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Three Arrested for Sturgeon Poaching in Olivehurst
May 14, 2012 DFG News
State game wardens have arrested three Olivehurst men on suspicion
of sturgeon poaching on the Bear River. While serving search and
arrest warrants at the suspects’ homes on May 12, Department of
Fish and Game (DFG) wardens also discovered evidence of deer and bear
poaching.
Sutter County Game Warden Nate Stebbins received two citizen tips
over the course of a few weeks in April, both related to possible
sturgeon poaching. Stebbins gathered a team of wardens to conduct
surveillance of the suspects over the course of several nights. They
observed Peter Anthony Gibbs, 25, Steven Michael Logan, 28, and
Steven Allen Patterson, 29, all of Olivehurst, target sturgeon using
snagging techniques with very heavy duty fishing tackle, complete
with oversize treble hooks and one-pound weights connected below the
hook. The wardens watched as the men retained the fish without
tagging them – including one 82-inch-long sturgeon.
When the suspects returned to the boat ramp, an unidentified man
met them, transferred the oversized, untagged sturgeon to his trunk
and then sped away. All of these actions are violations of state law.
The wardens obtained search warrants for each of the suspects’
homes, where they discovered and seized sturgeon meat, two boats,
heavy duty fishing tackle, deer meat and parts of a bear. All three
suspects were arrested and booked into Yuba County Jail. The case
remains under investigation.
The sturgeon fishery is the most highly regulated recreational
fishery in California due to a moderate population status and high
black market value. Sturgeon are targeted by poachers for their meat
and eggs. Sturgeon eggs are commonly processed and sold on the black
market as caviar. Anglers are allowed to retain three sturgeon per
year within a slot limit of 46 to 66 inches. The unique size
regulations protect the most prolific breeders of the population
while allowing the younger ones at least a few opportunities to breed
before growing to legal size.
DFG to Hold Public
Meeting on Pacific Halibut Management
MAY 8, 2012 DFG News
The California Department
of Fish and Game (DFG) invites the public to attend a meeting to
discuss the management of California’s Pacific halibut fisheries.
The meeting will be held on May 16, 2012 at the Humboldt Bay Harbor
Recreation and Conservation District Conference Room, 601 Startare
Drive in Eureka, from 6 to 8 p.m.
DFG staff will provide
current information on Pacific halibut management and ocean fisheries
in California, and will discuss the possible need for changes in the
recreational fishery in 2013. The public is encouraged to provide
input to managers and representatives which will aid in the
development of future Pacific halibut management.
Pacific halibut fishing
regulations are developed through a collaborative process involving
DFG, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the National Marine
Fisheries Service, the Fish and Game Commission, the International
Pacific Halibut Commission, the states of Oregon and Washington, and
the public.
DFG
Annual General Trout Opener Coming
Soon in the Eastern Sierra
April 25, 2012 DFG News
The general trout opener in many
counties throughout California will commence on April 28, one hour
before sunrise. In Inyo and Mono counties, all waters are open to
fishing on this date.
Because of the popularity of this
annual event with the angling public, DFG is making every effort to
stock trout in all accessible waters approved for planting prior to
the season opener. Lingering winter conditions could play a major
role in how many rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs can be stocked
before April 28.
Most lakes, rivers and streams have a
limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However,
regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits,
minimum and maximum size limits and gear restrictions. Anglers are
advised to check the 2012-13 California Freshwater Sport Fishing
Regulation booklet, found online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations, for
regulations specific to each body of water.
This year DFG regional staff created
the Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide to provide anglers with
a quick, informative and accurate account of the distribution of
fisheries in back country high elevation lakes. This guide does not
address front country waters, defined as lakes and streams that are
accessible by vehicle. Most of the lakes lie within U.S. Forest
Service lands managed as Wilderness and usually require back country
permits for overnight use. Most back country fisheries are based on
self-sustaining populations of trout and do not need regular trout
stocking to maintain fish populations. The guide can be found at
http://dfg.ca.gov/regions/6/.
Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra is
expected to be one of the most popular opening day destinations for
anglers from around the state. In past years, an estimated 10,000
anglers have turned out for the opener, and approximately 50,000
trout are caught during the first week of the season. Typically
Crowley is planted with hundreds of thousands of small and medium
sized trout, and because of excellent food sources in the 5,280-acre
lake, these trout grow to catchable sizes and weigh at least
three-quarters of a pound by the opener. About 10 percent of the
trout caught at Crowley during opening weekend weigh over a pound and
a half. These fish are from stocks planted in previous years or are
wild fish produced in Crowley’s tributary waters.
