much cleaner so when you are done you can save your water not cleaning your hands if your going to be in the field for more days.

Getting down the hillside and across the creek was much harder with a heavy pack, trying to crawl under limbs and grabbing at brush to help pull yourself up took a little balance and strength. Then it was straight up for about 200 yards. We made switchbacks and tried to follow game trails up the hill. Once we got through that part it wasn’t as steep and next thing you knew we were back at the truck. A sense of pride came over me as I set my pack down. Knowing that I put in the work, hunted public land, took the shot, harvested the animal on a hillside, and then hiked him out; made all the preparation worth it!

Hunting can be very hard. There are soo many aspects you have to plan and prepare for. It’s not as easy as going out, driving around, and shooting something. At least it's not for me. We put in a lot of time between reloading bullets, shooting practice, fine tuning equipment, staying fit for any conditions, time off work, scouting, time in the field, and all the other things I am forgetting. The point is, this is a year long commitment and no matter what buck I had harvested it would have been something I was proud of. I will never forget the time Austin spent in the field with me and I will forever be grateful for this experience!

One of my favorite things is the processing part. Now, I have some work to do between cutting steaks, roasts, and making grind! Austin and I have slowly collected all the equipment to make sure we are the ones processing our food! We love using the equipment we have purchased from Meat!

Hopefully this story of my harvest ignites a fire into you to go after that thing you’ve always wanted to. Whether that be hunting related or any goal you have been dreaming about. Just remember that the tough days will be worth it in the end! Don’t go out expecting instant gratification because having the grit to keep going when it tough makes the end result that much more rewarding!

And of course a huge shout out to my husband who has been there every step of the way throughout my entire journey learning my passion for hunting.