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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Forest products will not be available for sale Monday, May 14, through Wednesday, May 16 at any of the Mendocino National Forest offices.
Forest offices will be open for general visitor information during their regular business hours.
The forest products include personal woodcutting permits, National Forest maps, and all local and federal interagency passes (Red Bluff boat launch, senior, access and annual passes).
In the interim, forest maps can be purchased over the phone by calling 406-329-3024 or visiting www.nationalforeststore.com .
Federal Interagency passes can be purchased by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS or visiting www.nationalforeststore.com .
For Red Bluff boat launch passes, please call the Sacramento River Discovery Center at 530-527-1196 to check availability during regular business hours Tuesday through Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Forest collections officers, responsible for the sales of forest products will be undergoing training on the new point-of-sale system being implemented on the forest.
The system will allow customers to use credit cards to purchase all Forest products, including personal woodcutting and Christmas tree permits. Currently on the Mendocino National Forest, credit cards are only accepted for maps and passes.
“We appreciate the public’s patience as we learn this new system, not only during the days products won’t be available due to the training, but also as we start using this system across the Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “Ultimately, this short period of inconvenience while learning and implementing this system will lead us to improved customer service.”
The new point-of-sale system will be available for customer sales across the Forest by Monday, May 21.
For more information regarding the changes in Forest Service product sales, please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/billpay/ .
For additional information about the forest or available products, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: I was wondering if it's mandatory to have to give up my salmon heads when the volunteer fish checkers come around to measure my fish? I thought it was my choice. (Gary B.)
Answer: Yes, it’s mandatory. The surveyors at the dock collecting heads are not volunteers but are paid, trained and educated biologists, and anglers in possession of a salmon with a clipped adipose fin are required to relinquish the head to these Department of Fish and Game (DFG) employees (Fish and Game Code, section 8226).
Section 8226 reads: "(a) … any person in possession of a salmon with a missing adipose fin, the small, fleshy fin on the back of the fish between the back fin and the tail, upon request by an authorized agent or employee of the department, shall immediately relinquish the head of the salmon to the state, at no charge, for recovery of any coded-wire tag. The head may be removed by the fish owner or, if removed by the official department representative, the head shall be removed in a manner to minimize loss of salmon flesh and the salmon shall immediately be returned to the rightful owner. (b) It is unlawful to intentionally conceal, cull or release into the waters a salmon with a missing adipose fin that it is otherwise legal to possess."
Banded red-shouldered hawk
Question: My daughter has a red-shouldered hawk that frequents her deck in San Rafael. The hawk seems to enjoy scanning from the railing for critters it might like to eat. This bird appears to have a silver tag on its right leg just above the claw but I can’t read the writing. I was wondering if DFG or any agencies that you know of have a tagging program for hawks? (Ken M., Oakland)
Answer: Yes, there are numerous researchers both in and outside of California that capture and mark birds. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Raptor Biologist Carie Battistone, identification bands should be reported to the Bird Banding Lab (BBL) (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/), administered by USGS. If someone sees a marked bird, such as this red-shouldered hawk, they can report it by accessing BBL's website and clicking the "Report a Bird Band or Marked Bird" link. This national program allows researchers to study bird movement (dispersal and migration patterns), survival, population trends and more.
Many bands are reported when a bird is recaptured or dies. Reading the band number can be hard, but not impossible, on live birds. In addition to silver bands, researchers also use color bands which tend to be much easier to identify and report.
Can crayfish be taken in otherwise closed zones?
Question: If an area is posted "closed to fishing," like the stretch of the Feather River between the green bridge in Oroville and the fish hatchery, is it still ok to use crayfish traps there? Or are crayfish traps considered "fishing"? (Al C., Oroville)
Answer: No, you cannot use crayfish traps there. According to DFG Lt. Sam Castillo, in this particular area the law says, “Closed to all fishing all year” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 7.50(b)(68)(A)). The law is inclusive of all species and is not specific to just trout and salmon. Some other no-fishing areas will allow for the take of amphibians, fresh water clams, crayfish and lampreys under CCR Title 14, section 7.50(a)(2), but this isn’t one of them.
