I am new to turkey hunting, and some of these posts have really helped. I am in the Marine Corps and got stationed at Camp Pendleton and was wondering if anyone knew of somewhere in Southern California that I could try to bag me a turkey. Thanks in advance.

Try to find a place around Mt. Palomar to hunt........................

hit the spring turkey tune up.. check the dfg website for info.

Scott I'm new to turkey hunting as well if you need a buddy to go with you i'm all about it. Can't wait until Spring season opens. I've contacted a few agencies and received a few maps I just don't have any free time to go scouting at the moment. I live in Torrance in L.A. county.

Any SD local hunters know of any spots that are good and not crowded. I hear spring time hunting in SD can be crowded.

Yes can be crowded do some scouting on Palomar mt. and check out Mt. Laguna. most of the top of Laguna is archery only but there are places you can gun hunt, I only hunted Palomar a couple of times but alot of guys are successful there, just make sure you know the boundries of hunting areas. Laguna was my staple but I'm a bowhunter. Check out Eagle peak area, McCain valley, there are also areas behind Palomar to hunt also. Oh and another place is out off the 8 I'll have to check a map can't remember the town its before descanso headed east, there is a narrow strip to hike back into national forest land, and I mean narrrow a few feet wide just to access it, and there are birds in there too. Good luck

I was wrong it is further east than descanso its guatay where the narrow finger cuts back right scross fom a traler park. Everywhere is crowded down there uou just have to go further in usually.

Great. thanks I'll look them up see if I can find it on my maps.

I no longer live there moved 1 1/2 yrs ago or I'd take you out, but put a few miles between San Diego county and me.

If you go on to pine valley and cut up the hwy 8 side of Laguna that area is open to gun hunting too, once you get to top of mountain there are signs posted saying no firearm hunting beyond the sign there are also areas skirting archery area on top and you can also go out thing valley rd. off sunrise hwy., after a ways down that rd you can hunt rifle, and also kitchen creek road, the same once you get so far out you can rifle hunt.

gopheer1. can you give me more specifics on where your talking about. I have the cleveland Nat'l forest atlas and it's hard to follow where your talking about. I'm also trying to gear up, I have most of what I think I need, (camo, calls, boots, decoy) but am stuck on the vest, there are so many out there, and there kind of pricy. I don't want to be stuck with an expensive piece of junk. Do you have any recommendations. I've never bow hunted before but have been told the experience is unreal, how hard is it to learn? is it epossible to teach yourself? and do you have any suggestions on a good compound?

Where in the area do you live there are three shops around there, are you gun hunting or bowhunting this season and which area are you interested in first

I actually live in Los Angeles county, Torrance to be exact. But I'm always driving out to temecula to see my father in law. Since I've never used a bow before I'd say I'd probably use shotgun first until I'm comfortable with bow. I know this sport is expensive, but I have a lil spending chunk so I figured might as well get the necesseties first, one being a bow while I have the money. besides turkey hunting I'm interested in deer and pig bow hunting too so I want something with sufficient power and accuracy. Is it hard to learn how to use a bow?

Not hard to learn just takes alot of practice. The shop I dealt with is in Escondido, Willow Creek the owner is Jim Conners, good guy, he deals in hoyt, Bowtech, diamond and a few others. A good shop will be able to answer all questions on bows and give you tips on equipment too, Jim can also point you in a direction for hunting too. You could try bass pro too never dealt with their archery dept. so no advice there. The other 2 shops are further south forget the name of the one in santee or lakeside owner is Bruce, good guy, and in San Diego is performance archery, Bobbie From's shop, met him a few times but well I did my dealin'n with Jim.

If you want to know locations I can narrow down discriptions just let me which ones

Thanks man. since I'm not that familiar with the area, maybe just the easiest to find or wherever you think might be the least crowded but still good turkey hunting. really anything you want to give me I'd appreciate. I don't want to impose, I know some spots are sacred.

I'm not real familiar with Palomar but alot of guys like love valley area. If you look on the map around Julian area coming from lake Henshaw or Ramona going to Julian about 3-5 miles before you get to julian the curvy road starts should be a road to the left, if your driving there is a sign for a scout camp there, that road takes you out to eagle peak and I think boulder creek, watch your bounderies cause private land all over but a good chunk to hunt on. If you go up to mt. Laguna all the roads I mentioned that you can gun hunt off of once you get out of rec. area, if you come from Julian Pine creek rd. Will be on the right hand side and goes all the way down to Pine valley. Thing valley rd. will be on the left side 1-2 miles past store and kitchen creek rd. is further down on left side too. One main rd. Over mountain, Sunrise hwy, these rds all come off of that.

