I am an experienced CA hunter that wants to hunt in a different region. I dont want to take the trip to gamble on an area 'I think' is active but I also dont want to overpay to enjoy the woods (so no outfitters). How have you expanded your hunting grounds to distant places? or have you stayed in the same area because of the unfamiliarity of other areas?
first, I try to find someone that's hunted the new area/areas, and try to get a feel of the good/bad from them... then most states (not sure about Cali) post harvest numbers for the different units thru out the state... next out comes Google Earth, and do as much scouting the different terrains and road access as I can... finally I try to get a weekend at least and go there and do some on foot scouting, looking for sign in the different areas I've narrowed down to from what I've learned so far, and try to pick 3-4 good sites to hunt... more if possible, then come hunting season, starting at where I thought might be best and going down the list I hunt the best area with the least pressure from other hunters...