Anglers are asked to be particularly
vigilant when cleaning fish and fishing gear at Crowley Lake and in
the upper and lower Owens River Drainage. The New Zealand Mud Snail
was discovered several years ago in the Owens River Drainage and DFG
is trying to keep the snail from spreading into other waters. To
avoid spreading New Zealand Mud Snails to other waters, anglers are
advised to clean and dispose of their fish guts in trash cans, rather
than throw them back into the water. Wading gear should be properly
cleaned before using in new waters.
All persons age 16 and older must
possess a valid California fishing license to fish within the state’s
borders. Freshwater fishing license can be purchased online at
www.dfg.ca.gov/OnlineSales or at regional DFG offices or other
authorized dealers. Anglers no longer have to display their license
visibly above the waist but they must have it in their possession
while fishing.
DFG
San Diego Students Take Top Honors
in DFG State Archery Competition
April 20, 2012 DFG News
Two San Diego students are the top shots in the California
National Archery in the Schools Program (CalNASP) second annual
Virtual State Archery Tournament. Billy Decanay and Michelle
Lizarraga, both seniors at Kearny High School, had the highest scores
in the statewide tournament. Both students, along with the first
through fifth ranking individuals in each division (elementary,
middle and high school) can move onto the national competition.
“We are very proud of all the students who participated in the
Virtual State Archery Tournament and we would especially like to
commend the two top shooters from Kearny High School,” said
California NASP Program Manager Lesa Johnston. “It’s great to see
young people interested in a sport that requires dedication and focus
to be proficient. Archery is a lifelong sport and can easily
translate into other outdoor pursuits.”
The Virtual State Archery Tournament is designed to give students
the opportunity to challenge their mastery of the sport in a
supportive environment in which they can compete with other students
statewide. Students compete in their own gymnasiums and their scores
are posted in a national database where the state and individual
scores and rankings are available. Decanay was the top male shooter
and top overall shooter in the state competition, and Lizarraga was
the top female shooter of the competition.
Both archers will each receive a new Genesis Special Edition
compound bow donated by the manufacturer at a special school ceremony
in May.
CalNASP is an affiliate of the National Archery in the Schools
Program and is hosted by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Funding for CalNASP is provided by the Federal Aid and Wildlife
Restoration Act.
DFG Press Release
Salmon Fishing Season Regulation Packages
April 19, 2012 DFG News
The Fish and Game Commission adopted ocean and inland salmon
fishing regulations for 2012 at its April meetings. Inland salmon
season regulations were adopted for the Central Valley, and Klamath
and Trinity rivers. Longer seasons and increased fishing
opportunities are the hallmarks of what is expected to be a banner
season for ocean and river anglers.
“We are optimistic that excellent ocean and inland salmon
seasons lie ahead for California anglers,” said Department of Fish
and Game (DFG) Director Charlton H. Bonham. “This could be one of
the best salmon seasons in a decade, supporting both recreational and
commercial fishermen and their communities.”
The newly adopted ocean salmon sport fishing regulations conform
to those adopted by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. The
opening date in the Klamath Management Zone is May 1. All other zones
are currently open. Complete ocean salmon regulations are posted at
www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp
On all Central Valley rivers, the daily bag and possession limit
is two Chinook salmon. On the Trinity and Klamath rivers the daily
bag limit is four Chinook of any size and eight in possesson prior to
reaching the quota. All anglers must have Salmon Harvest Cards in
their possession when fishing for salmon on the Klamath and Trinity
rivers.
Other enhanced salmon fishing opportunities are available on the
Mokelumne River and portions of the Feather River from the unimproved
boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall down river.
Key elements of the newly adopted inland salmon seasons and
regulations for Central Valley rivers and the Klamath and Trinity
rivers are listed below . . .
SACRAMENTO RIVER Open Aug. 1 through Dec.16
from the Deschutes Road Bridge near Anderson downstream to 500 feet
upstream from Red Bluff Diversion Dam.
Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 150 feet below the Lower
Red Bluff (Sycamore) boat ramp to the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights
Landing.
Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Highway 113 Bridge near
Knights Landing downstream to the Carquinez Bridge.
FEATHER
RIVER
Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from unimproved boat launch ramp
above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall downstream to 200 yards above
the Live Oak boat ramp.Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 200 yards
above Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth.
AMERICAN
RIVER Open from July 16 through Dec. 31 from Nimbus Dam
to Hazel Avenue Bridge.
Open from July 16 through Aug. 15 from Hazel Avenue Bridge to the
United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauging station cable crossing
near Nimbus Hatchery.
Open July 16 through Oct. 31 from the USGS gauging station cable
crossing near Nimbus Hatchery to the Sacramento Municipal Utility
District (SMUD) power line crossing the southwest boundary of Ancil
Hoffman Park.
Open from July 16 through Dec. 16 from the SMUD power line
crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park to the
Jibboom Street Bridge.
Open July 16 through Dec. 16. from the Jibboom Street Bridge to
the mouth.
MOKELUMNE RIVER
Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from Camanche Dam to the Highway 99
Bridge.
Open July 16 through Dec. 31 from the Highway 99 Bridge to the
Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam, including Lodi Lake.
Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge
to the mouth. (For purposes of this regulation, this river segment is
defined as Mokelumne River and its tributary sloughs downstream of
the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge, east of Highway 160 and north of
Highway 12.)
KLAMATH RIVER
Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Aug. 15 through Dec.
31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The
possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size. The 2012 quota
for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22
inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater
than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit
of Chinook salmon under 22 inches). A weekly DFG status report will
be available by calling 1-800-564-6479.
Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug.
14 with a daily bag and possession limit of two salmon. The take of
salmon is prohibited on the Klamath River from Iron Gate Dam
downstream to Weitchpec from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14.
TRINITY RIVER
Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Sept. 1 through Dec.
31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The
possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size. The 2012 quota
for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22
inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater
than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit
of Chinook salmon under 22 inches). A weekly DFG status report will
be available by calling 1-800-564-6479. The Trinity River main stem
downstream of the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road
Bridge in Hawkins Bar is closed to all fishing Sept. 1 through Dec.
31.
Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug.
31. The daily bag and possession limit is two Chinook salmon. The
take of salmon is prohibited from the confluence of the South Fork
Trinity River downstream to the confluence of the Klamath River from
Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.
All other regulations for bag and possession limits for trout,
salmon and other species, as well as general information about
restrictions on fishing methods and gear on the above rivers, are
available on the DFGwebsite at
www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations.
DFG to Plant Fish at
Sycamore Island Park
It's a first for trout fishing in Fresno area.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will begin planting rainbow
trout at Sycamore Island Park for the first time this April.
Stocking will begin with an initial release this spring with
plans to continue through next winter and early spring, giving
anglers an opportunity to enjoy one of the state’s most popular
outdoor activities.
“This will provide important trout fishing opportunities
in the Fresno area,” said DFG Environmental Program Manager Gerald
Hatler. “We are pleased that these fish will also add to the
excitement and challenge of fishing by providing a reward to fishing
enthusiasts.”
Sycamore Island is owned and operated by the San Joaquin River
Conservancy. Frank Bigelow, the chairman of the Conservancy Board and
member of the Madera County Board of Supervisors, said, “We are
pleased to work with the Department of Fish and Game to provide new
recreational fishing experiences for our visitors.”
This is the first time that Sycamore Island has been stocked by
DFG, as part of the agency’s commitment to increase opportunities
for fishing in the Fresno and Madera areas. Other popular fish
species inhabit Sycamore Island Park, including largemouth bass,
bluegill, catfish and crappie.
The planted trout are between a half and three-quarter pounds each
and are raised at the San Joaquin Hatchery near the town of Friant. A
portion of the fish will have $10 reward tags. Anglers who catch
these fish can return the tags to DFG to provide biologists with
catch information and claim the reward.
DFG sells approximately 1 million fishing licenses a year. Anyone
16 years of age or older must have a valid fishing license in their
possession while fishing.
DFG
DFG K-9 Handlers Take 2011 and 2012 Officer of the Year Honors
Service dogs, real service dogs and not the pretenders, come in all shapes and sizes and from many breeds. Most people envision a shepherd or a Golden when they hear 'service dog' just as many associate the term service dog with police canines and seeing- eye dogs. But true service dogs do more than guide the blind or assist police in their work.
