Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The area was initially closed as a public safety measure on Aug. 19 while suppression activity was ongoing for the LNU Lightning Complex fire.
The fire consumed 363,220 acres and is contained as of Oct. 2.
Approximately 95 percent of the Knoxville Management Area is now open to the public for off-highway vehicle, or OHV, recreation, hunting, hiking, mountain bicycling and camping.
Primary access to these lands is from the Berryessa Knoxville Road. Both the northern and southern entrances are now open, as well as popular recreation sites like the North Staging Area and Hunting Creek Camp.
Wednesday's reopening also allows public access to the extensive network of OHV trails, including Hunting Creek Trail, Dunnigan Hill and Round Mountain Road.
Due to continued safety concerns in the vicinity of Cedar Creek, a segment commonly known as Cement Creek Road remains closed until further notice.
“The Knoxville Management Area is a popular destination among OHV enthusiasts and a great area to enjoy by all for its diverse landscape of steep and rolling hills, chaparral brush, grey pines and cypress, and uncommon serpentine geology,” said Ukiah Field Office Manager Nick Lavrov. “We are very pleased to reopen in advance of the holiday, providing opportunities for the public to go out and enjoy their public lands.”
The Ukiah Field Office eased fire restrictions earlier this week, a result of cooler temperatures and measurable precipitation, allowing for the use of campfires outside of developed campgrounds.
However, the public is reminded to remain cautious and practice good fire safety to help prevent wildland fires when recreating on public lands.
Good fire-prevention safety tips include keeping vehicles off dry grass or brush; carrying a fire extinguisher, shovel and water; and getting a permit for any campfire or use of portable gas stoves.
California campfire permits are available free online or at BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire offices. Be advised, some BLM lobbies and public rooms are closed to in-person visits.
For more information on preventing wildfires and additional tips for keeping campfires and target shooting safe, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
For specific questions on the Knoxville Management Area, please call 707-468-4000 during normal business hours.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The grants, which total $10.7 million, were awarded through CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, or FRGP.
Established in 1981, FRGP has included funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund since 2000. The federal fund was established by Congress in 2000 to reverse the declines of Pacific salmon and steelhead throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
“The ongoing momentum to restore California’s habitat for these historic species hasn’t stopped as we face a global pandemic and devastating wildfires,” CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said. “Awarding these projects highlights the resilience, passion and vision for salmon recovery by our state’s restoration community, for which we are grateful.”
In response to the 2020 Fisheries Habitat Restoration Grant Solicitation, CDFW received 80 proposals requesting more than $40.6 million in funding. As part of the competitive grant program, proposals underwent a rigorous technical review by CDFW and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists.
The 27 approved projects will further the objectives of state and federal fisheries recovery plans, including removing barriers to fish migration, restoring riparian habitat, monitoring of listed populations, and creating a more resilient and sustainably managed water resources system (e.g., water supply, water quality and habitat) that can better withstand drought conditions.
These projects further the goals of California’s Water Action Plan and CDFW’s State Wildlife Action Plan, as well as addressing limiting factors specified in state and federal recovery plans.
The list of approved projects is available on the FRGP website.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Question: I would like to fish for sanddab, squid and rockfish on the same day. Can I do that legally? I believe it would be legal to first catch sanddab and squid with multiple hooks, and then switch over to a two-hook rig for rockfish? (Michael)
Answer: The setup you described would work. The general regulation is that you can use any number of hooks and lines to catch finfish in ocean waters, per California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, section 28.65.
But there are exceptions. When fishing for or in possession of rockfish, you may use only one line with no more than two hooks. There also may be geographic limitations. For example, if you are fishing in the San Francisco Bay you may use only one line with not more than three hooks. See section 28.65 for additional restrictions.
You also must adhere to the regulations for each species you mentioned. There’s no bag limit for sanddab in California, per CCR Title 14, sections 28.48 and 27.60, and no possession limit, per section 27.60(a). And while there’s no general bag limit on the take of squid (see CCR Title 14, section 29.70), there are geographic limitations (see section 29.05).
The limits on rockfish are more complex. When fishing in the ocean you can take no more than 20 finfish, with no more than 10 of a single species, per CCR Title 14, section 27.60. There are a number of laws that aggregate several species into a limit such as the Rockfish/Greenling/Cabezon Complex limit of 10.
Bottom line: There’s nothing preventing you from first catching sanddab and squid using multiple lines and hooks, then switching to a two-hook rig for rockfish. You can fish for sanddab, squid and rockfish in the same day as long as you adhere to the most restrictive method of take for the species you are fishing for or have in your possession.
When is it OK to borrow a shotgun?
Question: I’d like to know if I can borrow my dad’s shotgun to go hunt dove. My dad is not going this year since he is busy. I have my hunting license and a Firearm Safety Certificate, too. (Ricky)
Answer: California’s second hunt period for mourning dove, white-winged dove, spotted dove and ringed turtle dove runs from Saturday, Nov. 14 through Monday, Dec. 28 this year – and yes, you can borrow your dad’s shotgun, under California Penal Code, section 27880!
