Help Conserve California Sturgeon

DFG asks anglers to increase efforts to help California sturgeon populations.

DFG News 10/28/11

Female sturgeons  are a highly priced catch because they produce what is commonly known as caviar. It is sold as a delicacy for high prices. As a result sturgeon populations all around the world have declined dangerously. In fact, many sturgeon are on the endangered species list. California anglers are privileged because they have opportunities to fish for and catch sturgeon.

"The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) asks anglers to use special techniques and extra vigilance to help conserve California’s green and white sturgeon. Both species are caught by anglers in a popular sport fishery centered in the San Francisco Estuary, but anglers need to be aware of special regulations in place to protect the long-term health and growth of the species.

White sturgeon are a substantial management concern and green sturgeon are a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.

“The state’s anglers are on the front line of saving the ancient green sturgeon in our waters,” said Marty Gingras, DFG Supervising Biologist. “Together we can grow their populations, save a threatened species and continue year-round sturgeon fishing in California.”

Sturgeon can be caught year-round and must be carefully measured. White sturgeon need to be between 44 and 66 inches (those that are smaller or larger must be released immediately). Green sturgeon may not be kept. Strict regulations are designed to conserve older sturgeon and ensure that they survive catch-and-release as well. The effectiveness of catch-and-release depends in large part on angler technique.

It is common practice for anglers to remove sturgeon, including those that are oversized, from the water for measurement. This stresses the fish, particularly females, and may lead to ovarian follicular atresia, which means they absorb their eggs rather than spawn them. Egg-laden females are routinely caught and egg loss can take several years to recover from.

In 2010 California anglers reported catching 5,446 white sturgeon (most were undersized) and 151 green sturgeon. Another 73 sturgeon were reported as caught but not identified by species.

DFG encourages anglers to use high-strength fishing line to reduce duration of the fight, in-water techniques for measuring fish size and single-barbless hooks to facilitate quick release. Anglers should leave oversize sturgeon in the water at all times and know how to identify an endangered green sturgeon."

 

And yes, wild pigs would consume sturgeons - if they could catch them. that makes this a topic for a boar blog.

PJJ

Did You Know . . .

that most recent research into the DNA of pigs as farm animals indicates that domesticated pigs came to Europe with immigrant Stone Age farmers from the Middle East? Other research results allow the assumption that domesticated European pigs are indeed descendants of European wild boar.
In any case within about 500 years of their introduction to Europe from the Middle East the immigrant pigs completely disappeared and were replaced by domesticated European wild boar.

Lion Poacher Reward Raised To $ 11,700

One city and two not for profit groups join the fray.

Calabasas in Los Angeles County matched the $ 5,000 originally offered as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer(s) of a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Animal Rescue Team, Inc. of Ventura County pledged $1,500 and San Diego’s Mountain Lion Foundation added an additional $200. The total reward now stands at $11,700.

The dead mountain lion was reported to the National Park Service and to DFG in mid-September. Game wardens dispatched to the scene determined that the mountain lion did not die of natural causes. In California mountain lions are categorized as a 'specially protected mammal' . It is illegal to hunt or trap them.

Ranchers and deer hunters on the other hand loathe the lion because it preys on calves and other small livestock and on deer. The number of mountain lions has increased in recent years because of this special protection. Depredation of deer herds by the lions is beginning to be noticeable in certain areas of the state. Mountain lions also attacked hikers leading to the death of one hiker in at least one case.

Wildlife biologists and DFG game wardens as well as citizens who could be negatively affected by the increasing presence of mountain lions in our National Parks and near populations centers ought to watch out carefully for the point at which mountain lions have established sustainable populations in the state and are becoming numerous enough to constitute a danger to recreational users of our great outdoors and to other wildlife. We can not and should not exclusively leave the status of mountain lions up to organizations that fancy the predator at any price. Big cat fanciers so to speak.

When the time has arrived carefully considered mountain lion quotas will go along way towards avoiding gut shot mountain lions on public and private land.

PJJ

Hunting Wild Pigs On BLM Land In California

A Refresher

Boar and wild pigs occur in California primarily on private land. Almost all feral pigs harvested in our state were taken on private ranches. Most of the few taken on public land were killed in National Forests or on BLM land.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 15.2 million acres that is nearly 15% of the state's land area. BLM is also responsible for 1.6 million acres in northwestern Nevada and for 47 million acres of subsurface mineral assets under federal, private and tribal lands.