Only few of us know that trained service dogs also take to the fields and forests with California game wardens of the Department of Fish and Game. It is not likely that many dog lovers who frequent Internet dog sites are active hunters. But those who are have most likely encountered one of these brave and tough dogs. Together with their law enforcement handlers they brave cold, heat, rain. snow and highly dangerous, armed criminals that either cultivate illegal plants or decimate wildlife by poaching. It takes tough and energetic dogs to excel in this job.
The California Department of Fish and Game honored two of these men and their service dogs. Read their commendation below.
“March 13, 2012 DFG News
Two of the most energetic dogs in the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) K-9 program are teamed with perhaps the most energetic wardens in California. Today, these wardens were named Officer of the Year: Trinity County Warden Paul Cardoza for 2011 and Shasta County Warden Brian Boyd for 2012. (DFG’s Law Enforcement Division traditionally announces the Officer of the Year during its annual Advanced Officer Training, but because budget constraints pre-empted last year’s training, both this year’s and last year’s award recipients were announced today.)
“Wardens Cardoza and Boyd have developed a reputation for maximizing the effectiveness of their K-9 partners to catch a lot of poachers,” said Nancy Foley, Chief of DFG’s Law Enforcement Division. “We are proud of their efforts and accomplishments.”
Warden Cardoza and his K-9 partner Kilo have proven themselves time and again on a number of poaching and general law enforcement cases, including one investigation where Kilo searched a murder scene a few days after the incident and found a firearm that witnesses had attempted to hide. The duo’s find resulted in the arrested man being cleared of murder charges (http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/?s=Cardoza).
Both Warden Cardoza and K-9 Kilo are known for their extremely high-energy personalities. Cardoza’s tireless pursuit of poachers is well respected by his law enforcement peers, both in and outside of DFG. He is very serious about his role as a game warden and as a K-9 handler.
In addition to his patrol responsibilities, Warden Cardoza is a firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor and an armorer for all department firearms. He conducts quarterly firearms training and teaches quarterly defensive tactics to his own squad, neighboring squads and academy cadets.
Warden Brian Boyd and K-9 partner Phebe have developed an effective technique for apprehending some of the most difficult and dangerous suspects in law enforcement work: fleeing illegal marijuana cultivation suspects on remote forest lands. The suspects are actively engaged in the commission of a felony, extremely physically fit, know the area better than their pursuers and are usually armed. To date, Warden Boyd and Phebe have apprehended 40 suspects (http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/good-dog-bites-bad-guys/).
Warden Boyd and Phebe are prominently featured on “Wild Justice,” the National Geographic reality series about California game wardens. Fans of the show routinely comment on the high-energy personalities of both Boyd and Phebe. In one episode during the show’s first season, producers attached a camera to Phebe’s collar to give viewers a never-before seen K-9 view of a chase and apprehension. They will duplicate the effort this season, which premiered March 11.
Warden Boyd has a reputation for pursuing poaching suspects with dogged determination, both by physically outrunning them and by outsmarting them. He has been known to use everything from disguises to creative surveillance techniques in his efforts to develop evidence of poaching crimes. Boyd has had an above-average number of trainees (rookie wardens right out of the academy) who commonly claim they learned more from him during their brief training cycle than from any other game warden in their careers. Three of those former trainees submitted lengthy nomination forms for his Officer of the Year honor.”
DFG
Convicted Deer Poachers Face Heavy
Fines, Penalties
February 27, 2012DFG
News
Three Stockton men face prison and jail terms, heavy fines, a
forfeited vehicle and destroyed firearms for conspiring to kill and
sell deer for profit.
In June 2011, after a three week investigation, wardens with the
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) arrested Thongseuth
Khounchanh, 58; Ti Sila, 51; and Bounleuna Sysenglath, 59; all from
Stockton, as they returned from an all-night poaching trip in El
Dorado County.
The investigation was prompted by an anonymous tip received in May
2011, when a caller to the DFG CalTIP line reported suspected deer
poaching activity associated with Khounchanh, Sila and Sysenglath.
Wardens conducted an extensive investigation that showed the suspects
making multiple poaching trips per week, including killing everything
from bucks to pregnant does. The poachers sold the deer meat as fast
as they could get it to an established network of buyers.
On Feb. 22, 2012, visiting Placer County Judge Hon. Angus
Saint-Evans found one defendant guilty of poaching-related felonies
and two of poaching-related misdemeanors.
Thongseuth Khounchanh was
convicted of felony conspiracy to possess deer for sale, in addition
to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was
sentenced to 16 months in state prison and was ordered by the court
to forfeit his vehicle.
Ti Sila and Bounleuna Sysenglath were each convicted of three
misdemeanor deer poaching-related offenses and were sentenced to 120
days in county jail, fines and penalties totaling $13,500 and three
years formal supervised probation.
All weapons used in the poaching crimes were forfeited and
will be destroyed.
“It took intensive effort from wardens to stop this poaching
operation,” said Assistant Chief Tony Warrington of DFG’s Law
Enforcement Division. “Wardens from all over the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Valley, including wardens from our Special Operations Unit,
Delta-Bay Enhanced Enforcement Program, warden-pilots from the air
services unit and the keen noses of our warden K-9s, collaborated to
put this case together.”
El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Michael Pizzuti
prosecuted the case and presented the court with evidence regarding
the egregious nature of their poaching crimes, along with the
extensive costs associated with the investigation.
To recoup costs from the intensive investigation, Judge
Saint-Evans ordered restitution from the three defendants in the
amount of $100,270.04.
Selling any deer meat in California, whether it was taken legally
under a recreational hunting license or killed illegally, is a crime.
DFG
BoarBooksandTutorials-Afewwords ofExplanation
We carry ads for our boar books and for the tutorials on this site
and in our publication 'Hunting Wild Boar . . .' in the side bar or
as full text features. The same books are also offered through
amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Sales of the books and the tutorials are vital for the existence
of the publications. They pay for the cost of upkeep and maintenance.
We are therefore grateful for any book order whether directly from
our sites or through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Therefore, all
orders are shipped as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours or
less, except for weekends and holidays.
Books ordered on or sites come by e-mail as .pdf files or, in the
case of audio books, as mp3 files.
This works quite well and reliably. However, recently there have
been a few unnecessary delays. We do not know whether it is a trend
or just a streak of bad luck. It is annoying nevertheless to the
buyers and to us alike.
Let me therefore briefly reiterate how orders are shipped. First,
all orders placed on either one of our sites use Paypal as payment
method. After payment from the buyer is effected, we get a notice
from Paypal to ship the order. The notice names the buyer and, most
importantly, gives us his e-mail address.
Upon receipt of this notice, we ship to the e-mail given by the
buyer at the time of purchase.
Now the bad news: If anything is wrong with this e-mail, you will
not receive your book. You will not know why you do not receive your
book. On the other hand, we will get our e-mail back with a message
saying that the buyer's server rejected the e-mail. We may not be
able to contact you. Why? See above!
How would you like to receive a buyer complaint to Paypal for
non-delivery of merchandise on the very same day the book was
ordered? Foolish, huh? But wait, it gets worse. Buyers e-mail server
rejected all e-mail sent to him. That's bad, right? Oh, wait till you
hear the rest.
Our response to the premature, unfounded buyer complaint went to a
Paypal address that responded with a form letter notifying us that
the response cannot be accepted at this address. Instead, the letter
lectured, go to this address 'XXXXX' and submit your response there.
So done, the very same form letter comes back (letter 248) advising
us once again to reply to 'XXXX' instead. Great, isn't it? We do.
Same result! No wonder, our a-mail goes directly to India where a
good customer service person promptly creates an identical form
letter in a successful attempt to continue the vicious circle.
It took me half a day of research to cut through this nonsense and
to find a Paypal address that is indeed monitored by a thinking
person.
Right now, we have another order hanging in limbo because the
e-mail address of the buyer does not accept any e-mail at all. We are
waiting for a response to our snail mail letter telling them about
their non-functional e-mail. Oh well . . .
Remember a few simple things when ordering a book from our
website:
Your book will come as a pdf or mp3 file attached to an e-mail
sent to the address you used when ordering the book
Make sure that this e-mail address is active and receives e-mail.
Check your e-mail settings to assure that no restrictions forbid
certain attachments.
Make sure that the size of attachments is not limited. The size of
one of our books is about 7.5 Mb.
Check your spam filter settings to guarantee that e-mail from our
yahoo or gmail account is not filtered out.