Penal Code, section 27545 requires that in most situations, the sale, loan or transfer shall be completed through a licensed firearms dealer. But according to section 27950, “section 27545 does not apply to the loan of a firearm, other than a handgun, to a licensed hunter for use by that hunter for a period of time not to exceed the duration of the hunting season for which the firearm is to be used.”
We hope you have great success!
State fishing records
Question: I would love to know what the record is for largest yellowtail. Where would I find that information? (Todd)
Answer: CDFW maintains a webpage with all of our state fishing records, as well as instructions for submitting new records. We keep records for both ocean diving and angling, as well as freshwater angling. You’ll see on the list that we have two records for yellowtail. The ocean angling record is 63 lbs., 1 oz., caught off of Santa Barbara Island in 2000. The freediving record is 65 lbs., caught near Cortez Bank (San Diego) in 1988.
Archery vs. 'General' season
Question: I have a question about the tree squirrel regulations. I know archery season is Aug. 1 through Sept. 11, and general rifle season is Sep. 12 through Jan. 31. After the archery season for squirrel closes on Sept. 11 and general rifle season opens, can you still hunt with bow instead of rifle until Jan. 31? (Tony)
Answer: Yes, you can archery hunt during both periods. The first half of the season is actually called “Archery/Falconry Only” season, so those are the only methods of take allowed during that time. “General” season, which opens on Sept. 12, allows for all three methods of take: archery, falconry and firearm.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pheasant, fall turkey and the second dove seasons open Saturday, Nov. 14. Combined with seasons already open for ducks, geese, quail, snipe, chukar, rabbits and squirrels, California hunters can find themselves with more opportunities than time afield.
This is also the time of year to transform holiday meals from the mundane to the memorable. Dove popper appetizers, a side dish of wild pheasant or a main course of wild turkey are guaranteed to enliven any holiday gathering while showcasing and sharing California’s wild bounty.
Pheasant
Land use changes and intensifying agricultural practices have not been kind to California’s wild pheasants, which prefer grasslands and rural farmland habitat.
The good news is that some of the best pheasant habitat and wild pheasant hunting in California is now found on state wildlife areas and federal wildlife refuges open to the public – from Tule Lake and Lower Klamath national wildlife refuges in northeastern California to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex down to the San Luis and Kern national wildlife refuges in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Several CDFW Type A wildlife areas are especially popular with wild pheasant hunters, including Yolo Bypass, Upper Butte Basin, Los Banos, North Grasslands, Grizzly Island and Gray Lodge. These state areas are open to pheasant hunting on their normal Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday shoot days during the pheasant season.
Additionally the Colusa, Delevan and Sacramento national wildlife refuges along with the Kesterson Unit within the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge will open for a special, one-day pheasant hunt on Monday, Nov. 16.
The 2020 general pheasant season runs from Saturday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Dec, 27. The daily bag limit is two males per day for the first two days of the season and three males per day thereafter. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit. Shooting hours are from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Wild turkey (fall season)
California’s wild turkey population continues to thrive and even expand its range after one of the state’s longest droughts. For wild turkey hunters, the fall season presents an additional opportunity by allowing the take of both males and females, unlike the spring season when only bearded turkeys may be taken.
The fall turkey season runs from Saturday, Nov, 14 through Sunday, Dec, 13. The daily bag limit is one turkey of either sex with a fall season and possession limit of two birds. Turkey hunting is permitted at many state wildlife areas and federal wildlife refuges where other hunting is allowed. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. For the Type A Wildlife Areas that allow turkey hunting, shoot days are limited to the normal Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday during the fall turkey season.
Second dove season
California’s second dove season runs from Saturday, Nov, 14 through Monday, Dec, 28. The second dove season offers cooler weather, fewer crowds and the chance for a mixed bag of species – quail and rabbit, for example – that often share the same habitat.
Limits remain the same as the early season: Mourning dove and white-winged dove have a daily bag limit of 15, up to 10 of which may be white-winged dove. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit. There are no limits on spotted dove and ringed turtle dove. Hunting for Eurasian collared dove is legal year-round and there is no limit. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Type A Wildlife Areas that allow dove hunting will be open the normal shoot days which are Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday during the second dove season. Remember to check the area regulations to see if any additional upland species might also be open.
In addition to public hunting opportunities available at state wildlife areas and federal wildlife refuges, CDFW offers special hunts at the Upland Game Wild Bird Hunts page and through the SHARE program, which provides public hunting access to private land or other landlocked properties. Beginning hunters should visit CDFW’s Apprentice Hunts webpage for additional pheasant hunting opportunities.
Additional requirements
Both a valid hunting license and upland game bird validation are needed to hunt pheasant, turkey and dove. An upland game bird validation is not required for junior license holders, but all hunters are required to have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation when hunting migratory game birds such as mourning dove and snipe. A wildlife area hunting pass is required for adults to hunt on a Type A and Type B state-operated wildlife areas and national wildlife refuge. Please check with the individual property for specific details and regulations on each area.
Please note that nonlead shot is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. Hunters need to plan accordingly. For more information, please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition webpage.
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