Recreation
Wild pig keeps wrecking our landscaping
Question: We live in a residential subdivision in Gualala in Sonoma County and there is a wild male pig rooting around the homes.
This pig is making himself at home and rooting up the unfenced ground around our home. Most everyone who lives around here has had this guy at their home. This is a 2- to 5-acre residential zoning so we cannot shoot him, not that we want to.
He follows the same evening route just before sunset. I have no objection to Fish and Wildlife setting a trap box here. We don’t venture around our place after sunset.
This pig has been sighted in the past two weeks by about six people. We have weekly garbage service which no doubt is an attraction and our homeowners association has notified its membership.
What can be done to stop this marauding pig that’s wrecking all of our landscaping? (Jeff W., Gualala)
Answer: First of all I suggest you make sure no garbage or artificial food attractants are being left out to draw the animal into your neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors about this and make sure your homeowners association spreads the word, too.
Homeowners associations differ from place to place, but most are within a designated city limit and most cities impose firearm discharge restrictions for the general populous. Thus, this would make shooting the pig unlawful in most situations. As such, hunting and immediate take are not options.
Landowners or your housing association can apply to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for a depredation permit and then contact a local pig removal company or a federal trapper through USDA Wildlife Services (who operate in select California counties) www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/ to trap and remove the pig.
How many rounds of ammo are allowed for an AR-type gun?
Question: When reading CDFW regulations, I find a shotgun is limited to three rounds of ammo, but I cannot find anywhere how many rounds of ammo a rifle or AR is limited to.
I’d like to know as I want no trouble when I go squirrel hunting with my AR-type gun. (Robert K.)
Answer: There are no restrictions in the Fish and Game Code on the number of rounds a rifle can hold while hunting. Rifles sold in California for the past several years are restricted to a 10-round capacity. This is due to other firearms laws in the Penal Code.
Range finding scopes on compound and crossbows?
Question: There are scopes with range-finding capabilities for compound and crossbows available on the market.
Is it legal to have one of these scopes mounted on a bow or crossbow in areas where I am legally allowed to hunt in California? (Tim)
Answer: Scopes with laser rangefinders are not prohibited. Just be sure the device does not project any visible light or electronically intensify light for the purpose of either visibly enhancing an animal or providing a visible point of aim on an animal (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 353(i)).
These devices may be used only for the take of nongame and furbearing mammals as provided in the Mammal Hunting Regulations (CCR Title 14, section 264.5).
How to become a licensed federal trapper?
Question: I have a friend who lost some livestock to either coyotes or a mountain lion. He wants to protect the rest of his animals and was advised to contact the local government trapper.
How can a person become a licensed trapper authorized to track down and remove these problem predatory animals? (Anonymous)
Answer: Contact the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
The mission of this agency is to provide federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist.
For more information, please go to www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/ .
Can wildlife officers check my fishing license by my CDL?
Question: While buying my license recently, I was told by the vendor that we no longer need to carry our fishing licenses with us.
He said wildlife officers can now scan people’s California driver licenses (CDL) to verify the purchase. Is this true? (Rick B.)
Answer: No, you are still required to have your actual sport fishing license in possession while fishing (CCR Title 14, section 700) and to present your actual license upon request to any wildlife officer who asks (FGC, section 2012). CDFW wildlife officers do not carry CDL scanners.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is requesting nominations to fill two vacant representative positions on the Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee (RAAC).
The purpose of the RAAC is to make recommendations to CDFW’s Director for projects and budgets for the expenditure of funds from the Abalone Restoration and Preservation Account.
The RAAC consists of nine members: two representatives from each of three coastal regions (south, central and north), two science experts and one enforcement representative.
CDFW is accepting nominations for the north and south coastal representative positions through March 4, 2016.
Nominees must reside within established geographic boundaries for the respective regions.
Nominees for the north region must reside north of the southern boundary line of Marin County extending due east, and nominees for the south region must reside south of the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo County line extending due east.
Nominations may come from any individual or member of an organization involved in the recreational abalone fishery.
To nominate a representative for either of these two seats, please send a nomination letter to: Ian Taniguchi, Marine Region Senior Abalone Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4665 Lampson Ave., Ste. C, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.
Letters may also be sent via email to
Nomination letters should include the nominee’s current residence and contact information, as well as a brief description of the nominee’s experience in the abalone fishery.
Funding for the Abalone Restoration and Preservation Account comes from the sale of recreational abalone stamps and report cards.
More details about abalone management and the RAAC can be found on the CDFW Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/abalone .
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