The good news about BLM land is that hunting is allowed on BLM land. The possession and use of firearms is allowed not only for hunting but also for target shooting. Owners of firearms must obey all state laws pertaining to possession and use of weapons, specifically all safety regulations and common sense firearm safety rules. As a hunter you must keep in mind that BLM properties are multi-use units that are open to various types of use, such as bird watching, rock hounding, biking, hiking and camping.

Visitors of BLM lands who intend to practice target shooting must bring their own target. All targets, debris and shell casings must be removed – as long as they are your own. You are not required to clean up after previous visitors that left their trash behind.

That contributes to one of the problems associated with BLM land: The proliferation of trash of all kinds on the properties. I have successfully identified BLM land I was looking for by searching for the parcel with the most trash in the area.

Hunters and other interested parties must access BLM land on proper roads. You cannot drive through private property in order to get to BLM land without permission from the owner of the private land.

This can be a blessing or a curse for hunters who intend to hunt a landlocked BLM property. 
The owners of private properties encircling a BLM parcel frequently refuse to let visitors pass through their property thus incorporating BLM properties in essence into their landholding. One such example is found in Kern county where a BLM property can only be accessed on a dirt road of a large private ranch.

That's the curse for hunters.

The blessing comes in the guise of game populations that are better on such BLM parcels than on public land – as long as you can get to them. Wild pig hunters may find it therefore easier to find pigs on BLM land, especially on BLM properties that are located adjacent or near private ranches with an established wild pig population. It is worth a try.

Be however prepared to put a little effort into the venture. Any successful excursion on BLM land for hunting purposes requires accurate maps, location maps and information on wildlife found on the property. You may also have to invest a little effort into securing trespass rights from owners of private properties that impede access to BLM parcels.
Which gives me an opportunity to draw the attention of active hunters to the SHARE program promoted by the California DFG. Why not submit your comment and suggestion regarding better access to landlocked BLM parcels to SHARE? Now is the time and my previous article tells you how to participate. Why don't you?

A list of BLM land in California is in my book “Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs - The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting” and on the BLM website. You should contact your nearest BLM field office for office boundaries and to order maps. Serious hunting on BLM land requires more than simple road maps. Hunters must be aware of the boundaries between BLM and private land at all times to avoid unintentional trespassing while hunting. Surface management maps that show the boundaries between private and public land in clear colors are available from Bureau of Land Management.

The best source for detailed topographic maps is the U.S. Geological survey (USGS). Their website contains all the information pertaining to maps you will ever need.

PJJ

Make your voices heard – Hunters invited to comment on Share

Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) intendeds to open more public access to private land.

Half of California's 101 million acres are privately owned. Hunters and other outdoor enthusiast are mostly excluded from private properties. Landowners are concerned about liability issues, damage to their land and improvements, vandalism and the perils of unfettered public access. Access fees and/or fees for leasing hunting rights are another powerful incentive for landowners to keep the general hunting public away from their ranches.

The SHARE program is designed to change that. It requires public users of participating ranches to sign liability waivers. The waiver is authorized under Section 1573 of the California Fish and Game Code. It provides landowners with guidance for wildlife habitat improvements and can relieve wildlife depredation and damage on the property brought on overpopulation of game and other animals.

Most importantly it does compensate ranch owners for allowing access to their properties.

Hunters and people engaged in other outdoor activities profit from the program through increased access to private ranches, entry to landlocked public lands and with additional other wildlife dependent recreational activities.

To achieve these goals the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) “is proposing to add a section to the California Code of Regulations, Title 14. The regulations proposed clarify and make specific the landowner enrollment process, the public application and permit issuance process and the general operating conditions for the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program.

The proposed regulations (Section 602) will be available for public review and comment from Oct. 14 through Nov. 28, 2011.” (DFG News 10/14/11)

This is an opportunity for individual hunters as well as hunting related organizations to voice their opinion and to offer constructive suggestions instead of griping about the lack of access to private land. Without active hunter participation the program and the regulations proposed by DFG will be dominated by one-sided interests.

Hunters can find details of the proposed section to be added to the California Code of Regulations (Title14) on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/share.

In order to be heard and considered comments must be received by DFG no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 28, 2011.

Comments received by the due date will be considered before the regulations are adopted.

Comments can be e-mailed to vbarr@dfg.ca.gov, mailed or hand-delivered to:

Victoria Barr
Department of Fish and Game
1812 Ninth St.
Sacramento, CA 95811

Now it the time to speak up. Or to quit complaining about lack of access to private land for hunting.

PJJ

Did You Know . . .

that The Norse god Freyr had a wild boar called 'Gullinbursti'.  His name (Golden Mane) derived from his bristles that glowed in the dark. 
Is Gullinbursti a precursor of modern genetically altered  animals that glow in the dark? Only the Norse gods know.

