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Recreation
RED BLUFF, Calif. – Time is running out to submit vendor and artist applications or to purchase advance tickets for dinner and a concert for the “Wilderness Treasures Rendezvous – Celebrating 50 Golden Years.”
This once-in-a-lifetime event will be held Oct. 10 to 12 at Tehama District Fairgrounds in Red Bluff.
The 50th Wilderness Celebration still has space available for vendors and artists with a connection to recreational, ecological or cultural wilderness values. Applications should be submitted by Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Tickets are on sale for the Dave Stamey concert and dinner scheduled for Saturday night, Oct. 11.
Ticket numbers are limited, so advance purchase is recommended. Preregistration for camping at the fairgrounds is available as well.
Vendor and artist application forms, as well as event registration and ticket purchasing information can be found on the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorCalWilderness50thCelebration .
For area educators and schools, the 50th Wilderness Celebration features a Youth Day Friday, Oct. 10. This is an opportunity to learn more about wilderness, conservation and connect students with careers tied to natural resource management.
For more information or to sign your school up, please contact Debra-Ann Brabazon at 530-226-2322.
Agencies and partners are celebrating Northern California’s federally designated wilderness areas made possible through the 1964 Wilderness Act. This includes eight National Forests, six Bureau of Land Management Units, Lassen National Park and Lava Beds National Monument.
Free and open to the public, this world-class event features the wide range of opportunities and perspectives on wilderness, including recreation, ecological diversity, conservation, history and culture. It celebrates the rugged and breathtaking federally managed wilderness areas from Sacramento to the Oregon border.
This celebration provides a one-stop shop to gather wilderness information, learn new or enhance existing recreation skills, experience culture inspired by the breathtaking beauty of these treasured landscapes, swap stories, discover the unique bioregions that set these areas apart, and meet both experienced wilderness enthusiasts and those interested in their first adventure.
Even for visitors that may not be able to personally travel to a wilderness, there will be a wealth of resources available showcasing the uniqueness of these wild public lands and their many benefits – not only through conserving wild spaces, but also contributing to clean water, air and wildlife habitat.
With displays, demonstrations, workshops, speakers, live music, great food, art fair, camping and more, this is a great family event.
For more information on the Northern California 50th Wilderness Celebration, including registration for dinner, concert, camping or stalls, and vendor interest forms, please visit the event’s page at https://www.facebook.com/NorCalWilderness50thCelebration .
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is asking hunters to help prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) into California. CWD is a neurologic disease that is fatal to deer, elk and moose.
Out-of-state big game hunters should review CDFW’s hunting regulations regarding interstate transport of deer and elk before bringing game meat across state lines: www.fgc.ca.gov/public/notices/declaration.aspx .
“If an infected carcass is transported into California and is improperly disposed of in deer or elk habitat, it could result in infection of California cervids,” said CDFW Senior Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Ben Gonzales. “If it enters the state, CWD has the potential to devastate our cervid populations and severely impact deer and elk hunting in California.”
California hunting regulations specifically prohibit importing brain or spinal cord tissue from deer and elk harvested outside of California to minimize the risk of introducing CWD into the state. Hunters are encouraged to only bring back deboned elk or deer meat. Wardens have the authority to inspect harvested game and conduct vehicle stops when successful hunters return to California.
It is unlawful to import, or possess any hunter harvested deer or elk carcass or parts of any cervid carcass imported into the state, except for the following body parts:
– Portions of meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached (other bones, such as legs and shoulders, may be attached);
– Hides and capes (no spinal column, brain tissue or head may be attached);
– Clean skull plates (no brain tissue may be present) with antlers attached;
– Antlers with no meat or tissue attached, except legally harvested and possessed antlers in the velvet stage are allowed, if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached;
– Finished taxidermy mounts with no meat or tissue attached (antlers in the velvet stage are allowed if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached);
– Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories).
California hunters who have been successful in other states must complete and return a declaration for entry form prior to returning home.
The form is available at all CDFW regional offices and online at www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/entry-declaration.aspx .
Failure to complete the form could result in a citation.
CWD has been detected in free-ranging cervids in 19 states and two Canadian provinces including Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
There is no evidence the disease affects humans.
A map of the areas infected with CWD can be found at www.cwd-info.org/index.php/fuseaction/about.map .
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) advises deer hunters to check for fire closures before heading into the field for upcoming deer hunts.
