How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association invites community members to join Walt Lyon for a morning hike on the Indian Nature Trail at Clear Lake State Park on Saturday, June 1.
The 8:30 a.m. starting time guarantees cool, refreshing morning air as hikers ascend the shady hillside trail to the overlook.
Along the way, Lyon will share information and interesting tidbits about the native plants beside the path and how they were used by the aboriginal inhabitants of the county and are used today by their descendants.
This is a short, moderate trail. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Meet Lyon at the trailhead near the park entrance kiosk.
If the parking lot there is congested, additional parking is available in the lot adjacent to the visitor center, a brisk 15-minute walk back to the trailhead.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road near Kelseyville.
The entry fee to the park is waived for those participating in the nature walk.
- Details
- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: What do the wardens do with the seized abalone, crab, cod, salmon, etc.? You can't tell me that it gets thrown away! (Austin)
Answer: When unlawfully taken fish or game is seized, it is kept as evidence until the case is settled or until the judge orders it returned. In most cases though, if at all possible and in good condition, seized fish and game is given to the homeless shelters or soup kitchens that allow donations of wild fish and game.
Because of inspection requirements, some facilities may not be able to accept these donations. If a suitable facility cannot be found, the evidence is thrown away or destroyed.
In some commercial cases involving commercial size loads, the Fish and Game Code allows for this evidence to be sold and the proceeds may be used by the department.
Shrimp fishing
Question: I would like to do some shrimp fishing but when I read the regulations, they say shrimp traps can't have an opening larger than a half-inch in diameter in waters south of Point Conception. This makes it impossible to catch any of decent size.
Are there different regs for spot prawns which are quite large and could never fit through this size hole? (Jesse Link)
Answer: Your reading of the regulations is correct on the size of the trap opening, and you are also right about the opening size making it impossible to catch large spot prawn.
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) senior marine invertebrate specialist Kristine Barsky, when that regulation was developed, there was no interest in catching spot prawn recreationally.
The reason was because they are found so deep (80 to 100 fathoms) and it is time-consuming to raise and lower traps to that depth when the daily bag limit is only 35 shrimp.
In more northern states spot prawns are found in shallower water, but off Southern California they stay deep. The opening was kept small to prevent take of short lobster in this area.
As always, you are free to develop suggestions for regulation changes that you may present to the Fish and Game Commission.
For more information regarding this process, contact the California Fish and Game Commission at
Fishing during closed season
Question: In the freshwater regulation hand book under Section 1.38 it states: “CLOSED SEASON. That period during which the taking of fish, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks or crustaceans is prohibited.”
Can a person still fish during a closed season as long they release all the fish they catch? In other words, I would practice catch and release and use barbless hooks to protect the fish from further harm. The regulation restricts the taking of fish, but no fish will be taken. I am very confused. Can you help clarify? (Robin O.)
Answer: Fishing during a closed season is prohibited, period. Even though you don’t intend to take any fish away with you, the definition of take is to “Hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill fish, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans or invertebrates or attempting to do so” (CCR Title 14, section 1.80).
Therefore, despite your best methods, even the attempt to fish is prohibited. There are few exceptions, but the take of crayfish other than with hook and line is authorized under 5.35 (e) when a stream is otherwise closed to fishing.
Max rounds in hunting rifle?
Question: What is the maximum number of rounds you can have in your hunting rifle? I have heard it is five rounds but other people have said the California limit is 10 rounds. What’s the correct answer? (Nick Holly)
Answer: Most rifles hold three to five rounds, but the California penal code allows for up to 10 rounds.
There are no California Fish and Game Code sections that address limits on the number of rounds a rifle may hold.
Remember the Penal Code prohibits the purchase or sale of 10 round rifles.
There are many rifles out there that were purchased long before these laws went into effect that are perfectly legal.
Many people own .22 caliber rifles with tube magazine and high capacities. These are not outlawed and can be used for hunting small game.
Many people have carbines and other rifles bought long ago and they too are still legal even with a 30 round magazine.
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
- Details
- Written by: Dorothy De Lope
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County, will meet on Saturday, May 25.
The group will meet beginning at 9 a.m. at the Konocti Bay Sailing Club building located at Braito's Marina at the end of the Buckingham Peninsula in Kelseyville.
The meeting is open to anyone 17 years or older who would be interested in joining this active group.
For additional information, call the flotilla's information line at 707-513-5122
- Details
- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced hunters may now apply online for the Big Game drawing and purchase 2013-2014 hunting licenses. Transactions may be conducted at any CDFW license sales office, license agent or online.
All hunt tags for premium deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep are awarded through CDFW’s Big Game drawing. To qualify, the sales transaction must be completed before midnight on June 2, 2013.
When completed, the customer will receive a receipt to show their hunt choices have been entered in the drawing. Mail-in applications will not be accepted. Beginning June 21, hunters may contact a CDFW license sales office or look online to check the results.
The following resources are available to assist hunters:
- To find a license agent near you or to purchase items online, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing .
- To learn more about the Big Game drawing application process, view the 2013 California Hunting Digest (2013 Big Game) at www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest/ .
- To purchase a license and submit drawing applications by telephone, contact the license sales line at 800-565-1458.
Fundraising drawing opportunities
CDFW’s random draw fundraising program includes tags for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and a bighorn sheep. Last year, those opportunities generated more than $300,000 for wildlife conservation.
The drawings for deer, elk and antelope are open to anyone 12 years of age or older as of July 1, 2013. The bighorn sheep drawing is open to anyone 16 years of age or older as of July 1, 2013. The cost to enter the drawings is $5.97 per entry, per hunt.
Applicants do not need a valid hunting license to apply, and may apply for the drawings as many times as they wish by June 2, 2013. Winners will be required to purchase an annual hunting license. However, the tag will be issued at no additional cost.
Marble/Clipper and South Bristol Mountains Desert bighorn sheep tag
The fundraising random drawing bighorn sheep tag allows the hunter to hunt in the Marble/Clipper and South Bristol hunt zones with any legal method.
The hunt dates are from Nov. 2, 2013 to Feb. 3, 2014, which is one month in advance of the general season.
Any resident or nonresident who will be age 16 or older as of July 1, 2013, may apply as many times as they want.
If successful, the hunter must attend CDFW’s mandatory bighorn sheep hunter orientation meeting before the tag is issued.
Free guide services have been offered to the recipient of the random drawing fundraising sheep tag.
Open zone deer tag
An open zone deer tag allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.
Northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag
The fundraising random drawing antelope tag allows the hunter to hunt in any of the northeastern antelope zones, (Mount Dome, Clear Lake, Likely Tables, Lassen, Big Valley and Surprise Valley) with any legal method.
The hunt dates are from Aug. 3 to Sept. 22, 2013. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.
Owens Valley elk tag
The fundraising random drawing tule elk tag allows hunting in any of the Owens Valley zones (Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, Tinemaha, West Tinemaha, Tinemaha Mountain, and Whitney) with any legal method.
The hunt dates are from July 27 to Aug. 25, 2013. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.