Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting ? Deer Hunting D5 in CA

A group of friends and I have been hunting D5 in CA for 4 years. We will be doing another scouting trip before deer season this year. We are going to be scouting the area near where D5 and X8 meet. Does anyone have any info on wether this area is worth trying to get into and scout?

Looking at the Blue Lakes Area.

We will be pulling a 26 ft trailer. So we'd like to have access to areas we can park it.

Also wondering if the terrain up there is ok for being on foot.

Not much help on the specific area you ask about.

Had a real preference for the area north of Hwy 4 above Camp Connell. Long forest road back to the area overlooking Salt Springs resevoir - maybe road 7N09(?). Getting close to 20 years since hunting CA.

For higher elevations liked the D5 area around Highland Lakes.

Good, paved road all the way into Blue Lakes itself. Lots of places to park and camp on the way there. Not sure the camp grounds allow trailers but do know they all cost money to use. Most with RV's camp along the streams, etc. before you actually get to the lakes.
Have hunted the area several times and scouted it. Not many deer in that area. Last 4-5 yrs. it's gotten worse. There are alot more deer down lower around Lower Bear Res. for instance. Lots of burned over areas there. Be careful to stay clear of the Refuge. Excellent road access to the hunting areas. E

Isn't Bear Lake in the Wilderness Area? If so, I'm under the impression you need a permit to hunt there.

Lower Bear Res. is not in the wilderness area. Parts of it are adjacent to the refuge.
The wilderness area is also not a great place to hunt. Again very few deer. Been in lots of it many times.
For whatever reason, the deer in D5 in general are usually at the mid elevation areas. Some of this, I suspect, is due to logging and fires in those areas.
So, the cardinal rule with D5 is to scout seriously. Actually, the DFG web page on D5 has some very good spots where to go with the exception of their wilderness recomendations. E

Scouting to be sure. I've seen way more bear there than deer. Bear tags coming with me next season for sure.