Drought and extremely dangerous fire conditions have combined in many areas of the state to ignite several large wildfires in many popular deer hunting areas.
Some areas of public land and roads have been closed to protect public safety. Deer hunting season opens in some of these areas over the next few weeks.
The U.S. Forest Service’s most updated closure information can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/closures/ .
Cal Fire's most updated closure information can be found at www.cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current .
King Fire closure information for deer zones D3-5 can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3817315 .
Hunters are urged to check these links frequently in order to obtain the most up-to-date information. Although some hunting areas may be closed, there is still plenty of public land where deer hunters can find hunting opportunities.
Detailed information and maps of California deer zones can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/zonemapsinfo.html .
Deer season opening and closing dates by zone can be found at https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/tags/ .
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Deer hunting from my porch?
Question: I have a house on five acres in Northern California and have some really nice bucks on my land.
Every day they come within a few feet of my house and graze on my garden and plants.
If I purchase an A Zone tag this year, can I legally shoot a deer on my land from my house or porch?
My house is situated more than 200 yards from any other property or house and it is outside of the city limits. Thanks. (Brian T.)
Answer: Yes. The safety zone law prohibits shooting within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling without the permission of the occupant.
As long as it is otherwise legal to discharge a firearm in this area (e.g. not in the city limits or not prohibited by county ordinance), then go for it!
Can lakes set their own fishing regulations?
Question: The local municipal water district operates a nearby lake that is open to the public for fishing and day use.
My question is regarding the regulations set for this lake.
The maximum daily catch limit is lower than the limits the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) authorizes.
Do they have the authority to do this? Who has the ultimate jurisdiction in this matter? (Roger S., Ojai)
Answer: Yes, this is legal for them to do. Private lake managers can be more restrictive than CDFW regulations but not less restrictive.
It is their prerogative to impose more stringent regulations in the interest of better managing their individual waters than what the state requires for managing California’s fisheries statewide.
Sorry, I’m sure this isn’t what you’d hoped to hear. For further clarification, please contact your local wildlife officer.
Trap and release squirrels and possums
Question: I live in a city in Southern California and have an avocado tree in my yard. Squirrels and possums have been a big problem recently.
Can I use a Havahart trap to catch them and then transport them to a more rural location a few miles away? (David S.)
Answer: Yes, most squirrels and possums can be trapped, but tree squirrels will need a depredation permit.
When trapping wildlife, traps must be checked every 24 hours and the animals either dispatched or released in the immediate area.
According to CDFW Statewide Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator Nicole Carion, squirrels and possums that have caused property damage can be trapped by legal means (Fish and Game Code, section 4180).
They can either be humanely euthanized or released in the immediate area. “Immediate” is not defined in regulations but the immediate area means “near” and most importantly within the normal home range of the animal.
The home range of squirrels and possums varies depending on habitat and other factors.
Squirrels and possums may not be “relocated” long distances from where they were trapped for many reasons, the most important being to prevent the spread of disease.
No matter how close or far a potential release site may be to the capture site, don’t release any animal in any location for which you do not have specific authorization from the owner of the property, including government agencies on public land. It’s not a law, just common courtesy!
Also, please be very cautious about trapping in the springtime because this is when wild animals have offspring.
Trapped nuisance wildlife cannot be taken to wildlife rehabilitators. Although rehabilitation facilities can take in orphaned wildlife, the orphaned animals will have a much higher chance of survival if they are raised by their wild mothers. Often wild animals only take up residence somewhere temporarily during the springtime.
There are many humane options available for keeping out animals seeking shelter in homes and structures on private property.
For more information on preventing wildlife access to human food sources, please visit our Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/products.html .
How many abalone in the freezer?
Question: I have been an abalone diver for nine years now and always keep my abalone frozen in my freezer to enjoy until the next year’s harvest. I am hearing mixed messages about the rules now and am confused as to whether it’s legal to do that.
I might have anywhere between one to 20 abalone in my freezer, all still tagged with the appropriate tag. Please confirm if it is legal to keep an overlimit of tagged abalone in my home. (Bill D.)
Answer: The limit is actually three abalone per day and in possession. This means that legally, one individual can have no more than three abalone in their possession (at the dive site, at home, in your vehicle, in your freezer, etc.) at one time.
You can still give away your abalone to friends or family members living in the same house with you. Each person may have no more than three abalone in their possession at any time.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson