Recreation
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Eurasian collared doves
Q: I am aware that there is a year-round open season on Eurasian collared doves and no limit. Can I hunt them in the middle of summer? How am I supposed to tell the difference between all the doves in flight?
A: Let’s start with the first question! Yes, you can hunt Eurasian collared doves all year long. And you’re right, mourning doves, white-winged doves, spotted doves, ring turtle doves and Eurasian collared doves look similar, but hunters are expected to know the difference.
Stated more explicitly: wildlife officers expect you to know the difference! Over time, dove hunters need to develop the skills to differentiate between different dove species on the wing. We have a dove identification graphic that may help get you started. Learning more about dove species can help, too.
For example, there are areas of the state where Eurasian collared doves are more prevalent (mostly in the southern half of the state).
We recommend two strategies. First, hunt with a partner who has a significant amount of experience in telling the difference between each type of dove in flight.
As you see doves while hunting, ask the experienced hunter to explain what characteristics they are looking at to differentiate the birds from one another. Hunters will look at markings such as the black band across the back of the Eurasian collared dove’s neck. They also pay attention to flight patterns and listen to different sounds generated by the doves’ wings.
Second, when you begin hunting doves, we suggest hunting during the mourning dove and white-winged dove season. That way if you make a mistake, you’ll have a reduced chance of inadvertently violating the law. For example, if you hunt dove on Sept. 1, the most popular dove hunting day of the year, you will have some room for error.
Bird identification is a skill in and of itself. Duck hunters are faced with the same requirements yet have many more species to differentiate from. Many duck hunters are known to visit popular waterfowl migratory areas to watch birds even after the season is over for the purpose of improving their identification and calling skills. There’s no reason why dove hunters can’t do the same.
With a decent pair of binoculars and an attentive ear, you can more quickly learn the subtle differences between dove species and gain a better understanding of their behaviors. Finally, remember that Eurasian collared dove are a game species, and hunters must possess both a license and an upland game bird validation.
Steelhead Report Cards
Q: The state collects data from steelhead report cards. I would like to see this data. Is it ever released or summarized for public viewing?
A: Some data collected from steelhead report cards is summarized and updated on our website. The website also includes the last legislative report which summarizes data from 2007 through 2014.
A legislative report summarizing data from 2015-2019, which includes total report cards sold, amount of revenue accrued and spent, angling data, and benefits of the report card program has been submitted for review and will be made available once approved.
Requests for steelhead report card data can also be submitted directly to the Program Coordinator at
Taking mollusks by hand
Q: When limpets are taken from shore can gloves be used to protect your hands?
A: Yes, gloves can be used to take any number of intertidal invertebrates, including limpets. Limpets are a type of saltwater mollusk. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 29.10(a) permits the take of saltwater mollusks by hand. Nothing in the regulations prohibits gloving the hands. If you think about harvesting California Spiny Lobsters by hand while on SCUBA for example, just try to take a spiny lobster without wearing gloves! Ouch!
Fishing license
Q: I have a fishing license but my friend doesn’t. When I catch a fish, can my friend help me by netting the fish while I hold the rod?
A: No. The California Fish and Game Code defines take in section 86. It states: “Take” means hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill. If your friend is assisting you with the “catching” of fish, by the letter of the law, he or she would need a license too.
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The auto tour loop along with some nearby hiking trails on the west side of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Butte County will close for about two weeks in July to accommodate construction to improve water management, wildlife habitat and visitor experience.
Work is scheduled to begin Wednesday, July 14, 2021, near Parking Lot 14 and last about two weeks.
The auto tour loop and nearby hiking trails are scheduled to reopen July 26, 2021, in plenty of time for bird watching during peak fall and winter migrations.
Construction delays could impact the timing of reopening.
Hosting some 100,000 visitors each year, Gray Lodge is one the most heavily visited and widely used wildlife areas in the state.
During the July auto tour loop closure, construction crews will complete the installation of four water control structures to improve the movement of water across the wildlife area, allowing better management of the wetlands for the benefit of wildlife.
The entrance to Parking Lot 18 also will be widened to improve visitor safety.
The construction work is the continuation of habitat improvement and visitor amenities started in 2020. So far in 2021, crews have been regrading pond bottoms that were enhanced last year along the auto tour loop to improve their appeal to migrating waterfowl and shorebirds and make for an enhanced visitor experience.
The work is being funded through a $1.4 million grant from the state Wildlife Conservation Board in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.