Guns on boats
Question: We do not have a concealed carry permit but while camping we keep a loaded pistol in our camper for personal protection. We would prefer not to leave it in the camper while we are out on the boat fishing. Is it legal to carry a loaded firearm (pistol) on a boat while fishing in the ocean? If so, does it have to be in plain sight or can it be kept in a glove box on the boat? (Lisa G., Granite Bay)
Answer: In general, you may not possess a loaded, concealed handgun when in a public place. There is an exception for licensed anglers and hunters, who are allowed to carry a concealed firearm on their person when engaged in hunting or fishing (see Penal Code, section 25640). The exemption also allows the carry of an unloaded concealable firearm when going to or returning from a hunting or fishing expedition. A summary of firearms laws is available online at http://dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/ under Helpful Information on the right margin.
Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Dust off your old cleats! Alumni football is coming to Lakeport.
Gridiron Alumni is planning several full contact alumni football games.
Gridiron Alumni travels the nation pitting old football rivals against each other one more time.
Players are needed to sign up and the first 40 players on each team get to play.
The team that gets 30 people registered first gets home field advantage.
This spring, hundreds of players and thousands of fans swarmed stadiums to watch their hometown heroes strap it on one more time.
This year, Gridiron Alumni would like to bring alumni football to the whole state of California.
Teams from Clear Lake, Natural High School, Legacy School, Kelseyville High School, Upper Lake Union High School and other area teams are forming now.
Games are scheduled for August and September, but dates are limited and spots fill up fast.
All teams must be registered and paid before July 30.
If you or someone you know is interested in putting on the pads one more time, please go to www.gridironalumni.com to register.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – It was opening day this last Sunday afternoon at Delbert’s Memorial Raceway and there were karts on hand from every division to attend the first night's events at the Lakeport Speedway.
From the youngest drivers starting their first race to the experienced veterans all was on hand to check out the new extended track that was created during the off season.
The action started out with the Beginner Box Stock division with the action being intense on the track during the main event.
At the drop of the green flag the karts soared out of turn No. 4 down off into the new turn No. 1 and by the time they rounded the corner coming out on to the back straight it was Joel Myer’s Jr. jumping out to the lead.
held the lead for the remainder of the race taking home his first victory of the season with Kory Ranoos in second, followed by Rylie Sullivan.
The action got hotter in the 125/250 division where the drivers battled all the day through qualifying and hot laps to be the fastest on the track. At the end of the main event it saw Colby Johnson taking the win over Eberhart and Fernades.
The box stock division saw the largest car count for the weekend, with some drivers moving up this year.
The kids where all excited to get on the track and put on one heck of a show for the fans that were on hand.
The racers of Dylan Washburn battled for many laps with the kart driven by Kayden Butler before finally making the pass for the lead in a very exciting move.
At the checkers it was Washburn, Butler and Cornet. In the 500 division some drivers suffered mechanical problems in hot laps, and at the end of the main event it saw a late race pass by Marcus Johnson over Ren Ebhart to take the main event win on the evening.
The final race saw the division that was created last year called the Over the Hill division take the track.
At the start of the race Dennis Furia jumped out to the early lead. He led a large portion of the race then was passed for the lead by Tim Ester in the latter stages of the race. At the checkers it was Ester, Furia and Camacho.
The racing action at Delbert's Memorial Raceway continues on May 20.
This weekend the racing action is back on with a full night of racing at Lakeport Speedway. The racing will start at 5 p.m. with gates opening at 3:30 p.m., and on the racing ticket will be the Coors Light Modifieds, the Taco Bell Bombers, The Rental Solution Mini Stocks, The Jammers, The Extreme Asphalt Outlaws, The Bandorleros, and making a special added appearance the BCRA Midgets.
It is going to be an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat night at Lakeport Speedway for the 2012 Founders cup with everyone gunning for the win.
Make sure to like the speedway on Facebook and for complete event details visit them at www.lakeportspeedway.com .
Lakeport Speedway is your community based not-for-profit speedway and is the place for family entertainment on Saturday night under the lights.