Your in California everywhere is crowded lol

thats true. Thanks for the prospects. Is the private property you speak of marked in any way ? You said your guy in escondido might know of a few spots too? I'll most likely go down there in a couple of weeks when I get my little chunk of fun money, hopefully leave with some toys

Yeah Jim knows more about Palomar than I do, I'm in Idaho now tell Jim he owes me a new Bowtech hat, my name is Duane, you can also check to see if Allahna Dunaway is still giving lessons, if so take them they will help you immensely.

Right on Thanks. I will.

Tell Jim I'll send Chris by to collect lol

All good info.
 

I've been hunting laguna for years and must say gopheer1 has put you where you need to be. Your next step is to just get out there and scout. Be warned the areas get hit really hard both bow and gun areas. Most of the hunters are respectful but there are those who will set up on your set up and try to take a bird before it gets to you. Birds get spooked really fast due to all the hunters around the area. Most are taken off MCC or private land. To hunt private land around there you must know someone and have written permission as they will call the DFG or police and bust you quick. As for MCC to join that club it will cost about 5K a year. On laguna all the old timers know where the birds roost and are there the day before to set up get their turkey and get out on opening morning before the place gets crazy as it always does.

FYI forgot to add.

Kitchen Creek Rd has a closed gate about a 1/2 to 1mile passed the camping area give or take Some good hunting area back there for turkey,quail & deer in season. For Thing Valley Rd you may need a 4X4 not sure on that haven't driven it but it looks like it at the turn off at Sunrise Rd.

Los huecos rd. Has some good areas too but heavy competition, there is a pumphous on left side of rd. Next to a ridge hike the ridge line back a little ways and set up, private property has a pond on it, behind pump house, stay off of the property but alwways a few birxs in there. Behind shriners camp is another good place, birds used to roost back there. Hunted laguna 10 yrs. Sporty mostly from store to pine creek might have bumped into you unknowingly.

Know that area well hunted out of Laguna Camp ground for 11 or 12 years give or take a year. Last two I've camped on the back side of the meadow, camp ground has gotten to crowded. Used to be turkeys between the two camp grounds in the small meadow but not in the last two seasons due to the increased number of people during the season. Gopheer1 we may have chatted a time or two one never knows.. Brent Hill used to stop by my camp every year. Brent hunts up in A20 most of the time now I beleave.. Although he still has a couple of stands up on the mt.

Keep your eyes open I've had run ins with drug runners, illegals and mt. lions all around that area, you've prob. seen my jeep I used to hunt at 25.5 had a blue unlimited soft top

Yeah there are a lot more cats up there the past couple of years. Haven't run into any drug runners & illegals as yet but i know others who have. I think I may have see your jeep a time or two.. Last year as I was coming into the area i camped in one of the game wardens was there with the largest shep I've ever seen had him on a 20' leash. He was looking for a cat that was in the area...

Yeah there are a lot more cats up there the past couple of years. Haven't run into any drug runners & illegals as yet but i know others who have. I think I may have see your jeep a time or two.. Last year as I was coming into the area i camped in one of the game wardens was there with the largest shep I've ever seen had him on a 20' leash. He was looking for a cat that was in the area...

I haven't been tbere in 2 years. But always had a crowd either at horse haven or at 25.5. Tracking a lion it's about time, there was a huge cat that showed no fear 3-4 years back in that area.
And had a young one try to ambush me in horse haven the last year I hunted up there.

alot of hunters hunt out or horse haven still to this day.. headed up that way this coming week a couple days before the season opens..

Ron & I were up on Laguna Wed. didn't see or hear any turkeys all day. Not good since this has been our hot spot for the passed two years..

I'm thinking of heading down to laguna or palomar on wed. anyone want to join? it'll be my first time hunting turkey, I'm pretty stoked on it been doing a lot of research and training. hopefully it'll pay off.

Would love too but I work weekends, and that 21 hr. drive is a killer lol

Hey Gopheer1 or Sportyg,
I'm headed upto Laguna late tuesday night or early wed morning, haven't decided yet. I have a bunch of maps to and from different spots that you've mentioned. I'm going to try my luck in the Pine Valley area and Guatay. Sporty I know you said you heard and saw nothing but I figured this area has more spots mentioned than Palomar area. the only thing over there was Love Valley, from what I've been told on this forum, by you two. Now I will be using a shotgun so I don't want to shoot in no gun areas. If I'm on Kitchen Creek Rd. between sunrise and the 8 is it legal to shoot in that area or should I be closer to sunrise, or closer to the 8? If there are any other spots that you might know of in that area and want to help a fellow hunter out I'd appreciate it. I'm only going for the day on a whim no less. I've had no chance to scout so I'm roughing it as rough as you can get. No matter what I'm sure I'll have fun. Any other info/tips/advice you guys want to disclose or throw my way I'd be super stoked. Thank you guys for everything thus far, I can't tell you how excited I am. I've not been able to get a full nights sleep since friday and I'm still four days away.