The remainder of the wildlife area will remain open to public use during construction. Popular activities at Gray Lodge in the summer include hiking, fishing and birding.
For questions or additional information, please contact Gray Lodge directly at 530-846-7500.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. On Saturday, July 3, Lakeport Speedway hosted its annual firework show with racing.
The night featured the Limited Modifieds, Bombers, Jammers, Bandoleros, Pro 4 Modifieds and Vintage Midgets.
In the Bandolero division, #12 Travis Powers took home fast time with #15 Kai Lovell in second and #88 Jordan McClean in third.
In the heat race, #12 Travis Powers took home the win with #15 Kai Lovell in second, #88 Jordan McClean in third and #65 Alyssa Sorrels in fourth.
In the main event, #12 Travis Powers was able to hold off #15 Kai Lovell to take home another win. No. 65 Alyssa Sorrels was third and #88 Jordan McClean was fourth. Both had been involved in a caution and were unable to finish the race.
In the Vintage Midget division, #9 Rich Scettrini took home the heat race win with #2 Fred Maydole in second, #29 Don Cruse in third and #10 Tommy Belfiore in fourth.
In the main event, #2 Fred Maydole took home the win with #9 Rich Scettrini in second, #29 Don Cruse in third and #10 Tommy Belfiore in fourth.
In the Junior Jammer division, #5 Charles French took home fast time with #10H Hailey Glass in second and #01 TJ Sorrels in third. In the heat race, #10H Hailey Glass was able to hold off #01 TJ Sorrels to take home the win, while #5 Charles French was third, and #9 Leland Cervelli was fourth.
In the main event, Glass went on to take home the win again with #01 TJ Sorrels in second, #9 Leland Cervalli in third and #5 Charles French in fourth.
In the Pro Jammer division, #D4 Donovan Arreguin took home fast time with #20 Danny Helm in second, and #0 Zuki Suzuki in third.
In the heat race, #D4 Donovan Arreguin was able to hold off #20 Danny Helm to take home the win, while #0 Zuki Suzuki was third, #7 Isaiah Rojas was fourth, #20F Christopher Fischer was fifth, #23 Christian Sanchez was sixth and #17 Billy Hammond was seventh.
In the main event, Arreguin took home another win for the night with #0 Zuki Suzuki in second, #7 Isaiah Rojas in third, #20F Christopher Fischer in fourth and #17 Billy Hammond rounded out the top five5. No. 23 Christian Sanchez was sixth and #20 Danny Helm was seventh.
In the Pro 4 Modified division, #14 Johnny Barker was able to get fast time in front of #29 Mike Peterson and #87 Marty Lewis.
In the heat race, Barker also held off #87 Marty Lewis to take home the win. No. 07 James Gard was third, #29 Mike Peterson was fourth and #14A Anthony Gorrin was fifth.
In the main event, Barker continued his clean sweep and took home the win. No. 29 Mike Peterson was second, #07 James Gard was third, #14A Anthony Gorrin was fourth and #87 Marty Lewis rounded out the top five, while #4 Wade Eldredge was sixth.
In the B Bomber division, #8 Seth Chew took home fast time with #23 William Byrne in second and #76 Jesse Frey in third.
In the heat race, #8 Seth Chew took home the win with #23 William Byrne in second and #18 Klinton Waite in third.
In the main event, #8 Seth Chew was able to take home the win with #76 Jesse Frey in second, #10 Jimmy Shankles in third and #23 William Byrne in fourth.
In the Limited Modified division, #15A Jason Philpot took home fast time with #77 Jeremy Nowlin in second and #12 Mike Neilson in third.
In heat race one, #21X Darrin Sullivan took home the win with #15 Richard Knight in second, #14 Mike Neilson in third, #67 Gary Lowblad in fourth and #17 Brandon Powers rounded out the top 5. No. 15A Jason Philpot finished sixth, #1L J.R Lane was seventh and #21 Tyler Manning was eighth.
In heat race two, #4 Raymond Taylor Jr. took home the win with #23 TJ Buzzard close behind in second. No. 37 Sierra Furia finished third, #77 Jeremy Nowlin in fourth and #51 Bo Robertson in fifth. No. 12C Codi Barba was sixth and #49 Tater Reich was seventh.
In the main event, #23 TJ Buzzard and #21X Darrin Sullivan were on the front row. Sullivan was able to break away from #23 TJ Buzzard after he settled into second.
