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Recreation
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: I have a business where I sell different types of exotic meats for human consumption. If legal to do, I would like to offer the meat of the following species of rattlesnakes: eastern, western and prairie rattlesnakes.
I know I cannot bring western diamondbacks into the state, but are there any restrictions to selling eastern diamondbacks and prairie rattlesnakes from Montana in California?
What about selling rattlesnake sausages and rattlesnake cakes made in Colorado? Can I sell processed food in California or is there a restriction? (Anshu P.)
Answer: There are no restrictions in California Fish and Game laws against importing and selling the meat of any species of reptile or amphibian that is not found in the wild in California, as long as they are not otherwise prohibited by federal law.
For a list of species found in the wild in California, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/list.html .
Lobster hooping?
Question: I understand from the regulations that if hoop netting from a kayak, you need to keep your license and card with you. However, if you are scuba diving, you can keep it in your car 500 yards away.
I want to hoop from land, but most likely I will have to swim or get wet at certain areas. Can I also keep my license in my car or do I have to bring it with me? (Ping Lee)
Answer: When a person is diving from a boat, the license may be kept in the boat, or in the case of a person diving from the shore, the license may be kept within 500 yards on the shore (Fish and Game Code, section 7145(a)).
Therefore, the Fish and Game law that allows the license to remain in the vehicle is specific to a person who is diving from the shore and within 500 yards of the vehicle.
Under all other circumstances, the law requires you to have your license in your immediate possession.
Bluegill for bait?
Question: I have had some discussions with other fisherman over the use of bluegill for bait in the body of water it was caught in.
I can’t seem to find anything on the Web site this year pertaining to using them for bait. Am I looking in the wrong area? Have the regulations changed?
Please lend us a hand with some info because we don’t want to fish out of our limits. Thanks a million and tight lines to you. (Randall S.)
Answer: California sportfishing regulations for freshwater generally prohibit using live or dead finfish for bait.
Although certain species of finfish may be used in the waters where taken, bluegill may only be used in the Colorado River District (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 4.15(a)) and portions of the Valley and South Central Districts (see CCR Title 14, section 4.20(d)). See sections 4.00 - 4.30 in the Freshwater Sportfishing Regulations for a complete listing of fish that may be used for bait, and keep in mind that bluegill are sunfish pursuant to CCR Title 14, section 1.77.
The regulations are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ .
New big game random drawing tags?
Question: What's the latest on the special big game tags this year? Will any new tags be available via the random drawing system? (George S., Modesto)
Answer: Yes! Hunters can apply for four different fund-raising random drawing tags. These tags raise funds needed for vital wildlife conservation programs.
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Big Game Program Analyst Lai Saechao, the 2013 fund-raising random drawing tag for bighorn sheep will be valid in two hunt zones.
The hunter will have a choice between the Marble/Clipper Mountains or the South Bristol Mountain hunt zones. In addition, Dry Creek Outfitters has offered free guide services to the winner of the Fund-Raising Random Drawing Bighorn Sheep Tag.
Also available, one open zone deer tag which allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any deer hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt.
There’s also an Owens Valley elk tag which allows the hunter to hunt in any of the Owens Valley zones (Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, Tinemaha, Tinemaha Mountain and Whitney) with any legal method.
Last but not least, a Northeastern California antelope tag will be valid in the Mount Dome, Clear Lake, Likely Tables, Lassen, Big Valley and Surprise Valley zones with any legal method.
Opportunities to apply for these four fund-raising random drawing tags are available to all interested hunters.
Hunters can now apply at any CDFW license sales office, through license agents or online at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/ .
Hunters may also apply for these fund-raising random drawing tags at the CDFW booth at the Fred Hall Shows in Long Beach and Del Mar next month.
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: Editor
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Glory Days Flag Football League held its 2013 Winter Season Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 9, at Haverty Field in Clearlake.
Mean Machines of Clearlake were defeated by Upper Lake, although the final score of 37-18 did not necessarily indicate how competitive the contest was.
Through almost three quarters, control of the game was not defined until Upper Lake’s experience finally gained them the edge needed to procure the title of repeating league champions.
Players on both teams and fans in attendance commented on how much fun the game was.
The league would like to express its appreciation for the fans coming out to show their support.
Special thanks to Fantasy Faces and Body Art by Chayo for coming out to the field and helping entertain the fans and league members.
