Lone Gray Wolf OR7 Now In California

December 29, 2011   DFG News
The California Department of Fish and Game just announced that yesterday Gray Wold OR7 crossed the California State line and is now in northern Siskiyou County.

Gray  wolves are a federally protected species. His progress and whereabouts will be closely monitored. The wolf wears a radio collar.


His appearance in California marks a significant event. The last wolf was shot in Lassen County in 1924. He is the first wolf to venture into California since then. Fish and Game will have much work to do monitoring him and protecting him.


Some hunters and landowners and ranchers with livestock to worry about blame gray wolves for the decline in deer herds and for predation on domesticated animals, mainly sheep and small cattle. However, despite the occasional loss of livestock wolves have a relatively small impact on domesticated animal herds.
Mountain lions reduce deer populations to a much greater extent than wolves as data from territories with wolf populations indicate.


In the United States wolves pose no real threat to humans.


Let us watch what this youthful and daring young wolf man will bring us.
PJJ

February 2012 Turkey Hunting Clinic at Tejon Ranch

The Department of Fish and Game, the Hunter Education Instructor Association of Southern California and the Tejon Ranch jointly offer an advanced turkey hunting clinic on February 18, 2012.

Dave Holbrock, experienced turkey with many years of experience in turkey hunting, will be lead instructor. The clinic will address decoy placement, blind design, ballistics, calling, equipment, game care and cleaning, cooking tips and safety. 

The clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and costs $45. Space is limited. Young hunters up to 16 years aare free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. DFG’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment.

Applications are available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/index.aspx.

PJJ

Department of Fish and Game Casts Holiday Present To Anglers

In the Bay Area, that is.

Good news for fishermen in the Bay area, just in time for the Holidays and leisurely times 'between the years'. But what are fishermen in southern California going to do? Where are our fish?

Maybe we will find out soon. Wouldn't it be nice to hear about that before the holidays?

Well, you can go to fishinginthecity.org and find out where to fish locally in Socal. The sidebar of the site lists fishing sites in the South Bay Area and in Los Angeles/Orange County. But do not forget to bring your locally raised wild pig for assistance. Wild pigs and boar love fish - like bears.
Why not keep an eye out for wild pigs while fishing for catfish? Because there are most likely no wild pigs at the ponds and lakes listed below.

Read the full text of the DFG release.

DFG News December 16, 2011

“The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is providing supplemental fish stocking at several Bay Area lakes for the holiday season. Approximately 23,000 pounds of fish will be planted in 21 lakes around the bay area this month. Planting started this week for about 21,000 pounds of rainbow trout, many up to one pound per fish, and 2,000 pounds of catfish up to one and a half pounds each.

“The holiday season is a time for family and friends to connect and spend quality time together, and there’s no better way to do this than the time-honored tradition of fishing,” said Carl Wilcox, Regional Manager for DFG’s Bay Delta Region. “DFG has made it even easier to buy a license for yourself or someone else with our Automated License Data System. With the lakes stocked and your license just a mouse click away, all that’s left to do is show up and enjoy yourself.”

A fishing license is required of all anglers age 16 or older and all fishing regulations apply. Some lakes may also require a daily fishing permit. Annual licenses and gift vouchers can be purchased online at www.dfg.ca.gov/onlinesales.

The enhanced stocking is coordinated through DFG’s Fishing in the City Program, utilizing trout produced by DFG hatcheries and an additional supply of trout and catfish procured from private vendors through program resources.

Since 1993, the Fishing in the City program has supported opportunities for fishing near where people live and work. This is accomplished through fish stocking, habitat improvement and learn-to-fish clinics for youth. The program is funded through the Sportfish Restoration Fund, an excise tax on the sale of fishing tackle and motor boat fuel. DFG trout hatcheries receive funding from the sales of sport fishing licenses.

The following lakes will be stocked as a part of this special program. (Listings include county, lake and number of pounds planted).