No. 14 Mike Neilson was able to get by Buzzard on lap 10 and was trying to catch Sullivan. Sullivan had a big lead over the pack until the red flag came out after #67 Gary Lowblad was involved in a wreck with the #49 Tater Reich and #21 Tyler Manning.
Lowblad retired into the infield and Reich as well. Furia and Buzzard battled for over 20 laps until #15A Jason Philpot was able to get by Buzzard and Furia followed behind.
No. 12C Codi Barba had his eyes set on getting around Buzzard along with #77 Jeremy Nowlin but were unable to secure the spot before the checkered.
Furia and Philpot were also both on a mission to catch #14 Mike Neilson but were unable to gain any spots before the checkered came out.
At the checkered, #21 Darrin Sullivan from Kelseyville took home the win with #14 Mike Neilson in second, #15A Jason Philpot in third, #37 Sierra Furia in fourth and #23 TJ Buzzard in fifth. No. 12C Codi Barba finished sixth, #77 Jeremy Nowlin was seventh, #15 Richard Knight was eighth, #4 Raymond Taylor JR was ninth and #1L J.R Lane rounded out the top 10. No. 51 Bo Robertson was 11th, #17 Brandon Powers was 12th, #21 Tyler Manning was 13th, #67 Gary Lowblad was 14th and #49 Tater Reich was 15th.
In the A Bomber division, #79 Mike Collins set fast time with #27 Loren Powers Jr. in second and #87 Trystan Mucci in third.
In the heat race, #87 Trystan Mucci was able to hold off #79 Mike Collins to take home the win with #27 Loren Powers JR in third, #66 Jimmy Sorrels in fourth and #96 Danny Helm in fifth. No. 77KC Kasey Horat was sixth.
In the main event, you seen #77KC Kasey Horat and #66 Jimmy Sorrels on the front row. By lap two, #87 Trystan Mucci had taken over the lead with #79 Mike Collins moving through the field to try to catch him.
No. 27 Loren Powers Jr also was moving forward to try and catch Mucci. With a late restart after a yellow flag came out for #96 Danny Helm, Mucci and Collins lined up side by side once again with Collins only given one more chance to make a move on Mucci.
Mucci was able to pull away but with Collins close behind along with Powers. Collins made some moves on Mucci when they came up on lapped cars with Powers behind him trying to make a move on Collins. Both were unsuccessful and Mucci was able to gain some ground.
At the checkered flag, Mucci took home the win with #79 Mike Collins in second, #27 Loren Powers JR in third, #66 Jimmy Sorrels in fourth and #77KC Kasey Horat in fifth. No. 96 Danny Helm was sixth after he retired to the pits.
All these racers went on to race at Ukiah Speedway on July 4.
The next event is July 17 at Lakeport Speedway featuring the boat races.
The racing division will include the Limited Modifieds, Bombers, Legends, Jammers, Bandoleros and Jalopies.
Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and racing will begin around 5 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the gate.
- Details
- Written by: Nadine Strauss
The North State Modifieds, presented by Protect the Harvest, return to the All American Speedway in Roseville Saturday for a 60-lap challenge against the NASCAR Jaws Gear & Axle Modifieds in the inaugural “Economy Heating & Air Modified Challenge.”
The last time the North State Modifieds, or NSMS, raced at Roseville was in July of 2019 where Santa Rosa’s Cameron Austin beat out Darrin Knight, Scott Winters, Darrin Sullivan and Jason Philpot for the win.
Both the North State Modifieds and the “Jaws” Modifieds will be running their own rules and tires, and will be awarded their own points.
Philpot, who previously raced with NSMS, now is the defending champion in the Jaws Series and is just coming off of a win at Ukiah Speedway.
In addition to the $1,000 to win the feature, Authority Heating and Air is putting up $250 to the leader on lap five with an additional $250 to the leader of the race on lap 55. And Lucas Oil continues with the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash that pays $100 to the winner and $50 to second place in this six lap event. Lucas Oil also pays tow money to the top competitors in the NSMS points battle.
Also competing the same night will be a Berco Redwood Late Model Twin-35, Riebes Auto Parts Super Stocks, F4s, Jr. Late Models, and Mini Cups/Bandoleros. The Riebes Auto Parts Trailer Bash closes out the night. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 5:15 p.m.
The North State Modified Series would not be possible without the support of Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Economy Heating & Air, Sullivan Construction and Masonry, Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Naake Suspension, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Mark & Sharon Baldwin, Scribner Plastics, Mort Houston, McMurray & Sons Roofing, Frank’s Radios, Supercuts, Vogel’s RVs and Authority Heating & Air.
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