They also were grateful to Esther Allen and her barbecue crew for helping feed everyone. Shannon Nailor offered his announcing/commentating talent, which was combined with Jesse Boyd’s (Four Corners Hardware) donation of some equipment to assist Bruno Sabatier and LCPTV Channel 8’s video crew in getting some footage of the action on the field that they will use to produce a video. That video will be aired at a later date.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Public Services Director Caroline Chavez announced the spring 2013 schedule for docent-led hikes on Mt. Konocti.
Hikes are planned for the following dates: Saturday, March 30; Saturday, April 20; Sunday, May 19; and Sunday, June 9.
The meeting spot will take place at the main parking lot of the park and the approximately four hour guided hikes will begin at 8 a.m.
The park is accessed by taking Konocti Road up the mountain from Kelseyville.
The hike is moderately strenuous and will cover approximately six miles roundtrip. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes appropriate for rugged terrain and to bring a lunch, a supply of water, a daypack, as well as binoculars and/or a camera.
The number of spaces for the docent led hikes is limited, and reservations are required. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Inclement weather cancels the hike.
The hike, which will be led by experienced docents, will include visits to the historic Downen Cabin and the top of Wright Peak, with an optional climb to the top of the Cal Fire lookout tower.
At 4,299 feet in elevation, Wright Peak is the highest point on the mountain, and the tower, which was built in 1976 and used until recently by fire lookout crews, provides stunning 360-degree panoramas.
The climb to the top of the tower requires accompaniment by a guided docent, and it will be accessible only to those 18 years of age and older.
Hikers who wish to climb the tower will be required to sign a release of liability form. Tower access requires a moderately strenuous climb up several flights of exterior stairs, and thus, may not be appropriate for those prone to vertigo or with heart-related and other health conditions.
Tom Nixon, a retired State Parks Ranger and member of the Konocti Regional Trails Team (KRTT), leads the docent tour program.
The docents are knowledgeable about a range of topics including the mountain and its geology, history, flora, fauna, and even folklore.
Mount Konocti County Park is primarily an undeveloped park with somewhat rugged terrain and gravel areas. Three waterless vault restrooms have been installed on the mountain, as well as several picnic tables and benches. Smoking is strictly prohibited.
As with other county-owned parks, glass and alcohol are prohibited. Rattlesnakes are present, and care should be taken to avoid disturbing rocks.
In its monumental 2011 acquisition, the county of Lake purchased 1,520 acres of land on top of Mount Konocti, a dormant volcano that is one of Lake County’s most dominant and recognizable natural features. This acquisition created the new Mount Konocti County Park and placed it into public hands for perpetuity. The county-owned land is contiguous with an additional 821 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The reservation deadline for the first guided hike is March 15, 2013. All other reservations need to be made by April 1, 2013.
To reserve a space, contact the Lake County Public Services Department at 707-262-1618.
For information on Mount Konocti County Park, including a downloadable map, visit www.konoctitrails.com .
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking stakeholder input regarding regulation options to reduce the take of abalone in 2014.
A key goal of abalone management is to provide for a productive and sustainable fishery. CDFW conducts annual field surveys to assess abalone population status and track changes in density (the number of abalone per given area) at established survey sites.
Results from recent surveys have shown downward trends in abalone numbers, particularly in Sonoma County.
These trends appear to have worsened as a result of the August 2011 die-off that was related to an unusual harmful algal bloom, also known as a red tide.
Because the abalone decline has reached predetermined trigger points for taking management action, the CDFW must develop options for fishing regulations that will reduce the take of abalone, thereby reducing the risk of overfishing and improving the health of the resource.
These proposed regulations will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission for consideration later this year.
Two management actions are mandated by the Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP) for consideration based on the density triggers reached: reducing the overall red abalone fishery take by 25 percent, and closing the Fort Ross area to allow for recovery at that particular site, where abundance is especially low.
Constituent involvement is an important part of successful fishery management. Therefore, CDFW is conducting an online survey, available at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/abalonesurvey , to gather input from people who are interested in the abalone fishery.
Anyone with an interest in this fishery is encouraged to take a few minutes to provide feedback on the various options presented in the survey.
The ARMP is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/armp/index.asp .
For additional information, please contact Ian Taniguchi at