M9 Vs M3

DMCHUNTER · May 22, 2015

Opinions?

PM welcome

Bwht4x4 · May 22, 2015

I have max points and I'm in the same boat as you. I had been applying for M3 the last couple of years, but a recent conversation with couple of gentlemen, both of whom have spend a whole lot of time on the garden hunting and helping friends on their hunts, opened my mind to the idea of applying for M9. In addition, I got some pretty nice pictures of some quality bucks on my trail cams in the Garden when I had the NE elk hunt.

6x7 · May 22, 2015

I don't know about the m9 but m3 snow helps a lot,there will be deer in m-3 no matter what but the quality is better if the snows knee deep+ in the plataue above the unit

CAelknuts · May 22, 2015

Either tag would be fantastic to draw. Last year, my son drew M3 and killed a wonderful buck the 2nd morning.

blacktailBC · May 22, 2015

Doyle can be pretty epic with a little weather. It is also quite a bit later.

bullskin · May 22, 2015

With good conditions the Doyle hunt will show plenty of animals, but the Garden hunt will produce more of those exceptional animals with better than four points a side. I don't see how you could go wrong with either.

buckmster28 · May 23, 2015

I hunted M3 last year and it was a blast for sure, ended up taking a nice 29 1/2" four point on day three. Was the biggest buck I saw inside unit boundarys and with no weather in sight figured i had not pass. My wife has max points still and i plan on scouting the garden this year to see what it is like I know people that have bow hunted it and I hear they see some good ones just cant get it done, one reason is it is a little earlier and the bucks are not quite as dumb yet. In doyle they are pretty stupid so killing them is not that hard. I also think the garden is flatter and thicker so finding them can be tougher. I know i can get her a decent buck in doyle just want to check the garden before i put her in, having hunted most of californias premier units including G3 before we even had a point system Doyle was the best I have been on so far and do not regret burning my points.

CAelknuts · May 23, 2015

M3 & M9 are my only choices this year.

wildfin · May 23, 2015

My brother hunted m9 2seasons ago and they never got weather, he had one chance at a good buck and it did not happen,hunted g3 several years ago and did not really see much that I could not get in montana every year. I have hunted chukar in g3 alot. the only place I have seen giants is x5b and if you look at the stats for m5 you will see one of the top ca.units,5 tags and miles of roadless.I could not tell you about m3 but we may never see snow there again,it maybe a roll of the dice on that unit.

6x7 · May 23, 2015

Survivor from last season

DESKPOP · May 25, 2015

I have hunted/helped in both units over the years. I think the ceiling is higher in M9, the potential exists there to kill true Modoc County monster well over 200. There is an absolute giant living in an area that can't be hunted up there. You will see more bucks in M3 though.

Seems like M9 is on the upswing, some big bucks came out of there last year including a 205". Have not looked at the odds for either hunt in some time as my points are not up there but I seem to recall M9 being a tougher draw.

Bwht4x4 · May 25, 2015

According to the BG Digest, which I DO NOT trust for very good reasons that I will save for a later discussion, say the odds are:

- M3 = 5.6 to 1

- M9 = 2.5 to 1

M9 has better odds than M3 according to the BG Digest.

CAelknuts · Jun 12, 2015

The debate between these units just became academic for me. I drew M3 and with the later season dates this year, can't wait to see how it goes.

Billinsd · Jan 21, 2021

Reviving an old thread. Any new information, thoughts on these two great hunts? Thanks Bill

Rich in Hangtown · Jan 21, 2021

Hi guys, I'm new here. I put in for the M3 hunt with only 2 points and got real lucky. The weather really sucked, it was cold but no real snow. I had help from my son and friends, we covered a lot of ground and glassed many many hours. We found very few deer. The weather was going to warm up so I decided to take a nice 4x4, not a monster but a good one. I ran into 4 other guys with tags and they were complaining about the same thing, no snow & no deer.

Bwht4x4 · Jan 21, 2021

My 27 inch wide 3 pt I killed on Thanksgiving Day on the Doyle hunt. Killed it in 16 inches of snow and they were full rut!! Other pict is from scouting.

buckmster28 · Jan 22, 2021

Didn't see much come from either hunt last few years as far as giants anyway, went to Doyle to help a friend who didn't kill as he couldn't find what he wanted. I think you need a realistic goal if its 180 or nothing then most likely you will end up with nothing. Like others said the garden probably produces more of the real giant bucks but I also think it comes down to how you like to hunt, for me Doyle is more fun with spots to glass and see animals from a long ways off and the garden is more flat pine tree country where road hunting may be your best option.