D16 tags were filled this year so I'll be exploring further north in D15... Cleveland National Forest area. I'm curious if anyone has hunted this area before? I know it's a long shot...

Success rate is around 3.5%.

Cheers,
Eric

I haven't hunted deer there, just quail in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. Chaparral gets pretty thick in there. Try to get the Cleveland National Forest Atlas, it's a compilation of 7 1/2' quad maps in a spiral bound book. It cost $25 when I bought it 3-4yrs ago and well worth it if you do much traveling around in the Cleveland.

Unfortunately you will be in competition with the numerous mountain lion in that area. Could be one of the reasons why it has a 3.5% success rate. Seriously though I have been in that area while working hounds and had them pick up on a track more than once.

There's a CNF office next to my workplace. I'm going to stop over and check out their maps. The spiral book sounds like a good investment. I have a few leads and plan to do some pre-season scouting.

I've also heard from a guy who has trail cams set up in the CNF. He's seeing as many lions as deer. This might be a good excuse to carry my 44 mag mountain gun.

I should probably find some snake gaiters, too. That country is chock full of rattlers.

Eric