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Recreation
When cattle run feral …
Question: I know of people seeing feral cattle in a wilderness area where I hunt. The area is miles from the nearest maintained trail at elevations where bighorns are found. Rangers also confirm the cattle are feral, as in left behind by the ranchers who used to run cattle in the area.
What are the laws regarding taking feral cattle in California? I know other states, such as Colorado, allow it year round, unregulated. (Stephen M.)
Answer: “Feral cows” do not exist in Fish and Game regulations because all cattle are considered domestic (not wild or feral) livestock and are someone’s property.
California may have feral pigs but there is no such thing as a feral cow. Cattle all belong to someone until that right of ownership is relinquished, and ranchers do lease cattle grazing rights on public property.
It would be a felony to kill another’s cow without their permission (grand theft) and therefore unlawful for you to “harvest” cattle from the wilderness area, or any other place for that matter, without written permission.
When cattle do gain access to a wildlife area, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has the authority to relocate them under the provisions of the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 550(b)(16).
Bottom line … if you try to do this yourself, you may be arrested for cattle rustling and find yourself in jail for up to six months along with facing a hefty fine.
Colorado River stamp no longer required?
Question: I hear that the Colorado River Stamp was discontinued for 2014. If so, what license or stamps do I need to fish in the Colorado River now? (Glenn U.)
Answer: Yes, the Colorado River Special Use Validation has been discontinued. California and Arizona have entered into an agreement for the reciprocal recognition of licenses to fish any portion of the Colorado River that is the boundary between California and Arizona.
With a California sport fishing license or an Arizona sport fishing license, you can fish from either shore, or from a boat, in the portion of the Colorado River that makes up the California-Arizona boundary and connected adjacent water that is the boundary between Arizona and California.
Anglers holding California sport fishing licenses abide by California regulations, and anglers holding Arizona sport fishing licenses abide by Arizona regulations.
This agreement does not apply to canals, drains or ditches used to transport water for irrigation, municipal or domestic purposes.
When is it legal to shoot across water?
Question: In one of your Cal Outdoors answers you laid out the parameters of hunting from a boat. How can this be legal if you are not allowed to shoot across water? (Keith and Julie B.)
Answer: While it is illegal to shoot across a roadway, it is not illegal to shoot across water as long as the shooter is able to clearly see their target and can do so safely.
Shooting from any “platform” which is not stable is unsafe, and discharging a rifle across a body of water is extremely dangerous due to the likelihood of the bullet ricocheting in an unintended direction. Shot shells do not present this danger to the same degree.
Taking non-licensed passengers along as observers while fishing?
Question: As an avid fisherman with a private vessel, I often take friends out hoop netting or fishing. Often these friends are perfectly happy to operate my boat while I tend the fishing line(s) or hoop nets.
Do these companions need to have a fishing license as long as we follow the bag limits and limits on nets and lines in the water for a single fisherman? It is often a spur of the moment decision to go out, and sending my guest off to get a license for one or two hours of fishing is inconvenient at best. (Jack Z.)
Answer: You are welcome to take non-licensed passengers along to observe you while fishing or hoop netting as long they do not engage at all in any of the actual sport fishing activities.
It is only in the commercial fishing industry where those who assist with the boat handling and other tasks need to have their own commercial fishing license.
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
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men's Niners Golf Club kicked off its 2014 season with a stroke-play tournament on Thursday, March 6.
The results were:
- First flight: Fred Figg and Paul Bertlin tied for the top spot with net 31. Bill Brewster was third with 33.
- Second flight: Kerry Flynn took first at 33. Bob Curtin took second at 35. Don Dornbush, Jim Hodges, and Bill Lyon tied for third at 36.
- Third flight: Gary Foote posted the lowest net of the day, 30. James Dvoark was second, 32. Jim DeRosa and Jay Hodges tied for third, 34.
Closest to the par 3 pins were Olie Smith and Bill Lyon.
Chip-ins were scored by Bob Curtin, Woody Frink, Bob Schossler, Randy Brown and Paul Bertlin.
Forty-eight men participated in this kickoff event.
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have agreed on a temporary contingency plan for the release of hatchery smolts in 2014 due to drought.
The goal of the contingency plan outlined today is to ensure the greatest survival of Chinook salmon smolts released from hatcheries managed by CDFW and the USFWS under current drought conditions. The plan includes thresholds for trucking all or part of Sacramento River Basin salmon smolts to selected net pen locations downstream of the Delta.
