Solo, Public Land Hunt For My 1st California Blacktail Buck | 2023 season

In this video, I cover my hunting journey from having no hunting experience to finally having a successful hunt for a Columbia black-tailed buck in California. This was a solo hunt on public land. I tried to cover as much as I could: my failures, what I've learned over the years, the hunt, the butchering and the meals that this deer has provided me so far.
If you're a new hunter or are interested in hunting, I hope hearing about my experience gives you an idea of what to expect.

[@anthonycolucci31]

This is the coolest video I’ve watched in a while. You are truly an inspiration. Thank you for fueling my desire to be a self taught hunter. Your recipes also looked great. Congrats and good luck on future hunts👍

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you! I hope you have success as well!

[@DrJAFey]

Great processing explanation & footage, thanks for including it and again congratulations! 🎉

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks James!

[@BestlifeNomad]

Nice video. Good story. I hunted with others for years before I started myself. Similarly to you. I did my 1st solo as well in 2022 and got my Buck. Got one 2023. Hoping for one 2024. I like your motivation and drive. Keep it up If you find yourself down by Bakersfield. Lmk, we can go on a hunt . Solo hunts are more spiritual if you ask me.

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! That's pretty good, I hope you can get one this year too. I hope I can get another buck this year as well. Bakersfield is a ways from me, but I'll keep you in mind. If you want to keep in touch, you can contact me on IG.

[@HuntingWithDavid]

Congrats on the harvest. Great video.

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@jonathanmoua9971]

Never give up 💪💯

[@MastablastaFishing]

Good job man. 👏 Great story too. I'm also a new hunter. Started in 2019 and harvested my first 2 bucks this year 2023 in California zone A.

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you! I saw your bucks on IG, congrats man! You did good 👍

[@user-mt5zh2pz7q]

How far was the pack out? What part of CA were you hunting...roughly? You made a good choice to try and hike the whole animal out at first...every step you take is two you won't have to take on your second trip. I had a similar trajectory as you as far as being a late onset hunter...started in earnest in my mid 30s...killed my first mule deer in 2021 (he was a forky just like yours!) I didn't have any mentors either, learned everything from books, internet research and time spent in the woods watching the animals. It's surprising how much time it takes to butcher and package a deer...hopefully I'll be more efficient with the next animal. Congratulations man!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! Cool to hear from others that walked a similar path. Ya, butchering is very time consuming but rewarding. I like knowing how the meat was handled and making all my cuts. Hopefully, I'll get faster too lol.

[@truoutdoors]

The pack out was about 1.5 miles uphill and it was in A-zone.

[@mezaoutdoors]

Well done brotha! Great video, perfect shot, and way to stay after it! The pho looked 🔥🔥🔥

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@izzy_gomez]

The excitement post shot was palpable. Congrats on finally succeeding after so many years! Has been really cool to witness the journey.

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks man! And thanks for following along this whole time.

[@rasputinsson6038]

Congrats man! Your hard work and dedication truly paid off. This season was my first hunting season here in Northern California, didn't even see a buck but ended up getting a black bear. I hunt public land too and you give me motivation to give it hell and get back out there next season. Good luck on your future hunts my man

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you! Congrats on getting a black bear! That's quite a challenge too.

[@BlacktailItch]

Man great story telling man very inspirational. Watching u makes me want to achieve ur lvl of awesomeness

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks man! I hope to have your level of hunting knowledge one day 🙏

[@danmoreno425]

Best part of solo hunting is going where you want moving when you want whenever you want. Worst part but the most rewarding is lugging that thing out by yourself (lol) once again congrats

[@truoutdoors]

Haha ya, I agree. It's great to be able to make your own choices. It's intimidating at first when you don't know what you're doing, but once you do, it's great. And ya, the pack out does suck solo but at least deer are pretty manageable for 1 person. Nothing like an elk or moose lol.

[@danmoreno425]

Thata boi🤙🏽congratulations

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@StevenDelCastillo]

Congratulations dude. Thanks for sharing the experience and lessons

[@truoutdoors]

Np, thanks for watching!

[@serenatruong9570]

I love nature! Great video!

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you. I love nature too.

[@ShogunBrosLLC]

Great video! Very informative keep up the good work!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@lilzsac]

Congratulations man!!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@jnim1000]

Good hunt journey bro!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@michaelhamerski2168]

Great hunt! My first deer was in zone A also, a skinny 2x1 at 40 yards. That was in 1977, and can remember it like yesterday.

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! Wow 40 yards is close, that's bow range. That's a long time ago haha I always hear from older hunters about all the big bucks they saw back in those days.

[@catchmeoutside4617]

Congratulations on the success. As someone who has tried solo hunting without any experience, I know the struggle.

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you! It's tough but so rewarding.

[@thecurioushunter]

Very cool! Can’t wait to get out on my first deer hunt. We’ll hopefully make a wild pig hunt video soon!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! I'm looking forward to seeing that pig hunt video 👍

[@upice3]

Great video from start to finish! very impressive, you are a veteran now Kevin! Cheers Andrew W @AKA UpIce

[@truoutdoors]

Thank you Andrew!

[@clees_outdoors]

Nicely done

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@ericthao96]

nice! congrats 👏

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@tradeordie]

So sick!

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@alvarolopez8492]

Awesome video, can you share some of the gear you use?

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! Anything specific you want to know about? I could make a video in the future going over what I use.

[@alvarolopez8492]

Yeah a video would be awesome, as a new hunter I like to see what other hunters use, from rifle to game bags

[@truoutdoors]

OK cool, I'll make a video about that in the future.

[@chriscarr6392]

Wow! What a great video, well done. Congratulations on a good buck! Nicely done with butchering and plated food! What rifle, caliber and bullet were you using?

[@truoutdoors]

Thanks! I'm using a Tikk t3x lite chambered in .308. I was shooting a 150gr bullet.

[@DirtbagB_outside]

Bad ass man I just got into hunting also this will be my first year trying for deer I’ve been pig hunting with bow and man it’s tuff on public tryna find pigs here in nor cal where I stay atleast

[@truoutdoors]

Yea, pigs on public land are tough. They move around a lot. Gotta put in a lot of time to find them. Good luck this year on deer hunting!

[@alexromo9903]

What size pack would you recommend? And what pack do you have?

[@truoutdoors]

Depend on how you hunt. Day hunts only? Backpack hunting? Solo? I'd recommend a pack around 3500-4000cu. Enough space in case you want to backpack in for a night or two and large enough to pack out a deer with ease. I primarily hunt solo and I use a 3600cu (60L) Kuiu pro pack for day hunts. It can be compressed down small but it's large enough if I want to backpack in for a night too. For 3 night backpack hunts, I use a 5500cu (90L) pack. I normally hunt solo and tend to pack too much (something I need to work on). I know guys that can get by with smaller packs though. If you only do day hunts and hunt with other people, you can get by with a smaller bag. 2000-3000cu.

[@Sorrowfulbaby815]

I feel bad for the animals but another animals just gonna eat them anyway, so I mean might as well

[@truoutdoors]

That's valid feeling. A successful hunt is a bittersweet moment. I've felt bad over taking the life of animals but it's necessary to accept that death is a part of life. Something dies for me to eat. It's also not like I want to kill every deer. I take a deer but I'm happy to see the fawns and younger bucks that will grow up in their place.