Hunting Forum

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.