“While we know that our hatchery systems in California need ultimately to move away from trucking to reduce the adverse biological effects that trucking causes, this drought and what we are predicting for in-river conditions in the next few months for out-migrating fish requires us to consider exceptions to the preferred approach,” said Dan Castleberry, Assistant Regional Director for the USFWS.
This decision and the contingency plan are informed by lengthy and collaborative discussions with leaders in the California commercial fishing industry.
After these discussions and input from NMFS, CDFW and USFWS this approach was pursued because of the exceptional circumstances created by the current drought in the state, and the risks of those circumstances to salmon and the commercial salmon fishing industry.
California is facing an extreme drought. These extreme drought conditions are forcing these agencies to consider actions to preserve the future of salmon fishing in California.
“It is important to recognize two things: first, our decision to adapt fast to drought and truck fish this year should not be used to argue against long-term reform of our hatcheries,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Second, the state and federal agencies care greatly about this state’s salmon and the fishing industry. We need to take these adaptive approaches given the severity of this drought.”
Trucking all or part of the fall-run Chinook is only being considered as a one-time action at this time. But for the drought, agencies have been striving to increase smolt releases into the rivers where the hatcheries operate to allow for the more natural migration of anadromous fish.
Salmon return to their spawning grounds using their sense of smell. The process, called imprinting, begins before birth as waters flow over the eggs and continues as they grow and make their way to the ocean.
Each segment of water on their journey has distinctive chemical cues, which they can re-trace to their spawning grounds.
“We have been working closely with our partners at USFWS and CDFW in reviewing their efforts for transporting hatchery production of salmon smolts to the ocean during this severe drought year,” said Will Stelle, NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator. “We strongly support these efforts and share in the commitment for long-term reform of hatchery practices that impact wild salmon stocks.”
This contingency plan is designed to ensure the most smolts reach the ocean taking into account the drought.
Trucking of smolts from CDFW’s Sacramento basin hatcheries is regarded as the best management option at this time based on projected water flows and conditions during the outmigration of smolts.
Up to 18.4 million Sacramento fall-run Chinook smolts will be evaluated for potential trucking during April, May and June 2014.
CDFW will continue the important barge study, which keeps protected smolts in recirculating water as they are taken downstream so they pick up the chemical cues, in hopes to improve the survival rate of migrating salmon.
Consultation and coordination will continue over the coming weeks between CDFW, USFWS and NMFS to fine-tune and implement this plan. Should drought conditions change, all parties will quickly re-evaluate and possibly reverse this action.
Sacramento fall-run Chinook salmon are the primary driver of ocean commercial and recreational fisheries. Trucking of smolts from inland hatcheries to net pen sites at Jersey Point and San Pablo Bay helps minimize in-river losses to unsuitable water quality conditions, predation and entrainment due to during drought conditions.
In the fall of 2013, 444,000 Chinook adult salmon returned to the Central Valley to spawn. Most spawned in natural areas now being impacted by drought. The deterioration of river conditions will affect the survival of their off-spring.
Klamath Basin fall run Chinook salmon raised at two state operated hatcheries are not expected to need out migration assistance at this time. At Iron Gate Hatchery, on the Klamath River, a release plan includes alternate release site use downstream as identified in the hatchery genetic management plan.
“We are pleased the USFWS, CDFW and NMFS have spent so much time trying to help solve this problem with us,” said Zeke Grader, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. “Salmon is a serious business in California.”
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- Written by: Editor
COBB, Calif. – The Friends of Boggs Mountain will be offering a nature walk on the interpretive trail at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 15.
This is an opportunity to get some exercise, enjoy a hike and note what is going on in the world of nature in the forest as well.
The interpretive trail has more than 50 signs identifying the plants, shrubs, trees, mosses and wildflowers encountered on the path.
Both the mountain dogwood and the common snowberry are beginning to leaf out, shoots of the giant horsetail should be emerging, and witches butter is to be found after the recent heavy rains.
If hikers are lucky, they'll also be treated to the spring song of the diminutive Pacific Wren.
The 1.3-mile hike will be on moderate terrain and will be led by Darlene Hecomovich.
Wear sturdy shoes, dress appropriately for weather conditions, and bring water and enthusiasm.
Meet at the parking lot kiosk promptly at 9 a.m. The forest entrance is located off Highway 175 just 1½ miles north of Cobb Village. Turn at the blue State Fire Station/Boggs Mountain Forest sign.
For further information phone Darlene Hecomovich at 707-928-5591 or email at
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- Written by: Editor