I understand....my son hasn't hunted in his 4 years in college because everyone knows that school is during hunting season and it is not feasible to try to fit an October/November hunting trip in between exams or any other school work in general. Call me crazy.
Well....I think YOU ARE CRAZY.
I'm a high school teacher with only 4 "no-tell" days allowed off each year per our contract. Somehow I find a way to go on some pretty incredible hunting trips each and every year. You just have to be VERY creative. So far this year I went up to OREGON to hunt over the counter blacktails. Left after school on a Friday and drove the 8 hours north...hunted two days...then drove back home on Sunday afternoon. Did the same to help a buddy out on his NV elk hunt this year...but the timing worked out where the trip lined up with veterans day (friday). Drove all the way over to Ely, hunted for three days, then back home again. I have been saving my days off for my G-3 hunt coming up...but only if I need them. I'll drive on Friday, hunt Sat & Sun. If I need Monday off I'll call in for a sub....if I'm successful over the weekend I'll come right back home...easy. I hold a cow elk tag for NV too this year...but the season runs during my Christmas break so I'll hunt the week between Christmas and New Years.
The point of all this is that, with a little bit of planning, you CAN do some great hunts without missing school or taking too much time off from work. If you really want to hunt, you can...as long as you have planned accordingly. Just gotta choose hunts that work within you constraints. With all the opportunities available across the west (within a day's drive of CA) there really is no excuse not to go hunting somewhere each and every year.
Other Examples:
Montana deer...Easy to draw tags. Hunt block-management properties or public land in Nov over Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving holiday. Bonus: This is a rut hunt for either Muleys or Whitetail
Wyoming Pronghorn:
Some zones are not that difficult to draw. In the past we would drive out there after work on thursday (pulling an all nighter taking turns with the driving). Hunt Friday and Saturday. Usually that's enough if you aren't picky. Then hit the road early Sunday and be back to work on Monday. My brother (also a teacher) did this hunt last month and was able to pull it off without taking a single day of vacation time! And yes, he was successful in taking a respectable (mid-70's" buck)
Arizona Coues Deer: Choose a hunt period for a particular zone where the dates line up best for your schedule. Hunt over a 3 or 4 day weekend from end of Oct through Nov. Only an easy day's drive (or a really short flight to Tucson!) away.
Alaska Blacktail Deer: Hunt any time between Oct and December...go over thanksgiving week like I did...incredible experience.
These are only a couple easy example...there are NUMEROUS others across the west. Just gotta want it bad enough.