Hunting Opportunities
There are dozens of guides and outfitters to choose from all over America. Land access is getting scarce, pressure is increasing on public lands, and tags are becoming increasingly harder to draw. Our goal is to bring attention to the exceptional hunting that gets overlooked in California. Who says you can’t have just as much fun hunting Columbian black-tailed deer as you would on a Colorado mule deer hunt? Hunting is about the people and camaraderie. We work tirelessly year-round to put guests on the intended game but we all know the kill is much more enjoyable when in good company. We like to say that hunting with us is “like hunting with a friend.”
How often do you see California license plates while hunting in Idaho? All the time. How often do you see Idaho license plates hunting in California? Never? Why is that? California is not often thought of as a destination hunting location. Maybe the state doesn’t market itself well enough. If you are a non-resident there are some exceptional hunting opportunities that you are missing out on. If you are a resident – you don’t need to spend $12-20K on an elk hunt in Wyoming. Exceptional hunts and unforgettable experiences are much closer than you think.
Guided Hunts
- Roosevelt Elk – If you are lucky enough to draw any of the Roosevelt elk tags in California than you are in for a hunt of a lifetime. We guide elk hunts in the Marble Mountains and Northwestern California elk zones where the bulls and terrain are sure to impress any hunter.
- Columbian Black-tailed Deer – Only 3 states host pure Columbian black-tailed deer. Sure, the antlers don’t get as big as Rocky Mountain mule deer but the experience is just as thrilling. This subspecies is one of the toughest animals to hunt in some of the most unforgettable terrain. Most of the harvest in the state consists of forked-horns but to kill a mature blacktail buck is truly an accomplishment. California offers a unique environment for blacktail deer hunting because there is ample opportunities for spot and stalk style hunting and always the possibility at a monster.
- Black Bear – California has a generous autumn bear season, piles of bears, very low targeted bear hunting pressure, and the bears are absolutely delicious. A little under half the bears we see are color phase bears. The fur in the fall is beautiful for rugs, and mature bears always have plenty of fat for rendering. California definitely needs to be on the list for folks who are after big bears.
- Rio Grande Wild Turkey – A lot of states have their fair share of turkeys. California has a load of them and the season starts early and goes late, and the bag limit is generous. All you need besides a hunting license is a game bird stamp.
- Upland Birds – there is an assortment upland birds to hunt in California. We specialize in mountain quail, California (valley) quail, sooty grouse, ruffed grouse, and band-tailed pigeon. Doves and rabbits can be found incidental to many upland game hunts. We can point you in the right direction on where to go for other fowl. Do you need to complete your quail slam? You can get your California (valley) quail, mountain quail and Gamble’s quail all in one state. We are working on adding chukar and Gambel’s quail properties to the list.
- Western Gray Squirrel – Hunting squirrels seems to be more popular in other parts of the country, such as in the south and east. You almost never see someone out on a dedicated squirrel hunting trip in California. I’m not sure why it’s not as popular here especially considering the robust squirrel population. They make excellent table fare and are a blast to hunt for the entire family.
- Predators – California has tons gray fox and coyote. We target fox with hand calls and coyote with electronic callers. The foxes here are often big and heavy coated, perfect for taxidermy or wall hangers.
The best part is that often you can combine multiple species into one hunt as long as the season is open and the hunter has the appropriate licensing, tags, or stamps. Our hunts are fully customizable.
The Unique Fishing:
California’s fishing opportunities are just as varied as its hunting. You can catch anything from rainbow trout in an alpine lake deep in the wilderness or dive for tasty lingcod hidden beneath the coastal reef. Maybe you don’t have the tackle, or knowledge of where and when to fish, but we do and we want to share what we know to make fishing accessible for you.
Guided Angling and Spearfishing
- Kayak fishing for king (Chinook) salmon, California halibut, lingcod, rockfish, cabezon, and leopard shark. Northern California is extremely unique because of the multitude of tasty fish that can be targeted just a short paddle away from the shore. Landing a chrome ocean king from a kayak is not an experience that would soon be forgotten.
- Spearfishing and Diving – We can take you freedive spearfishing for lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon in the cool waters of Northern and Central California. If you haven’t tried the cheek meat of a fat lingcod you are missing out. The best part? You can spearfish all year long for most legal species with generous bag limits. Depending on the time of year and locality there are opportunities to spear CA halibut and CA sheephead. It’s also not uncommon to luck into some scallops clinging to the wash rocks. We offer shore-based freediving and kayak trips.
- Dungeness Crab – who doesn’t like crab? Come crabbing with us and we will show you have to catch your own crab, clean them, and cook it. Crabbing is easily combined with other ocean fishing species.
- Clam Digging – The coastal sloughs, beaches, and bays of California host several species of delicious clams. Only a few days each month is the tide low enough to access the clam beds. After the water rises and inundates the beds we can check crab pots, or throw a line out for perch or shark.
- Trout – Spend a warm summer day with us on a wilderness stream or lake fishing for rainbow or brook trout. Nothing is tastier than fresh whole trout while camped above a pristine lake. Combine fishing with a hunting trip for a cast and blast adventure.
Every trip is designed to fit your needs. We have something for everyone, from the avid fisherman to the beginner.