Please give it 72 hours before you squawk. And make sure your
e-mail is working before you do (especially if you are still using
AOL mail).
It bothers me when one of us has to spend time to straighten out a
petty problem that could have been avoided in the first place.
Particularly since non-delivery complaints to Paypal will end with a
whimper because non-tangible items are not subject to the silly
Paypal/eBay complaint process.
A little attention and foresight will keep us all happy and the
books and articles coming.
By the way, book orders placed with Amazon and Barnes & Noble
are not affected by the above. However, books ordered from either one
of them are formatted for their digital readers. Though the text is
identical, formatting and presentation are not. If you own a Kindle
or a Nook, get the book from them.
PJJ
Orienteering
Clinic - How to navigate using map and compass.
March
18 Tejon Ranch, Kern County
This
one day clinic is designed to help every student learn and practice
basic navigation skills using a map and compass. There will be
class work and lab exercises that develop the skills learned.
The clinic will cover magnetic declination, the workings of a
baseplate compass, map reading, how to stay oriented naturally,
taking bearings, using magnetic bearings, the map coordinate systems.
All course materials and equipment will be provided. This clinic is
designed for all skill levels.
Space
is limited to 25 people so please register early. Accommodations
are camping. Cost: $65. 16 years and younger are free but must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Download
the registration form from
the DFG website or call Lieutenant Dan Lehman at 916-358-4356 for
more information.
PJJ
Fowl Weather a Boon for
Poachers: Butte County Wardens Make Huge Overlimit Case
January 25, 2012
DFG
News
“No one welcomed the recent storms more than California’s
70,000 waterfowl hunters. Rain and wind in California’s central
valley has salvaged what was an extremely slow hunting season for
waterfowl. All of the central valley wildlife areas and national
wildlife refuges with hunt programs reported increased hunter success
averages last weekend.
The vast majority of hunters in the field were law abiding and
ethical. But wardens cited three Butte County men and one San Jose
man who stepped far out of bounds by shooting a total of 108 ducks in
two days.
California regulations provide for a duck hunting limit of seven
ducks per day with 14 in possession if taken over two or more days.
Collectively, the four men had an overlimit of 52 ducks, with
additional individual species violations.
On Jan. 20, Butte County Warden Tyson Hulse observed unusual
behavior from the men that suggested they might be “double
tripping.” Double tripping is a term used to describe when a
poacher takes a limit of ducks or geese, brings them back to his
residence, then goes out again in an attempt to shoot more.
For 12 hours the following day, Hulse watched the four men
continue taking overlimits of ducks. At the end of the day, he
gathered three members of his squad and contacted the suspects at two
different residences. In addition to the 108 ducks the men killed in
the two day period, they had freezers full of additional duck meat in
various states of processing that made it difficult to count.
Citations were handed to Todd Gregory Owen, 48, and Cody Lee Owen,
21, both of Biggs; Clint Matthew Owen, 24, of Richvale; and Jeffrey
Delte, 24, of San Jose.
Hulse offered a special thank you to the Butte County Fish and
Game Commission for their recent purchase of high quality binoculars
and a spotting scope, without which the case would not have been
possible.”
More Fund-Raising Big Game Tags In 2012
The California Department of Fish and Game just announced that in 2012 four fund-raising big game tags will be offered to the public. Hunters can purchase tag drawing chances for $ 5.66 a piece. Deadline for your purchase is June 2, 2012.
The following random drawings for big game tags are being offered: One open zone deer tag and one Owens Valley zone elk tag (as in 2011). This year DFG will add one northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag and one Kelso Peak/Old Dead Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag.
California’s wild animals and plants need your help, and there’s
an easy way to do it! Just make a voluntary contribution on line 403
and/or line 410 of your state income tax return (Form 540). By
contributing any amount over one dollar you can support the
Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Rare and Endangered Species
Preservation Fund and/or the California Sea Otter Fund. What you
donate this year is tax deductible on next year’s return.
Californians can receive state income tax credit from the Franchise
Tax Board for helping wildlife.
“The voluntary donations made by Californians at tax time are
incredibly important in our efforts to save threatened and endangered
species,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “These funds have
provided critical support for many state-listed species such as the
Bakersfield cactus, Owens pupfish, San Francisco garter snake,
California tiger salamander, marbled murrelet, Mohave ground squirrel
and many more. These donations will help ensure that California’s
extraordinary biodiversity is maintained for future generations.”