I haven't hunted kitchen creek area, but if you go down the rd from sunrise hwy. there should be a sign that says your leaving recreation area once your out of rec. area you are clear to hunt with a shotgun, barring private prop. or any other restrictions of course. Good luck and becareful, be mindful of illegals and drugrunners and an occasional cat, being in southern Cal. those things you need to keep in the back of your mind, not trying to discourage but have ran into all three on laguna, so be safe and alert to whats around you. Let us know how it goes for you.

What are your thoughts on Pine Creek Rd. back behind guatay? have you heard of any birds back there. ALso that road across form the trailer park, is there a name to that ? can you drive it or is it hike only? I have maps for a few different spots and was wondering in your experience which one you thought I might have a better chance of being alone and seeing birds? The areas are: Love VAlley; Kitchen Creek Rd; Thing Valley Rd; Pine Creek Rd; or that spot across fom trailer park in Guatay. Soory to bother you with so many questions, Thank you though.

There are birds in all of the places mentioned, only ones I haven't hunted is kitchen creek and thing valley. Guatay I went with a buddy 2-3 times, it's only walk in and I would recommend scouting first cause of private properties or at least hit it in the daylight. As far as getting out by yourself possible in all of the areas, but you'll do some hikin', since your going during the week that increases the odds in your favor.

dane sent you a message...

At this time they are not up on top of Laguna. So hunt the low areas. Pine Creek rd behind Alpine would be a good bet. maybe acrossed from the day use area on laguna might be ok as well. If you hunt Thing Valley be sure to stay off the indian land around there..

Ok who's been out and gotten their turkeys.... Is was slow openind day, picked up during the week..

I went out to love valley area on Wednesday saw 5 beautiful Toms right off the bat!! Too bad they were on Fox school property. I couldn't lure them on to public but they were HUGE. I also saw three deer. Two does and one fawn. It was my first Turkey hunt ever. I didn't get anything, but I had so much fun. I'm goingto try again in two weeks. Debating on going to deadmans flat or this private ranch in Santa Barbara $110.00 guaranteed opportunity to harvest a bird. I can't get over how much fun it was. Stalking birds I've never been so exhausted in my life I guess I'm not in the shape I used to be in. By the end I swear my vest weighed 50 lbs and my gun about 25. Thank you to whoever transplanted Turkey in California, for now I have a new obsession. Can't wait to bag one and cook it up!!

hahahaha, glad you had fun Dane, I'm thinking about going out tomorrow. Stick with it you should get one before the season ends. Oh by the way Thing Valley Rd is closed.. Was just on the web site checking access to some of the areas I hunt.

Pine creek road usually is too this time of year, but you can hike it and get away from the ones who don't want to hike or can't.

When they get snow up there Pine Creek is closed. It was open when we were up there the other week. Rain for the net couple of day so they may get more snow around there.

When they get snow up there Pine Creek is closed. It was open when we were up there the other week. Rain for the net couple of day so they may get more snow around there.

Heading up to Rancho San Fernando Rey, in Santa Barbara area Wednesday. Hopefully. if not I'm heading down to Henshaw area see if I can bag a bit this round.

What a day!!! Wed 4/18/2012 Shot my first Turkey EVER!!! 20lbs 1 oz, 1" spurs. 10 1/2 " beard monster! Had a chance to end my hunt early about 9 a.m. but second guessed myself. Almost blew it by doing that, because I didn't get banother chance until 2:30pm. Bt I got him and man is he a beauty. Don't know how to upload pictures on this stupid computer but it was AWESOME!!! such a rush got him right at the base of the neck, from 20 paces. He flapped about 4-5 times and that's all she wrote. ate some of him last night, best damn turkey I've ever tasted. I used a MOssberg 535 12 gauge with a Primos Jellyhead choke and Hevishot 2oz magnum load full of 5,6,7 shot. I'm hooked now!!! By the way those magnum loads pack a punch!! my shoulder still hurts. Turkey was taken up in Santa Barbara I couldn't be more stoked!!(surfer slang for pumped, or excited). Anyway does anybody know of anybody that wants to buy a 99.9% new Smith and Wesson AR-15 M&P sport($500) or a 90% new AR-15 pistol ($1,100)? or trade for a bow? I'm trying to either fund a guided deer hunt for next season or get a bow so I can start practicing before fall turkey season. The AR's mentioned are both right handed but I need a left handed bow. Thanks to all the advice from Sporty and GoPheer!!

gobble! gobble! pfffft duuuuuummmmm Turkeys make the raddest sounds ever!!

Great job congrats on the bird

Outstanding Dane, Looks like a great hunt and grand time....

Congrats, Dane! Hooked for life now, ain't ya? Turkey hunting can be addictive.