By Bud Neville The afternoon light was fading in the winter Sierra, and a dim shape bounded up the road bank ahead. Tufted ears, mid-length striped tail... a bobcat! The cat was on the hunt, moving among the deadfalls up slope, not caring that the truck had stopped. A few moments and the ghostly shape disappeared into a grove of young fir trees.  Wildlife agencies call it "wildlife viewing." I like to call it scouting. I guess I'm really out to see the wildlife, but I always carry a shotgun or light rifle for squirrels and quail. When I see a buck in rut, or encounter a black bear, my mind makes a mental note for next season. Perhaps the need to prowl the snowline in the Sierra is a reminiscence of my teen years as a trapper and wannabe mountain man. At any rate, there is no better time to find all sorts of creatures on the prowl, undisturbed by man in the Sierra east of Georgetown around the Rubicon Trail. The winter months are the best time for wildlife viewing in the Sierra, since the popular deer hunting season is over, fair weather campers are back home, and anglers have been deterred by stream closures and cold weather. As a result, slipping through the woods becomes a great way to find an otherwise rare opportunity to view animals that are off their guard.  Where is the snow line? Each year, and throughout the season, the "snowline" exists at a different elevation. Usually, you'll find the snowline right at 4500 to 5200 feet. Above Georgetown or Foresthill, that zone falls a ways above the national forest boundaries. That means that miles of National Forest land is open for exploration.  In mountain wildlife viewing, finding the snowline is important. The Sierra hosts migratory deer which move out of the high country down into the white oak and live oak belts for food and to avoid the snow. This year's great acorn crop is just one more reason for the deer to be there. Black bears also feast on this mast crop, and despite common belief, won't den up throughout the winter in this region. The coyotes and mountain lions follow the deer, and the bobcats follow everybody else. This elevation belt becomes the best area to find all of these and many other forms of wildlife during this winter period, with the area literally becoming saturated with wildlife that has moved out of the deep snow region. The country is usually steep, though logging activity has opened up many acres with dirt roads. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is vital for accessing much of the country. Even the paved roads aren't plowed, so any snow that falls remains on the road. Conditions can become icy and drifts can remain deep on the north slopes while the southern slopes are bare. That means that you might round a corner and be faced with a fairly deep snow bank to cross. Though you could turn around at such spots, sometimes you have to go up in order to get back down to good areas that are even more remote. But let's face it, we're up there for adventure, right? And what's an adventure without a little adversity.  Other gear to have Since you'll be pushing the envelope on roads during a time of the year when you could actually be snowed in for a couple days, there are some other precaution's you'll need to take. Aside from a reliable 4x4, you'll need tire chains, a shovel, and a couple days worth of supplies (I always carry them in the truck). A blanket, some matches, an axe or chainsaw and a tarp all are handy to have along. Even if you plan to just ride around in the mountains in your trusty 4x4, you'll want to be dressed for winter weather. An icy patch of road that puts you in a ditch might mean a long walk before you reach any help. Another pair of items that survival experts say are must have these days is a GPS unit and a cellular phone. I can say with experience that the phone probably won't help you much in this country though. Brush up on winter survival skills. Truly, there are so few other visitors in this area during the winter months, that you may not see another vehicle all day. If you get stuck, and the snow starts to fall, you may be hanging out for awhile! Be sure to let someone know where you'll be--just in case. Hunting the region Game species that abound that are popular for hunting include gray squirrels and mountain quail. California's restrictive trapping laws along with the depressed fur market makes the sport unpractical, but "varmint hunting" is a viable alternative. Not many outdoor enthusiasts hunt or trap bobcats, coyotes or any furbearer these days... the fur market is in the dumps thanks to poor consumer support. But the interesting lifestyles of these high country creatures are still fascinating to a new age of mountain adventurer--the ones who hunt with camera, or even those who just want to see such wildlife in their native habitat. If you do want to try varmint hunting, you can use calls, or you can do it like I do it--still hunt through the woods, tracking, and watching for sign. I may not pull the trigger often, but the hours spent afield are plenty worth it. The winter months are the best time to take a coyote or bobcat for their pelts, since they become "prime" in mid-November, and pelts don't start to show wear until late January and February. Most varmint hunters use light caliber rifles to avoid damaging the fur excessively. It doesn't take much to put down a bobcat or coyote, and even a .22 magnum would do the job at short range.  Quail and squirrels are abundant along the snowline too. Hunters can use shotguns for both, though some squirrel hunters would rather plink with a scoped .22, hoping for head shots to save the meat. The quail and squirrel seasons run until the end of January. Winter fishing the Rubicon region There is some excellent fall fishing in the mid-elevation Sierra. Stream fishing closed down on November 15 here, so only lakes are fair game. The two best fall trout lakes are French Meadows and Hell Hole, and both are usually snowed in by December 1. These lakes provide excellent action for quality brown trout, plus holdover rainbows are available. Both lakes have kokanee, but the 3- and 4-year kokes are smallish this time of the year. If the roads are clear, and you can bring in a car topper, trolling with lures like Rapalas, Rebels, J-plugs and Tomics are good ways to get the bigger browns. For the rainbows, spoons like Needlefish and Sparklefish are better. Flashers trailed by a nightcrawler is another standby for filling the stringer. Shore anglers use inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait. Casting from shore with a Rapala works at French Meadows, but the shore access is limited at Hell Hole. Another option is fishing lower elevation reservoirs like Folsom Lake, or south towards Jackson at Lake Amador, New Melones Lake or Camanche Lake. All have aggressive winter trout planting programs. Lake Tahoe seems like a long ways away over the snow covered Sierra, but the winter mackinaw fishing here is legendary. Also, South Lake Tahoe is just an hour or so away from Placerville up Highway 50, as long as the weather is good and roads are clear. Several sportfishing operations offer trolling or jigging trips for the lake trout.  Over the snow travel Once the heavy snows hit the high Sierra, there is another sport enjoyed by many. There are several offroad "over the snow" vehicle areas that allow snowmobilers an opportunity to make some trails of their own. China Wall above Foresthill is one such recreation area. There is even a lodge for snowmobilers going in here, where overnight lodging and restaurant facilities will be available.  For more information on winter off road travel, call the El Dorado National Forest ranger station in Georgetown, 530-333-4312, or the Tahoe National Forest ranger station in Foresthill, 530-367-2224. Growing in popularity in the region, cross country skiing is another way to experience the winter backcountry. Skiers use the same embarking points as the snowmobilers, since these "end of the road" spots offer the highest elevation point and best snow available by auto. If you don't have your own gear, you can rent in the nearby towns of Auburn or Placerville. Though cross country skiing in the national forest areas is a rugged endeavor, the ski resorts along highways 80 and 50 both offer more comfortable conditions. There are ski trails out of Soda Springs that offer destination cabins with bars and hot meals, and of course, big time ski lodges that are bustling with social activity during the season. This more civilized option attracts the crowds, and for many, that's appealing in itself. But if like me, you head for the winter mountains for solitude and wilderness, the Rubicon country waits. I'd prefer the company of a fresh set of bear tracks or the flickering glimpse of a bobcat on the snowline any day.

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