There are 387 listed plant and animal species, from little “bugs”
that most of us have never heard of, to the iconic California sea
otter. Hundreds more are at risk. Money raised through the tax
check-off program helps pay for essential DFG research and recovery
efforts. Such work allowed the California brown pelican and American
peregrine falcon to be de-listed in 2009.
A second tax check-off fund was created specifically to facilitate
recovery of the California sea otter, which is listed as a State
Fully Protected Species and a Threatened Species under the federal
Endangered Species Act. Based on the most recently completed
survey, there are fewer than 2,800 sea otters remaining in
California. This small population is extremely vulnerable to oil
spills, environmental pollution, predation by white sharks and other
threats. Many sea otter deaths have been linked to pollution
flowing from land to the sea, including fecal parasites, bacterial
toxins and chemicals that have been linked to coastal land use.
According to DFG Wildlife Veterinarian and lead sea otter
researcher Melissa Miller, the California Sea Otter Fund provides
crucial funding to help scientists better understand and trace causes
of sea otter mortality, identify factors limiting population growth
and work collaboratively with stakeholders to prevent pollution of
California’s nearshore marine ecosystem. This fund is made possible
entirely through voluntary contributions by citizens of the state of
California. The California Sea Otter Fund has become especially vital
during the current economic downturn, because other sources of
support for sea otter conservation and research have decreased or are
no longer available. There are no other dedicated state funding
sources available to continue this important work.
You can support this research by making a contribution on line 410
of your state tax form 540, the California Sea Otter Fund. DFG works
with Defenders of Wildlife to help promote the Sea Otter Fund. An
excellent video about the sea otters’ current plight is on their
website, www.defenders.org
More information on the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation
tax check-off program is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/taxcheck.
A
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PIGS - MYSTERIOUS BOAR is
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Copyright Peter Jaeckle 11/2011.
All rights reserved.
"Hunting Wild Boar - Hunting a world citizen
made easy"
Injured Turkey Released
Back Into the Wild – Just In time for Thanksgiving
Wild
turkey hit by arrow captured, treated and released by DFG.
The
Department of Fish and Game and veterinarians of UC Davis worked
together to treat a wild turkey that had been shot with a target
arrow as reported by DFG News. The bird had been living in the Davis
area with an arrow protruding from his body. He was eventually
captured with a netgun.
Game
warden Warden Patrick Foy and DFGWildlife Veterinarian Ben Gonzales
transported the animal to veterinarian teaching clinic of UC Davis
where “the two-year-old male turkey was evaluated by a team of
veterinarians specializing in avian species and surgery. Dr. Michelle
Hawkins, associate professor of veterinary medicine determined that
the arrow had penetrated the soft tissue of the turkey’s tail but
had missed the bird’s vital organs . . .”
“This
turkey was very lucky, we had some of the best veterinary care in the
world available just across the freeway,” said Warden Foy. “It
was a real animal ‘ER’.”
(DFG News 11/17/2011/UCDavis School f Veterinary Medicine)
“He
will fly again,” said Dr. Hawkins. “The arrow was removed from
the turkey and antibiotics were administered. When the turkey awoke,
it was evident he was ready to go home.”
Good
luck was with the turkey in more than one way. The arrow had missed
his vital organs. It only penetrated soft tissue. It helped that he
was located so close to UC Davis. Moreover, good fortune was also
with him because wild pigs did not detect him nor did they have a
chance to transform him into an early Thanksgiving Dinner.
Wild pigs eat weak and injured animals of all kind.
Turkey
season lasts till November 27, 2011. The turkey was shot before the
season opened. Use of a target arrow on game is also illegal.
PJJ
Reduced fee fishing and
hunting licenses for disabled Veterans.
Veterans with
service-related injuries of fifty percent or more can get reduced fee
hunting and fishing licenses and are eligible to participate in
special hunting opportunities.
“The 2011 Sport Fishing
License (Reduced – Disabled Veteran) and Disabled Veteran Hunting
License cost only $6.44 when purchased at DFG license counters.”
The first disabled
hunting license must be purchased from a DFG sales office. Proof of
successful participation in a Hunter Safety Course and “certification
from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs or a copy of a
previous year’s California Disabled Veteran Hunting License is
required at the time of application.”
