Treestands in SOCAL

[Stinger]

Looks like I may be moving to the San Diego area.  I have lived there before but wasn't hunting anything but birds in the desert back then.  Most of my hunting will probably be at Pendleton, Vandenburg, Palomar, Natl Forest areas in SOCAL.  I've been deer hunting the hardwoods, mostly pin oaks, here in Virginia for a long time out of climbing treestands. I'm looking forward to learning spot and stalk, but wondering if there is any treestand hunting to be had in SOCAL.  Should I sell them all or take them with me?

[LittleBen]

This is exciting. I wish I could move to socal. Speaking of which, maybe you shoud divulge some of those prime NOVA hunting spots to the rest of us here in VA.

[kurtbel5]

Very few spots for treestands anywhere near me,I am 1 hr south of Vandenberg.
Not sure about the other places

[Ted Fry]

Now that would be a funny sight Kurt , you in a treestand , in one of those big Eucalyptus trees in your back yard

[motorhead7963]

well down here in the southern part of the state you will have Oak trees and in the higher elevations you will have pine trees, Pine trees are friendlier to the climbing stand, but you will still contend with the branches, Oak trees are NOT climber friendly, you can still put a stand in the tree you will just have to climb the tree yourself pull up the stand and tie it on. I have done the latter but I prefer ground hunting(spot and stock). just my 2 cents

[Matt D.]

I lived in San Diego (East County) for 30 yrs. Sell your stands, because you are not going to need them.

[Bjorn]

Sell your stands and enjoy the fun there is nothing like spot and stalk!  

[beachbowhunter]

The most successful deer hunters in SD county use tree stands. Scout and hang them. Just know that these are national forest lands and some will get stolen.

Very low success rate hunting spot and stalk. It is very dry and noisy and the deer here are hunted hard by mountain lions. These are not farm deer used to people.

[Stinger]

I'm too old to be fooling around with hanging stands and it sounds like the trees aren't straight enough and branch free to use my climbers, so it looks like I'll be on the ground and have to sell the climbers.

Beachbowhunter - I hear what you are saying about the deer there use to being hunted by professional predators, but I have always believed that the eastern whitetail is much smarter than a mulie.  I'm looking forward to the challenge.