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Recreation
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) encourages all Californians to give fishing a try for free this Saturday, Sept. 6.
This is the second of two Free Fishing Days in 2014, when people can fish without having to buy a sport fishing license.
Free Fishing Days also provide an easy opportunity for licensed anglers to introduce nonangling friends and children to fishing and the outdoors.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements and fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect.
Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead, sturgeon or abalone anywhere in the state, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
CDFW annually offers two Free Fishing Days – usually around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend – when it is legal to fish without a sport fishing license.
This year, the Free Fishing Days were set on the Saturdays following Independence Day (July 5) and Labor Day (Sept. 6).
Some CDFW regions offer Fishing in the City, a program where children can learn to fish in major metropolitan areas.
Fishing in the City and Free Fishing Day clinics are designed to educate novice anglers about fishing ethics, fish habits, effective methods for catching fish and fishing tackle. Anglers can even learn how to clean and prepare fish for eating.
Anglers should check the rules and regulations at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations/ for the waters they plan to fish because wildlife officers will be on duty to enforce them.
For more information on Free Fishing Days, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/freefishdays.html .
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites nonprofit organizations to help wildlife by auctioning big game hunting license tags for the 2015-16 season.
There will be 12 or 13 of these special fundraising tags reserved for 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups to sell, which will allow the highest bidder to hunt bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope in California.
Nonprofit organizations compete for a chance to auction these special fundraising tags, which hunters can only buy through such auctions.
Organizations that have previously applied or expressed interest in future opportunities to sell these tags have been notified by email.
The possibility of winning such a rare prize attracts bidders to the groups’ fundraising events, which helps them raise more money for their organizations.
California Fish and Game Code, section 4334 requires the proceeds from the sale of these few tags to be returned to CDFW to fund programs that benefit bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope.
In last year’s auctions, tags for hunting one bighorn sheep, one pronghorn antelope, two elk and eight deer raised more than $338,000 for the research and management of these wildlife species.
A call for applications and the required application form are available on the CDFW Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/fundraising/ .
Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on Sept. 29.
Representatives of nonprofit groups may also request a printed application package by calling the CDFW Wildlife Branch at 916-445-4034, sending a fax to 916-445-4048, or by writing to Regina Abella, CDFW Wildlife Branch, 1812 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95811.
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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a stroke-play tournament on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The results were:
- First flight: Bill Kyle, Bruce Brashares and Pete Gascoigne tied for the top spot with the lowest nets of the day, 32.
- Second flight: Jim Hodges was first at 34. Ned Munger was second at 35 and Bill Stricklan third, 36.
Closest to the par three pins were Paul Peterson and Arch Madsen.
Chip-ins were scored by Scott McAllister, Mike Riley and Adckinjo Esutoki.
Forty-three men participated in this event.
Ron Hallman is publicist for the HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club.
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- Written by: Ron Hallman
Hunting in the rut?
Question: You recently said it’s easier to hunt deer during the rut – where do you get your information? Have you compared the buck kill rates in states that allow deer to be hunted during the rut against the deer harvest in California?
The buck-to-doe ratio in California is terrible. I don't believe the deer kill in California would be any higher than in any states that allow the deer harvest during the rut.
It is not that easy to hunt deer in other states during the rut. If that were true the deer kill would be huge in those states, rather than their average yearly take.
Also, why does the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) require that those hunters that do not harvest a deer in California must still call in or go online to report a non-harvest?
If 260,000 licenses are sold and 50,000 hunters report a successful kill, why do the other 210,000 hunters have to report unsuccessful hunts? You already know simply by the successful hunters reports that the rest of the hunters were unsuccessful.
What possible information can you gather by asking the unsuccessful hunters to verify an unsuccessful hunt? It is redundant information. (John M.)
Answer: Bucks in rut are much more vulnerable to all forms of predation – including by humans – because all they are interested in is mating and fighting, nothing else. They don't even eat during that time period because they are so focused on the other activities.
Plus, they are usually concentrated in certain places because rut hunting usually occurs on winter ranges for migratory deer.
According to CDFW Game Program Manager Craig Stowers, the reason we don't do more is because most California deer hunters would prefer a chance to hunt every year instead of having to wait to be drawn for a buck hunt.
Our stats show hunter success numbers for late season hunts are much higher than general season hunts, thus requiring fewer hunters in the field to reach harvest goals.
To view all of the harvest reports posted online, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/deerhunt.html .
It would make sense if the other states you are referring to are whitetail states where they are actively trying to reduce populations. That would explain why they actively hunt in the rut.
We ask the success questions because we need to determine more information than just how many deer are killed. We want to know why people were unsuccessful.
For example, if they were unsuccessful because they didn't even go hunting, we need to delete their information from the harvest results to give a true picture of success – those that don't even try shouldn't be included in the calculations.
We ask other questions like days spent hunting so we can paint a better picture of the amount of time and money hunters spend – all factors we use to justify the continuation of hunting. It's not just about figuring out how many deer are killed.
Chopped up carp chum?
Question: Is it legal for me to catch carp and then chop it up to use as chum when I go ocean fishing? (Chris S.)
Answer: Yes, carp can be legally used as chum in ocean waters. In inland waters, chumming is legal in only a few freshwater lakes and streams.
For a list of acceptable waters, please check section 2.40 in the Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.
Is it illegal to have a trout on a stringer?
Question: I know that trout may not be maintained or possessed in a live condition in any container on or attached to any boat, but is it also illegal to have trout on a stringer?
We like to keep our catch on a stringer and the stringer in the water to preserve the meat. We do not attempt to keep trout alive with the intent of changing out the smaller ones. We just enjoy a good fish fry.
Thank you for any help. (Stas and Holly A., Buena Park)
Answer: Keeping your fish on a stringer in the water is perfectly fine. The fish cannot swim freely when on a stringer, and this method does help to keep them fresh until you’re ready for your fish fry!
Fishing for sanddabs
Question: When fishing for sanddabs, how many hooks can be attached to the line on a single rod? (Len P.)
Answer: You may fish for sanddabs with as many hooks as you like on a single rod, unless rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, greenlings, or salmon are on the vessel or in possession, in which case special restrictions apply (California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 27.80 and 28.65).
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