Holiday Fish Plant Schedule

Week of December 12, 2011

Bon Tempe Reservoir, Marin County, 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout

Campbell Percolation Ponds, Santa Clara County, 700 lbs of rainbow trout

Contra Loma, Contra Costa County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Heather Farms, Contra Costa County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Hidden Valley Lakes, Contra Costa County, 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Lafayette Reservoir, Contra Costa County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Chabot, Solano County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Cunningham, Santa Clara County, 600 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Merced, north, San Francisco, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Pinto Lake, Monterey County 4,000 lbs of rainbow trout

Week of December 19, 2011

Bon Tempe Reservoir, 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Campbell Percolation Ponds, Santa Clara County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Heather Farms, Contra Costa County, 500 lbs of catfish

Hidden Valley Lakes, Contra Costa County, 500 pounds of catfish

Lafayette Reservoir, Contra Costa County, 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Cunningham, Santa Clara County, 500 lbs of catfish

Lake Cunningham, Santa Clara County, 750 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Elizabeth, Alameda County, 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Lake Ralphine, Sonoma County, 300 pounds of rainbow trout

Lake Temescal, Alameda County, 250 pounds of catfish

Lake Temescal, Alameda County, 400 pounds of rainbow trout

Lakeshore Park, Alameda County, 250 pounds of catfish

Lakeshore Park, Alameda County, 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Pinto Lake, Monterey County 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout

Sandy Wool Reservoir, Santa Clara County, 750 pounds of rainbow trout

Week of December 26, 2011

Campbell Percolation Ponds, Santa Clara County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Horseshoe Lake (Quarry), 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Lake Chabot, Solano County, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Merced nNorth, San Francisco, 500 lbs of rainbow trout

Lake Raphine, Sonoma County, 750 pounds rainbow trout

Shadow Cliffs, Alameda County, 500 pounds of rainbow trout

Spring Valley Pond, Santa Clara County, 250 pounds of rainbow trout

All plants subject to change without notice.

For more information, visit the Fishing in the City web site at www.fishinginthecity.org.”

"Hunting Wild Boar" - Borrow a FREE copy from Amazon

An experiment
 
"Hunting Wild Boar", the new primer based on articles and information published since the original publication of the classic boar book "Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting" is available for FREE through the new program Owner's Lending Library by Amazon. 
More . . . about the new book here. 

Also part of this test is the booklet "Amazing Pigs - Mysterious Boar'.


Amazon Prime members can check out one book per month from the Owner's Library without a definite due date as long as the book is returned before another work is checked out for free.


We are participating in the new program on an experimental basis until March 2012. Depending on the results of this test we will determine whether a continued participation is justified.
Read more about the Owner's Lending Library at http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200757120.
PJJ

Lone Gray Wolf Moving Into California

Go south, young man, go south!
Read this exciting report just published by the California Department of Fish and Game. I know ranchers will be itching to make the wolf have an 'accident'. They will without doubt claim that the animal would otherwise decimate their cattle herds. I do not expect deer hunters to welcome the arrival of the wolf in California either. In their minds a wolf is the last thing we need to tamper with deer now that the numbers of mountain lions in the state have significantly increased. Hunters are blaming the declining deer herds in certain areas of California on the effects of predation on deer by cougars.
Puma have also attacked, injured and killed hikers. Who says that gray wolves will not do so, say self-appointed wolf experts. After all, the big, bad wolf ate the grandma of Red Riding Hood. Or was it Little Red Riding Hood herself that got consumed by a wold? Other wolves routinely chased Russian troikas across the ice and snowbound steppes of Asia.


Wolves are magnificent predators. They deserve our respect and a place in remote wildernesses. Their natural instincts and cautious shyness will most likely keep them in far away, wild places where man rarely treads. Let us therefore take a patient wait and see attitude instead of talking up the danger posed and damage done by wolves. An itchy trigger finger is by no means called for.
Gray wolves are an endangered species and therefore protected in California. But so are pumas!

DFG News December 16, 2011

“Recent news accounts have reported that a gray wolf has been wandering in southern Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) this animal is a 2 ½ year old male formerly from a pack in northeast Oregon. Since the animal has been collared with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device that periodically transmits its location, biologists have been able to document its travels since early September. Based on the GPS data, he is now more than 300 miles from where his journey began. As of yet, there are no direct observations confirming his presence, or that of any other wolves, in California.

“It’s too early to say with any certainty whether wolves will again become a resident species in California,” Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Charlton H. Bonham said. “But it is definitely an historic predator surrounded by legend and lore.”

Any wild gray wolf that returns to California is protected as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Gray wolf.

(Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth/USFWS)

DFG has been following the recovery and migration of gray wolves in western states with the expectation that at some point they will likely reach California. The last confirmed wild gray wolf in California was killed in Lassen County in 1924. The available historic information on wolves in California suggests that while they were widely distributed, they were not abundant. DFG has been compiling historic records, life history information, reviewing studies on wolf populations in other western states, enhancing communication with other agencies and training biologists on field techniques specific to wolves. This effort is to ensure that DFG has all necessary information available when needed, it is not a wolf management plan and DFG does not intend to reintroduce wolves into California.

There are more than 1,600 wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains following a federal reintroduction effort which occurred in the mid-1990s. In 1999 a single wolf crossed into Oregon from Idaho, after nearly a 60-year absence in that state. There are now at least 23 wolves in Oregon in four reproducing packs. It has taken an additional 12 years for the first wolf to now approach the California border. This particular animal is exhibiting normal dispersal behavior for a young male and there is no way to predict whether he will enter California, stay in Oregon, or travel east into Nevada. Eventually, DFG expects that wolves will reach California. Whether this will lead to the establishment of packs or simply transient individual animals is unknown.

Gray wolf recovery in other western states has been controversial, particularly regarding impacts on prey populations, livestock depredation and human safety. There have been instances where gray wolf predation has contributed to declines in deer and elk populations, however, in most cases, predation has had little effect. Some gray wolves have killed livestock – mostly cattle and sheep – while others rely entirely on wild prey. In other western states the impact of depredation on livestock has been very small, certainly less than predation by coyotes and mountain lions, although the effect on an individual livestock producer can be important, particularly when sheep are killed.

Concerns about human safety are largely based on folklore and unsubstantiated in North America. In recent years there was one human mortality in Canada caused either by wolves or bears and one confirmed human mortality in Alaska by wolves. Based on experience from states where substantial wolf populations now exist, wolves pose little risk to humans.”

Padre

Drawing for Joice Island Pig Hunt at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area

DFG News December 13, 2011 

 

Once again it is time to think about turning in your application for the annual Joice Island Pig Hunt. Applications for the hunt must be submitted before the close of business on February, 10, 2012.

The drawing is on February 14, 2012.

A total of 24 hunters will be awarded two-day permits to participate in the hunt. The Joice Island Hunt is designed to control a small wild pig population in the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County. 

“Joice Island is a 2,150-acre wetland area consisting of thick cattails, tules, some brush and standing water.”

Apprentice hunters (who have read my new book 'Hunting Wild Boar', I hope) will be given first chance to bag a boar during the first weekend of the hunt. Here is the DFG schedule of planned hunts:

“Apprentice Hunters (12 years of age and older with Junior Hunting License)

March 3-4

General (Adults or apprentice hunters may apply)                                         

March 10-11

March 17-18

March 24-25

March 31-April 1

April 7-8

April 14-15

April 21-22”

Three randomly drawn hunters will receive a permit for one of the weekends. Permit holders may bring one non-hunting partner.

Weapons are limited to shotguns (and slugs) and archery. Dogs are allowed.

Selected hunters must possess a valid California hunting license and valid pig tags.

“To apply for a permit drawing, please send a standard postcard with the hunter’s name (apprentice hunters must also provide name of adult chaperon), valid hunting license GO-ID number, address, telephone number and desired hunt date.

Mail the application card to Joice Island Pig Hunt, 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun City, CA  94585.

Each hunter may apply only one time and for only one date. Applications will be accepted for parties of up to two hunters, but the card must contain all information for both hunters. Incomplete cards and multiple entries will not be accepted. There is no fee to apply.

DFG reserves the right to cancel this hunt and close the area to all public users without prior notification due to unforeseen circumstances or emergency situations.”

Check the DFG website or call DFG for more information. But do not forget to send in your application. The Joice Island Wild Pig Hunt is a good hunt.

PJJ

"Hunting Wild Boar - Hunting a world citizen made easy"

is a new book on hunting boar and wild pigs by Peter Jaeckle, Ph.D.
The new work is an addition and compliment to the boar book 'Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs - The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting' by the same author. This hunting book reflects to a great extent new writings by the author and research published since the original book was first offered ten years ago.


"Hunting Wild Boar - Hunting a world citizen made easy" focuses on habits and habitats of wild pigs, explains the signs they leave behind and describes in great detail how to find and harvest boar. The new book is specifically designed for new or less experienced boar hunters who want to know as much as possible about their quarry in the shortest period of time. Without burdening readers of the volume unduly, readers of "Hunting wild Boar" will soon know more about wild pigs and how to hunt them than many other, more experienced hunters around.

This new boar hunting manual is part of the series 'On Hunting Boar' and compliments and adds to the other two books in this series: "Boar Rifles" and "Signs of the Beast". Taken together they comprise the most complete, up to date collection of information on hunting boar available.

59 fact filled pages and numerous pictures.
The book is exclusively available on amazone.com for $ 5.95. It is also accessible to amazon Prime Members through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. 
Padre

More Funds For Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects

Wildlife Conservation Board earmarks 22.3 million.

DFG News December 08, 2011

The California Wildlife Conservation Board in cooperation with the Department of Fish and Game just published a list of 19 projects selected during the last meeting of the California Wildlife Conservation Board for restoration and protection of wildlife habitats in California. The funds are dedicated to “provide benefits to fish and wildlife species, including some endangered species, and increase public access to these lands.”

The funds come from a bond initiative approved by voters. Their sole purpose is to protect and preserve California's natural resource.

Interested parties can get a complete list of projects at the website of the California Wildlife Conservancy located at www.wcb.ca.gov.

PJJ

Let Your Light Shine – Become a hunter education instructor for 2012

DFG News 12/07/2011

Are you an experienced hunter? Do you like to share the joy and challenges of experiencing outdoors and of hunting with others? Well, the California Department of Fish and Game has an offer for you.

In 2009 you could have shared your experiences with 30,000 budding hunters. You can contribute your share to the education of new hunters in 2012 by drawing on and sharing your understanding of safety, ethics and conservation with them.

DFG is currently seeking qualified hunter education volunteer instructors for its 2012 statewide education courses. 

“There’s a long legacy of hunting in this great state,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “At the department, we’re going to continue to seek ways to manage our resources for hunting and fishing as well as improve access and opportunity. But we need help in cultivating the next generation of sportsmen and sportswomen who will step in our shoes once we have gone. We thank those that already volunteer to teach our hunter education courses, and we’re looking to recruit even more.”

“. . . The backbone of California’s hunter education training effort rests on the volunteer instructors, who give their time, passion and energy to the program,” said Captain Roy Griffith,DFG’s Hunter Education Program Administrator. “These dedicated individuals have passed on a tradition and trained well over one million outdoor enthusiasts since the start of the program. As a result, they have increased safety and conservation within the community.”

To become a hunter education instructor, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Successfully complete the hunter education course prior to submitting an application
• Have not have been convicted of any felony
• Completed a course of study prior to taking a supervised examination covering the basic topics of hunter education

The testing process to become a certified instructor takes about two hours and applicants must score a minimum of 80 percent. After passing the exam, the volunteer will take an oath and work with an experienced instructor before leading their own class.

To retain current Hunter Education Instruction (HEI) certification, an instructor must teach one class per year and attend one conference.

Find details on the DFG website under 'huntered'.

PJJ

European Wild Boar In Their Natural Habitat.

A pictorial follow-up to the article 'Charged by a Wild Boar . . .'.

Intrigued by the author's remark that the sow "... looked like a 55 gallon drum with legs and a head" I looked for pictures of such a beast in its natural environment. True wild Eurasian boar in a real European forest - not wild pigs in sunny California or baked in the heat of Texas.


Here are a few:

( J Schiersmann)

This 'drum' is giving herself a good rub.
This one is close to cover for safety. Pretty massive, isn't she?

(zonar.com; picture deleted)

This 'drum' has piglets that are eight days old. Do you see them? 

 

(Gelsenwasser)

Here is one in her bedding place with piglets resting. Do not get near or you will end up on a tree.

(Kunst fuer Alle)

Mother is demonstrating the joys of mud.

 

 (Berliner Morgenpost)

  Waiting for what?

 

 (Helge Schulz)  

A native Bavarian. Lederhosen built in.

 

(Bayrischer Jagdverband e.V. )

You do not want to see this.

(Hamburger Abendblatt)

Or this:

(Kielings Wildschwein Knigge;4-seasons.de)

If you ever do, you need a real rifle.

 

  This one is chambered for the 9.3x74R cartridge.

And not a pea shooter in caliber .243.  Otherwise you might end up seriously injured or here:

(zoonar.com)

 Under siege by these boar. 

 (Freie Presse)

Not a good move.

PJJ

DFG awarding annual fund-raising hunt tag opportunities for big game in 2012.

Over $300,000 for wildlife conservation expected to be raised.
DFGNews, December 06, 2011
In cooperation with several hunting-oriented conservation organizations, DFG will offer 13 big game fund-raising license tags for eight mule or black-tailed deer, two desert bighorn sheep, one Grizzly Island tule elk, one multiple zone elk and one pronghorn antelope. 
Following a competitive bidding process, DFG proposes to award agreements for the auction or sale of the 13 tags to the following organizations: Wild Sheep Foundation (National and California Chapter), Safari Club International (Orange County and San Francisco Bay Area chapters), The Mule Deer Foundation (National, Central Coast, Chico, Shasta-Lassen and Redding chapters), and the California Deer Association (North Valley, Salinas Valley, Gridley and Mount Saint Helena chapters).

These conservation organizations submitted a bid package describing their intent to auction off a particular tag at their annual fund-raising dinners/conventions during late winter/early spring. Auction of these tags typically generates more than $300,000 per year for DFG to put back into conservation and management actions that include surveys, habitat improvement, applied research and translocation of animals to historical ranges where they may currently be absent. Such translocation efforts in California have been a great success for tule elk, desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope.

“California’s hunting organizations continue to demonstrate they are at the forefront in support of wildlife conservation through their support for these auction tags and for the purchase of licenses and tags by their members, as well as all hunters,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham.

In addition to the auction tags, DFG is expanding the random drawing program initiated earlier this year through the Automated License Data System (ALDS), when chances for a deer tag and an elk tag opportunity were offered to the public for $5.40 each. The drawings for those two opportunities alone generated more than $130,000 for conservation in 2011.

“In our continued support of hunting and quest to increase hunting and fishing opportunity in California, I’m pleased that our hunters can purchase multiple chances through our ALDS application process for a special hunt tag next year,” said Bonham. ”And I am particularly excited that this year we will include a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep tag as well as a coveted northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag.”

As an added bonus for the hunter who draws the sheep tag from that random drawing,  a private entity, San Gorgonio Wilderness Outfitters, has offered free guide services for the hunt in the Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains zone to the recipient.
“This is a wonderful offer and commitment by the San Gorgonio folks and demonstrates the great support of one another within the hunting community,” said Bonham.
Availability of all fund-raising tags remains contingent upon the approval of annual hunting regulations by the Fish and Game Commission.
DFG

Charged by a European Wild Boar in the German Forest

Normally I do not publish wild boar stories that simply report on the adventures and the deeds of a hunter during one hunt. The following is an exception. This story reminds me much of my experiences as a child and young man in those forests. I still hear in my mind the eerie calls and blood-curdling squeals of some unknown beast in the dark forest while our parents hurried us through and out of it as soon as they could in order to avoid having to climb trees. 

Back in those days we had a plague of wild boar that routinely attacked farmers late out on their potato fields or tending to their maize plantings. Many a farmer and even hunters had to seek safety in trees.


Please note in the following story the reference to a grunt (a verbal command) the sow made to direct her piglets and the reaction of the young ones.
Further noteworthy is the siege the boar executed. After farrowing time such events are not uncommon.


Here is the report written by James R. Jones and published by BigGameHunt.


" Yes I admit I have a fascination, if not an obsession with the European Wild Boar. It all started when I was a young Army soldier stationed in Germany, my first duty station from 1989 to 1992.  Our dismounted stinger missile section . . . was ordered to conduct a (training) dismounted patrol through heavily forested training area.  We had been warned that there were wild boars who inhabit the area.  But us, as young men, 19 and 20 years old, and Army soldiers at that, we were indestructible and fearless, right. 

An hour into our patrol and deeper into the forest we stumbled on a game trail with fresh signs of hog rooting but even then we weren't too alarmed.  The trail continued up a hill about 100 yards and made a sharp left and disappeared around a corner of trees. So there we went headed up the hill, the path of least resistance.  We made it probably 80 yards when we heard pig grunts and squeals of both adult and babies by the sounds of it.  We froze with anticipation of seeing the animals. 