Moss Landing Wildlife Area Partially closed

Public access to the Moss Landing Wildlife Area in Monterey County will be restricted between Oct. 15 and Dec. 20, 2011. This partial closure is necessary in order to enhance the habitat on the site. 

The public will not be able to access the Highway 1 parking lot, the salt ponds and the trail through to Seal Bend. Boat-only access to the balance of the wildlife area north and east of Seal Bend is not affected by the closure.


The project is the result of a cooperative partnership between DFG and Ducks Unlimited. The Wildlife Conservation Board and the Packard Foundation provided funding for the project.

Improvements include the construction of shallow water depressions in the pond bottoms and a new public access observation platform overlooking Elkhorn Slough. During the closure period the neighboring Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) will be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday for hiking and nature study. 

DFG: "All plants and animals are protected. Waterfowl hunting is allowed. No pets allowed. Special Restrictions: No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed."
PJJ

Waterfowl Hunting Season Getting Into Full Swing

Last year  over 50,000 hunters took to California's wetlands, agricultural lands and other bird friendly habitats seeking to bag ducks and geese.


The 2011 duck and geese season for the northeastern zone opened on October 8 and so did the Southern San Joaquin Zone for ducks only. Geese will follow on October 22, 2011.


Balance of the State and Southern California zones will open on October 22, 2011 preceded by the
Colorado River Zone for both ducks and geese on October 21, 2011.


Hunters should visit the DFG website to check detailed opening dates, location information, and information for individual species. 
A good example for this are Scaups (Lesser and Greater) that are open for only 86 days in most zones. These birds are notoriously difficult to identify. You can find a comparison list for scaup identification here: http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/scaupidentification.htm.


Almost 1 million acres of wildlife habitat provide recreational and hunting opportunities in California.
 "Many of the state-owned or operated waterfowl hunting areas are accessible to hunters through a reservation system. Last year more than one million applications were submitted by hunters wanting to hunt on one of these areas during the three-month-long waterfowl season." (DFG)

Hunters should check very carefully compliance with all regulations and license requirements as well as special rules regarding ammunition. 
DFG wardens are always very active during and around opening day to assure compliance with even minute details of all requirements. I know that from first hand experience where I was warned by fellow hunters of a private hunting club to be sure to have all stamps, especially the federal migratory bird stamp, and lead free ammunition in the chamber of the gun and in my pockets. It turned out to be good advice.
PJJ

DFG Hunting Digest Available Only Online

October 11, 2011 by CA DFG News

The 2011-2012 California Hunting Digest, Upland Game and Waterfowl issue will be available online only this year, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced today. It will not be available in print.

“The Digest is a valued magazine,” said Bernadette Fees, DFG’s assistant deputy director for education and outreach. “We are proud of its popularity with California’s sportsmen and women.”

By publishing the digest online, DFG saves taxpayers thousands of dollars in printing and distribution costs. Publishing online is also beneficial to the environment and is in step with DFG’s initiative on Going Green . . . It also allows California’s hunters to access the information on their home computers and on smart phones and tablets while away from home or work.

“This year’s online magazine will be formatted for easier viewing, and efforts will continue to produce future issues using the best publishing technology and most economical methods available,” Fees added. The magazine can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest/.

The award-winning magazine is published biannually, and provides information on hunting opportunities, regulations and licensing, as well as on wildlife conservation. The Digest’s big game issue is produced every spring and the waterfowl and upland game issue is produced each fall.

DFG

Boar Hunting At Fort Hunter Liggett

Remember new procedures and plan ahead.

For many years Fort Hunter Liggett has provided boar hunters with the highest harvest rates of all public lands. Over time registration and check in procedures have become more streamlined albeit not necessarily less bureaucratic in nature.

If you never hunted FHL before, you need to plan your hunting trip a little in advance.

In order to hunt on Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) hunters need a FHL hunting permit, a valid California Department of Fish and Game hunting license, species tags and/or stamps, and photo identification.

In addition, a valid car registration and roof of insurance is required to drive a vehicle on the military installation.

Hunters must apply by mail for the FHL hunting permit. The application form can be downloaded from the FHL website. The completed application must be submitted by mail together with the correct fee in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to MWR US ARMY. Personal checks are not accepted. Processing time for the application is about two weeks. Make sure you use the latest application form since using an older form will delay processing of your application.

Do not forget to add your e-mail address or a self addressed, stamped envelope. You will be notified by e-mail or snail mail when your application has been processed.

You can then pick up your FHL permit at the Hunting and Fishing check station on FHL photo ID in hand!. The permit does no constitute a reservation for a weekend hunt.

Hunters must check in at the check station in person in order to assigned to a training area for hunting. Assignments are on a first come first served basis.

Lead free ammunition and shot is mandatory on Fort Hunter Liggett.

For details and closures or other important information as well as for the necessary forms go to http://www.liggett.army.mil/sites/fishhunt/update.asp.

PJJ

Reward for Mountain Lion Poachers Offered

October 7, 2011 by CA DFG News 

The California DFG and the Humane Society offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers who killed a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains last month.

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG)CAL-TIP line is offering a $2,500 reward and the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust is matching that amount.

The lion was discovered on Sept. 11, 2011 after DFG and the National Park Service received a call of a dead mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. Department of Fish and Game wardens determined that the lion did not die of natural causes and opened an investigation.

Mountain lions are designated as a “specially protected mammal” in California, and it is illegal to hunt or trap them.

DFG and the National Park Service are seeking information related to the lion death and the parties responsible. Anyone with any information regarding this case should call the the DFG Cal-Tip hotline at 1-888-334-2258.

Planning To Win The Hunt For Two?

This is what you should do when hunting out of state.

October 4, 2011 CA DFG News
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds hunters planning an out-of-state hunting trip to check local regulations before entering the field.
“Hunter Education and licensing requirements vary by state,” said Roy Griffith, DFG Hunter Education Administrator. “Remember to plan ahead and do your research to ensure your hunting trip is an enjoyable one.” 
Although many states recognize California’s hunting license, they often have additional requirements such as requiring a hunter to carry proof of hunter education course completion while in the field. 
For hunters who have lost their hunter education certificate, DFG has records dating back to 1990. To request a duplicate certificate, please contact the License and Revenue Branch at (916) 928-5805.
Hunters needing to take a hunter education course should visit DFG’s websiteor simply sign up for a hunter education course online.

First Boar Hunt For Two At Penny Auction In Closing Phase?

Two more days to go – they say.

Just a brief update on my article about the penny auction for a boar hunt on a private ranch in Georgia.

As of today the highest bidder has driven the price for the hunt to five cents. And there are only two more days to go to bid on this hunt. Outdoors Sportsman Auctions values the hunt at 800 dollars.

Each bid increases the bid amount by 1 penny and adds 20 seconds to the clock. There are two days and a few hours left for the auction. If a bidder places a new bid one or two seconds before the clocks runs out, there will be another 20 seconds added.

Assuming the pace of bidding will speed up towards the end of the auction (as it always does) my question is how many times 20 seconds will be added before the auction is finally over. In other words, how open ended is the auction?

I have absolutely no experience with penny auctions and therefore wonder. Also, bids must be purchased in bid pack. The smallest is for 30 bids. The largest bid pack is for 500. In dollars that is between about 20 up to 300 dollars. The larger the bid package you purchase, the greater your risk, I guess.

If I understand the auction mechanics correctly, the bid timer is first reset by 20 seconds after each new bid. When a certain number of 20 second resets is reached the timer will reset in 15 second intervals and so on until 0 interval is reached. The highest bidder at that time has won the auction.

The website of Outdoor Sportsman Auctions does not give a clue how the timing of the timer is adjusted. Maybe Robert Ford, CEO of Outdoor Sportsman, will let us know.

Let us see how this interesting concept develops.

PJJ

Did You Know . . .

that a pig was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child? It happened in 1386 in France.

Special Pheasant Hunts During upcoming Season

DFG website lists pheasant hunts statewide.
 
DFG News  September 30, 2011

The DFG website for the Upland Game Bird Stamp Program lists numerous pheasant hunt opportunities statewide. They also include information on the North Central Region (Plumas, Sierra, Butte, Glenn, Lake, Colusa, Yolo, Sutter, Yaba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Alpinge, Calaveras and  San Joaquin counties).

Among these opportunities are two pheasant apprentice hunts (Highland Springs, Headwater's Honker Preserve), one wild bird apprentice youth and one wild bird family hunt at Little Dry Creek in the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and eight apprentice women, youth and hunts for mobility impaired at Nelson Slough in the Feather River Wildlife Area.

To apply online hunters must possess a valid 2011/2012 hunting license GO ID, a valid e-mail address, submit an address and phone number together with their name and, if applicable, an explanation about mobility impairment. All hunters must purchase an Upland Bird Stamp to be eligible.
A computerized drawing will select hunters for one hunt only. Multiple applications will result in disqualification.

Details, information and applications are available at the DFG website for uplandgame/gamebird.
PJJ