Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2018/2019

2018-2019 Scenic 395 52 Hunting and Outdoor Sports T here are many hunting options throughout the year along the Highway 395 corridor in the Eastern Sierra. Much of the area is public land, and much of that land is open to hunters. The Owens Valley near Bishop, for exam- ple, offers deer, bear, elk, bighorn sheep, up- land birds, waterfowl, rabbits, and varmint hunting. Further north, Mono County offers deer and bear, duck, desert bighorn sheep, upland birds, and small game at various points of the year. In the Owens Valley, deer hunting is very popular, and the area is managed with zones that have a limited number of permits. The zones of X9A, X9B, and X9C sell out every year and generally require points to be drawn. The drawing is held in early June. Hunting in these areas takes place in fall starting in September and ending in Novem- ber. These areas lend themselves to spot and stalk hunts, road hunting and wilderness hunting. There are limited tags for hunting elk and bighorn sheep in the Owens Valley area. If your name is drawn for one of the tags, contacting one of the local guides will ensure your best opportunity for success in the pursuit of these game animals. Bear hunting is allowed in Inyo County. It coin- cides with the opening of deer season. There are lots of bird hunting opportuni- ties around Bishop. Starting Sept. 1, dove sea- son is opened for 15 days. In Inyo County there is not much opportunity to hunt doves in the second season. Depending on feed con- ditions dove hunting can be fabulous to non- existent. Mountain quail and grouse (blue, ruffed) are the next to open after dove season. Then general quail season and chucker open in Oc- tober. The hunter willing to put in the effort to hike and scout will have success. Water- fowl season starts in October with the bal- ance of the state opener. Hunters will have success jump shooting and decoying the ponds and rivers of the Owens Valley. Access to vast amounts of public lands makes it easy to hunt rabbits and varmints like coyotes. Be- fore heading out to hunt, a stop at one of the local sporting goods store will give you in- sight into where to pursue the game you want to hunt. In Mono County, for mule deer and Ameri- can black bear, archery season begins the sec- ond Saturday in August for three weeks, and rifle season begins the third Saturday in Sep- tember for three weeks. Seasons vary -- visit the California Fish and Game website at www.dfg.ca.gov/Hunting/ for accurate dates. Popular areas for this large game in Mono County include Green Creek, Buckeye, and Lobdaell Lake. Duck season (teals and mallards) begins the first Saturday in October and runs until the last Sunday in January – again, check the California Fish and Game website to ensure dates have not changed before you go. Popu- lar areas for ducks include Bishop Reservoir, East Walker River, Crowley Lake, Owens Riv- er, Hot Creek, Alkali Ponds, and Lee Vining Creek. Desert bighorn sheep in Mono County are typically found in the White Mountains. Few tags are issued for these – if you get one, re- serve a guide early. Upland game birds are in season the third Saturday in October to last Sunday in Janu- ary. Mourning doves and California quail are found in the high plains, springs, and creeks, while chukar are in the higher elevations such as the White Mountains. Sage grouse are by permit only during the second weekend in September. For updated popular areas, call 760-872- 1171. For small game, jackrabbits are in season year-round, while other rabbits and hares are in season from July 1 to the last Sunday in January. In addition to updated hunting season dates, the latest information on regulations can be found on the California Fish and Game website at www.dfg.ca.gov/Hunting/. Information from Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Mono County Tourism. Hunting in the Eastern Sierra TOM KOERNER/USFWS Deer are a popular animal to hunt in Inyo and Mono counties. DAVID JORDAN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Tule Elk, although not a native species, have been brought to Inyo County and have done well there. There are limited tags available for hunting elk.