Recreation

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Written by: Dorothy De Lope

Published: 07 May 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Do you have your California Boater’s Card?

With boating season fast approaching, another boating safety class is being offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County, to assist boaters in complying with the California State Law SB941 which requires vessel operators to pass an approved boating safety course and obtain a California Boater Card.

This requirement – which became effective Jan. 1, 2018 – is being phased in over a period of seven years.

The Flotilla’s next class is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the cost being $25 per person.

As of Jan. 1, 2019, any person 25 years old or younger will be required to have in their possession this boater card.

The new boating law also states that when supervising a younger person who is operating a vessel, the supervisor or young person must have a boater card in their possession.

This includes operating all motorized vessels including personal water crafts on any waters in the jurisdiction of the state.

Reservations for the May 18 class are required.

For location of class and additional information, please contact Flotilla Public Education Officer Betty Strach at 707-657-3029.

Dorothy De Lope is public affairs officer for Flotilla 88.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 06 May 2019

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Monthly guided nature walks continue at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The next scheduled walk is Saturday, May 11.

The May walk will be led by Park Docent Roberta Lyons.

Lyons grew up in Lake County and used to horseback ride in areas that are now within the park. She has been involved with Anderson Marsh State Historic Park since its inception and is also active with the Lake County Land Trust and Lake County’s Redbud Audubon Society.

“It’s a great time to visit the Park,” said Lyons. “As we move into the spring weather, trees are leafing out, flowers are blooming and birds, dragonflies and other insects are becoming active.”

The walk will include the Ridge trail.

Lyons will lead a tour of the historic ranch house after this month’s nature walk.

Bring binoculars and meet in front of the ranch house at 8:15 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife to be found in the ranch house and barn complex yard.

The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m., and should last between one and a half and two hours.

There is no charge and parking is free for those attending this event.

Rain will cancel the walk. If the walk is canceled, the ranch house tour will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.

For more information about nature walks and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-995-2658.

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Written by: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Published: 05 May 2019

Property-damaging squirrels

Question: We seem to have a whole new crop of squirrels that have invaded our yard and are tearing things up. We would like to trap and relocate them. Would this be permissible if they are damaging and destroying private property? (Seth, Cottonwood)

Answer: No, squirrels may not be relocated. Small nuisance mammals that are damaging property may be dispatched by the owner (as long as it is not in violation of local laws) but may not be released except in the immediate area.

Relocating nuisance wildlife not only moves the problem but also places the critter into an area where it has no established shelter or food and water source, plus they may also potentially spread disease.

A depredation permit, which allows for the killing of the squirrels, may be issued for tree (gray) squirrels. Another option, so that you can utilize the meat, would be to harvest the squirrels during the gray squirrel season when hunters are allowed a four-squirrel bag and possession limit.

Collection of striped shore crabs

Question: I have a question regarding Pachygrapsus crassipes, known as the striped shore crab. Is this crab legal to possess in California? If so, what's the limit? I want to catch some of these tiny crabs for a little taste test, but I can't seem to find any specific rules or regulations about them. (Steve Tran, Newark)

Answer: Yes, this crab is also sometimes called a "lined shore crab" and is identified by the square carapace quite easily. Since they do not have bag limits specific to their species, they default to the general invertebrate daily bag limit of 35 in possession (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.05).

Archery for quail

Question: I am planning on archery hunting for quail this year. Do the same laws from shotgun apply to archery? Does the quail have to be flying before shooting at it? Or if archery hunting, can the quail be standing on the ground or sitting in the trees? (John V.)

Answer: There are early archery seasons provided for quail, so using archery equipment generally allows you to hunt both during the archery season (listed under CCR Title 14, section 300) and during the general season. Otherwise, the bag and possession limits are the same.

As far as deciding whether to shoot the birds when flying vs when they are standing on the ground or roosting in trees is not a legal question but instead an ethics decision that you must make.

Under the widely accepted "fair chase" principles that most hunters abide by, shooting upland game birds or waterfowl under conditions other than when they are flying violate this widely accepted fair chase code of ethics.

Archery hunters are often viewed as having accepted an even higher level of fair chase principals due to the vastly greater challenge to successfully take game via archery (at least for most of us!), compared to firearm.

However, the decision to take a game bird on the ground vs. in the air remains a decision you must make on your own, regardless of your chosen method of take.

Depredation permit

Question: If I have a pig depredation permit, can I legally carry a firearm and a bow while hunting deer during the archery season? Does the person who helps me with my pig problem need a hunting license? Also, is there an expiration date on a depredation permit? I can't seem to locate one. (Bill)

Answer: No, while deer hunting during an archery season, you may not possess a firearm of any kind.

If you are listed as one of three allowed designated shooters on a pig depredation permit, you may remove property damaging wild pigs under conditions listed on the permit.

Someone "assisting you" with the depredation permit should also be listed as a designated shooter.

No hunting license is required for a person authorized under a depredation permit. The person assisting you must be at least 21 years old and may not have a conviction of wildlife law in the past 12 months.

All depredation permits have an expiration date listed on them. If you can't find it, please contact the issuing agent for assistance.

If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. While they cannot answer every question, they will answer a few in each column.