Nearest public land near you is cache creek or Knoxville. It is hot during A zone. B-zone is north but has unlimited public land with a variety of climates. Those are both over-the-counter blacktail tags. BTW, California produces the most B&C blacktails. The mule deer zones are mostly draw and are due in a few days (x-zones).

I hunt whitetails every year as well as blacktails and mulies. Blacktail is by far the toughest, rifle or bow. Being in the military I assume you are in shape. Scout now for A-zone as the archery season opens the 2nd week of July. The country is thick brush with steep hills. Unless you really get dialed into a spot, you will not be able to set up a stand and wait (a good rock will work during rifle season). Deer densities are scarce. If you do not know the lay of the land you will blow the bucks out of the area and never know they were there.

Good luck