Any advice for rifle 17A

[DirtyApple]

I am taking my son on his first rifle deer hunt. I have not been to 17A in over 20 years. Can anyone give some advice on what would be most advantageous?

[knothead]

One of my favorite places and where I cut my teeth back in 1978. The unit has changed in the last 20 years but I would recommend you hunt the same places you hunted before. 20 years ago was towards the beginning of of the downward spiral of this unit. The good news is that it is making a mild comeback with the reduced tags and new management plan in place for 3 years or so. The predators still have a major influence on the numbers in the unit but I would say the hunt will be comparable to what you experienced 20 years ago.

 

We liked to camp along walnut creek but that was because we had horses and there was water and a horse pen nearby. The area between camp wood and walnut creek work station was always my favorite place to hunt. Especially on the east side of road towards the rolling hills.

 

Long story short - it was up then went way down and now on the way back up.

 

Good Luck!

[DirtyApple]

Thank you Knothead,, I will definitely scout that area our thoroughly. I am also looking at Juniper Mesa area off FR7. Something tells me that I need to seek higher elevation and glass down into the fingers. Looking at some aerial images, it looks a lot more dense than I remember.

[Idcurs]

There is a burn on the north side of FR7 great glassing up to deer tank!!!There are some real pigs in this unit but are hard to find,right now they are easy to pick out in the velvet.They will be in more open areas.

[DirtyApple]

Idcurs, So deer tank is north of FR7? I was looking at aerial maps and could not locate. I will keep searching. Thank you

[Idcurs]

Before you get to the trail head at the back of fr7 there is a road to the right {don't know the number}it will take you thru the burn to deer tank.