Date: 10/11/26 9:39 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Deer Hunting Season Has Started
All, While birding at Mt. Wilson yesterday I saw numerous deer hunters parked and camping on the north side of the Mt. Wilson Circle Road. This is on the north side of the antennas and a short distance west of the gate into the observatory. Right now would NOT be a good time to hike down the Kenyon-Devore Trail on the north side of Mt. Wilson! So please be aware that deer hunting season with firearms started on Saturday and lasts until November 8. If you're out birding in the local mountains, you could encounter hunters, so it's a good idea to wear blaze orange or other very conspicuous colors and to stay on well-travelled roads and trails. Expect to see hunters at all the campgrounds, particularly on weekends. Given experience from previous years, I would also expect hunters along Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, Barley Flats Road (which has become a popular birding destination recently), the road that connects Three Points on the east with Pacifico Mountain and Mill Creek Summit on the west, the Mt. Gleason Road, possibly along the Angeles Crest east of the closure at mile 54, and along roads on the north slope near Big Rock Creek, South Fork Campground, and Jackson Lake. This is a partial list and I'm sure there are hunters elsewhere. Regarding birds, there were 20 Clark's nutcrackers near the 60 inch telescope at Mt. Wilson shortly after 2 pm yesterday and a couple of Cassin's finches along the road near the museum. I didn't find any evening grosbeaks but they were reported by Miles and Hugo yesterday among trees along the upper parking lot near the Cosmic Cafe. I was also startled to see a Say's Phoebe perched on a fence next to the 150 foot solar telescope. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena _._,_._,_
