Bowsite.com

This report details a recent hunt with Richard Eriksen at the Miller Ranch in Laytonville, CA. Richard guides on his family's 1,000 acre ranch, which has been arhery-only for close to 20 years. Richard participates in California's Private Lands Management program, which allows him to hunt blacktail during the rut (after all general seasons have closed). The strongest suit to this hunt is Richard's knowledge of the game on his ranch. On multiple times during our hunt, he was able to anticipate exactly where the deer we spotted were headed based on their general travel routes, terrain features, and animal demeanor. I have never been on a guided hunt where the guide was as capable at finding game and producing shot opportunities as Richard - none were even close.

I have hunted with Richard annually for over a decade and have been fortunate enough to kill 8 P&Y-quality bucks on his ranch. On the most recent hunt (4.5 days of hunting), we saw roughly 25 different bucks 80"+, and roughly 11 that would exceed the P&Y minimum (including one that could qualify for B&C). I missed 3 shots during hunt and finally killed a 105" 3 point on the last day of the hunt.

The hunt is guided and room is included, but the hunter must provide and prepare his or her own food. The camp is rustic but has stove/microwave, refrigerator, TV/VCR/DVD, an assortment of cooking implements, and a wood stove for heat. Hunters must get themselves to and from the ranch, with all on-ranch transportation provided.

All in all, if you want a representative blacktail and can hike and shoot, you should have no problem killing a nice (and probably P&Y-class) buck here.