Sales offices are located
in Eureka, Fresno, Los Alamitos, Monterey, Napa, Rancho Cordova,
Redding, Sacramento, San Diego and Stockton.
Some wildlife areas,
ecological reserves and National Wildlife Refuges have hunting blinds
that are accessible to mobility impaired hunters. The Department of
Fish and Game also works with military installations to improve
wildlife management. The department also provides tags for
participating installations for deer and Tule elk to be issued to
military personnel
PJJ
Habitat Restoration and Maintenance
at Carlsbad Lagoon
October 18, 2011 DFG News
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will begin a maintenance
dredging operation at the Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve in
November.
“The 542 acres of vast eelgrass beds, mudflats and both salt and
freshwater marsh habitats support the many fish and avian species
that inhabit the area. The land is jointly owned by DFG and the State
Lands Commission and both have the responsibility for conservation
and preservation of the resources in the lagoon. The State Lands
Commission is partnering with DFG to provide contracting assistance
to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.
The project will remove 118,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand
that has been drawn in from the ocean at the mouth, accumulating to
form a shoal in the central basin . . . that hinders the flow of
incoming and outgoing tides. During the operation, the dredged sand
from within the central basin will be pumped onto South Ponto Beach
to the south of the lagoon inlet, where it will provide habitat for
grunion and shorebirds and enhance the recreational experience for
beachgoers . . .
DFG will address erosion concerns in the western basin during a
later phase of the project. Two nesting areas for California least
terns (Sternula antillarum browni) and western snowy plovers
(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) were created in the
western basin during the original restoration project. Unprotected
edges of these sites have experienced ongoing erosion, resulting in
loss of nesting habitat and steep, unstable slopes.”
DFG
DFG Wardens Pinch
Lobster Poachers at Redondo Beach Pier
Lobster season just
started. Piers along the California coastline are popular spots for
recreational lobster fishermen. Unfortunately, a small percentage of
sports anglers does not play by the rules. They also frequent the
piers. Is it therefore surprising that Fish and Game wardens also
join the crowd? Not to you and to me. But not to the perpetrators.
“We are
focusing our patrols on the worst abusers of our lobster resource to
protect it for responsible users,” said Assistant Chief Paul
Hamdorf of the California Department of Fish and Game Law Enforcement
Division. “We are successfully using a team patrol concept and will
continue to seek out those who intentionally violate fishing and
hunting laws.”
California spiny lobsters. DFG photo by Derek Stein.
With lobster
season open and under way, wardens throughout Southern California are
making numerous lobster poaching cases, but nowhere has the poaching
pressure been greater than Redondo Beach.
On Sept. 29, two
nights prior to the lobster season opener, Wardens Michele Budish and
Kory Collins observed five men poaching lobsters from the King Harbor
Jetty. They observed the men for approximately four hours and
ultimately contacted them at 2 a.m. as they drove away in their
pickup. The five men possessed 132 lobsters, many of them were
shorter than the size limit. All five subjects were arrested for
gross overlimit of lobster and possession of lobster for commercial
sale. They were booked into Redondo Beach Police Department jail,
their gear was seized as evidence, and their vehicle was towed.
Arrested during the case were Ramon Gonzalo Montes, 28, Omar De Leon
Aguilar, 26, and Juan Manuel De Leon Haro, 34, all from Los Angeles
and Augustin Granados, 67, and Ruben Flores, Jr.,38, both of South
Gate. Budish and Collins returned to the King Harbor Jetty the same
night and made four more lobster poaching cases totaling 13
additional poached lobsters before the morning sun came up. All
lobsters from the night’s cases were photographed as evidence and
successfully returned to the ocean.
Recreational
lobster fishing season opened Oct. 1, 2011 and extends to Mar. 21,
2012. Lobster fishing regulations are found on page 57 of the Ocean
Sportfishing Regulations and are available at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/sportfishing_regs2011.asp.
Lobster report
cards are required for all anglers fishing for lobsters. The report
card must be filled out prior to fishing for lobster, a common
violation that has generated numerous warnings since the season
opened, but will transition to citations soon. Data from the lobster
report cards helps biologists closely monitor the health of the
population.
Lobster seasons
and size limits are set to allow lobsters the opportunity to
reproduce prior to being old enough to retain by anglers, which takes
about five to six years.
