ZONE X
Hunters in the 17 X zones generally enjoy higher rates of success than hunters in other regions. That’s one reason why tags are in such high demand. Another reason is because the X zones -- which extend from Inyo County north to the Oregon border along the eastern side of the state -- contain most of the state’s coveted Rocky Mountain mule deer.

In 2006, there were only 7,965 tags available for all the X zones combined, and after the June drawing, they were all gone. The lesson here is that you may have to wait several years for an X-zone tag, even where the odds are best.

Surprisingly, the X zones produced more bucks in 2006 than in 2005. The overall take went up from 2,000 to nearly 2,500. Across the board, hunters in the X zones scored around 35 percent of the time. The lowest success rate (just 8 percent) was in Zone X10, and the highest (60 percent success) was in Zone X3a.

To put a wrap on the X zones, here’s how they looked in 2005 and 2006.

• Zone X1 went up from 476 bucks in 2005 to 509 in 2006.

• X2 climbed from 63 to 77.

• X3a increased from 139 to 178.

• X3b went up from 300 to 340.

• X4 climbed from 121 to 163.

• X5a rose from 26 to 38.

• X5b jumped from 57 to 84.

• X6a improved from 98 to 131.

• X6b declined from 84 to 67.

• X7a dropped from 86 to 83.

• X7b increased from 37 to 38.

• X8 jumped from 41 to 56.

• X9a improved a bunch from 206 to 312.

• X9b more than doubled from 53 to 113.

• X9c went up from 45 to 65.

• X10 rose from 27 to 33.

• X12 went from 141 to 213.

Statewide, the average success rate in 2006 was just 15 percent.

Every zone produces deer. And anyone who hunts anywhere has at least a chance to score.

Next Month: FINDING TROPHY BUCKS