Recreation
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
How many shotgun shells am I allowed to have in my shotgun when quail hunting?
Q: How many shotgun shells am I allowed to have in my shotgun when quail hunting? I want to know if my gun needs a plug installed.
A: Sounds like you are getting ready to go quail hunting! The short answer to your question is — yes, you need a plug in your shotgun.
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 311(a) states that only shotguns “incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined” may be used for taking resident small game species that include quail, pheasant, rabbits, squirrels, etc. Furthermore, the regulation goes on to specify the type of plug required. “If a plug is used to reduce the capacity of a magazine to fulfill the requirements of this section, the plug must be of one piece construction incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.”
And then there are federal regulations requiring a maximum three-shot capacity in shotguns when hunting migratory birds such as doves, snipe, ducks and geese. These are spelled out in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, part 20. Hope this helps.
Bakersfield lake
Q: I saw photos online of a fish with odd looking teeth that was caught in a lake in Bakersfield. Some people thought it might be a piranha. Did the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) look into this?
A: Yes, they were great photos, which made it easy to identify the fish as a pacu. Pacus are a popular tropical aquarium species that often outgrow their tanks and are unfortunately released by owners who no longer want them. Pacu and piranha can be differentiated by the shape of their mouth and teeth. When the mouth of a pacu is opened the gap between the upper and lower lip form a squarish gap, whereas on the piranha the upper and lower lip form a V-shape. And while pacu teeth may appear sharp, they are no comparison to those of piranha, which are as sharp as razors.
Winter cold water temperatures probably would have taken the fish out if the angler hadn’t. Based on their tropical water temperature requirements, we do not anticipate pacus, or piranha either, are capable of invading California waters. For more information, visit our Don’t Let it Loose campaign online.
Russian River coho
Q: What’s the status of the coho salmon population in the Russian River?
A: Before the Russian River coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (RRCSCBP) began at Warm Springs Hatchery in 2001, coho salmon were close to extirpated from the Russian River basin. Only a few juveniles remained, and these juveniles were used to start the broodstock program.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, adult coho returning to the Russian River have fluctuated from approximately 100 to more than 700 a few years ago, with an average of around 300 to 500. The recent drought has resulted in fewer than 300 adult coho returning in winter 2020/21. The majority of these adult returners are fish that were released as juveniles in Russian River tributaries through the RRCSCBP. The program released between 100,000 and 230,000 coho annually, with an average of approximately 180,000.
The number of adult coho in the Russian River is indeed very low and very likely the result of a relative lack of suitable habitat, and especially a lack of adequate water, especially during the dry summer months. The latter problem obviously is exacerbated by the current drought conditions. Recovery of the endangered Central Coast coho salmon will require continued habitat restoration, combined with other management actions such as population enhancement through genetically guided conservation hatchery intervention.
Kayaking for crabs
Q: I want to catch crab from a kayak and am confused by the regulations. I live in Los Angeles, and I want to go off the coast and use crab traps and hoop nets. Are these allowed?
A: State regulations do not allow for the use of traps to recreationally take any species of crabs in Southern California south of Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County. You may use hoop nets to recreationally take crabs south of Point Arguello, provided you follow the regulations in CCR, Title 14, section 29.80(b). Visit CDFW’s Invertebrate Fishing Regulations page for full text of the regulations.
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- Written by: Editor
Temporary wet weather trail closures go into effect when two inches of rainfall occur within a 24-hour period or when the soils are saturated.
The wet weather off-highway vehicle, or OHV trail closures restrict the use of OHV trails when conditions are too wet to sustain use without causing soil loss, impacting water quality, damaging trail tread and putting public safety at risk.
These limited duration closures will remain in place until no measurable precipitation is recorded within 48 consecutive hours.
By issuing these closures as precipitation events occur, the Forest provides for public safety, protects natural resources during and after storms and allows time for trails to dry out prior to resuming use.
The restrictions may be implemented anytime during this fall and winter season through June 2022.
Trail users can check the precipitation data online before traveling to the forest.
Look at MNF02 Portable (Howard Mill) rain gauge on the Upper Lake Ranger District and MNF03 Portable (Fouts Springs) on the Grindstone Ranger District. If Howard Mill rain gauge is inoperable, the Konocti location will be used for the Upper Lake Ranger District.
When closures occur, information will be posted on the forest website and social media.
The restrictions prohibit the use of motor vehicles on National Forest System trails within the Upper Lake and Grindstone Ranger Districts on the Mendocino National Forest pursuant to 36 CFR 261.55(b).
All forest orders, including Forest Order No. 08-21-07 (wet weather closure), are posted here.
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- Written by: Editor
Enjoy reading a storybook as you stroll along the Kelsey Creek Trail.
Begin the story at the boardwalk by campsite No. 48 in the Kelsey Creek Campground
The featured story is “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” by Julia Rawlinson.
There will be a craft for younger visitors at the end of the walk. Trail is an easy walk less than ¼ mile in length.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Editor
See exhibits about the natural habitats found around Clear Lake, Indigenous people and see our animal collection of wildlife native to Lake County.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
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