After a few minutes which seemed like an eternity a mother with 8 piglets came around the corner on the game trail heading right in our direction.  Mother and babies alike stopped immediately as we all made eye contact.  This was the first wild boar I have ever seen in real life.  I was astonished by her size the first thought that came to mind was she looked like a 55 gallon drum with legs and a head.  I was simply amazed. 
The next few seconds was an awesome yet very scary sight to see.  You could tell her demeanor was changing she did not like us or want us on her trail. 
She grunted, a sound barely audible to me but apparently [to] the babies understood because they moved behind her in the brush out of our sight. 

Then suddenly and ferociously she charged and we scrambled, hollering like school kids. I was the lucky one cause I was "point man" on that patrol which means I was first in line, the closest to her.  

I thank God to this day that he created climbing trees in Germany.  Those trees were the only thing that probably saved our lives, I know mine at least, cause she was hell bent on cutting me in half.  She was insistent on destruction. She would circle that tree for better part of an hour before trotting off to secure her babies and heading back into the forest. 
That one incident awakened my eyes to that magnificent beast . . .  I have hog hunted in Central and West Texas a few times but I have yet to find my massive beast to complete my adventure.  I know they are out there and I have seen pictures and read stories about some in Tennessee. I hope soon to bring this chase to an end."


A great wild boar story. And not much of an exaggeration. Anyone who talks to hunters in Germany and other parts of Europe can collect reports about stories and sieges like this. Entire sounders have been known to besiege treed hapless hunters or farmers for long times.


But do not worry: Our wild pigs will not do that.
Let me know if you know of some that did!
PJJ

Recommendations for a strategic vision for the California DFG

The executive committee for the California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision just released the draft of an interim strategic vision for public review. 

"This document is the first draft of potential recommendations for a strategic vision for the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the California Fish and Game Commission (F&GC) that will be presented to the Governor and California State Legislature in February 2012 as required by AB 2376 (Huffman, 2010)."

The public is invited to comment on the draft and to engage in a dialogue about the future of the Department of Fish and Game and the Fish and Game Commission.


Under the forbidding title "Draft Interim Strategic Vision: Potential Recommendations for the California Department of Fish and Game and the
California Fish and Game Commission" the document spells out on 104 pages the preliminary results of suggestions and input from stakeholders, agencies and the public on how they envision "improving and enhancing their (editor's note: DFG and F&GC) capacity and effectiveness in fulfilling their public trust responsibilities for protecting and managing the state's fish and wildlife."

Despite the fact that the preliminary draft is highly technical and teems with uninspiring phraseology used by connoisseurs of the topic and with lots of committee speak making it hard to read and to understand, I still believe that individual hunters and groups that claim to represent them ought to contribute their constructive ideas to this endeavor.

Is it not important that the voices of real, down to earth hunters are heard and not only those of professional administrators, bureaucrats and interest groups?
I think so.
 
Hunters will have to live with and abide by the newly envisioned DFG for a long time. Better to speak up now then to gripe later.
That should by far outweigh the discouraging toil of working one's way through page after page after page of jargon and 'policy speak'.
The present document is only a first draft. Later version will without doubt be  more concise and more reader friendly.

At least I hope so.

I was tempted to reserve my comments for a later draft.The problem is that by that time many opinions have already more or less solidified. Majority  opinions and accepted precepts are harder to change or to influence than mere discussion points and tentative ideas.

Then I noticed the good news. 
While reading the draft is a difficult, lengthy and at times tedious process, commenting on it is much easier. California Strategic Vision presents a handy form to submit comments and suggestions over the Internet. Each page of this form deals with a topic (of the draft), outlines the proposed language and then invites the reader to comment on the proposal.


This lets the public contribute to the project without the need to fight the loss of interest, focus and attention while slowly working through the maze of heavy text on 104 pages.
Even I might give it a try.
PJJ

PS: Find the current version at http://vision.ca.gov/docs/Final_CFWSV_Draft_Interim_111122_1502.pdf and the comment form at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dGVYVEdvQ2dsRDZsOTlGQWpCdzdYd1E6MQ