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Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Published: 10 September 2015

The 2015 general hunting season will open in mid-September for various upland game bird species in specific zones around the state, providing hunters with many opportunities to bring home some delicious table fare for the upcoming holiday seasons.

September openers include quail (Zone Q1 opens for mountain quail only from Sept. 12 through Oct. 16, and Zone Q2 will be open for all quail from Sept. 26 through Jan. 31); sooty and ruffed grouse (general season will be open in various northern and eastern counties from Sept. 12 through Oct. 12); white-tailed ptarmigan (general and archery seasons will be open from Sept. 12-20); and band-tailed pigeon (the northern hunt zone only will be open from Sept. 19-27).

Specific information about each of these opportunities, including zone maps and information about daily bag limits and possession limits for each species can be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Upland Game Bird Hunting webpage. Additional information about each species can be found below.

Quail

Quail are one of the state’s most popular native game birds. There are three species of quail found in California: California quail, mountain quail and Gambel’s quail. California quail (the state bird) are common and widespread throughout the state in brushy areas with good cover and abundant food. Mountain quail are also widespread, and live in steep and rugged mid to high elevation terrain. Gambel’s quail are California’s most desert adapted species and can be found in the arid lands of southeastern California.

The early mountain quail season starts on Sept. 12 and continues through Oct. 16 and covers much of the mountainous region of northern and eastern California (the zone map can be found on the CDFW website). On Sept. 26, the early general quail season opens in several coastal counties between San Francisco and Mendocino. The remainder of the state will open to quail hunting Oct. 17. Finally, an additional two-day early hunt season will be open on Oct. 3-4 for young hunters with junior hunting licenses in Mojave National Preserve.

For all quail species, the daily bag limit is 10 and the possession limit is triple the daily bag.

All three native species of quail have high reproductive potential with large hatches following good years of late-winter and early-spring precipitation. Despite the ongoing drought, the winter and spring conditions of 2015 were moist at times, providing some beneficial conditions and encouraging reproduction in wetter areas. Grass and forb production was better than the previous year and summer broods averaged seven chicks in drier areas, and eight chicks in wetter areas.

Like most upland birds, quail are most active in the early morning and later afternoon. Successful quail hunters know to look for freshly turned soil depressions in a circular shape, which can indicate where the birds have been taking dust baths. Quail have distinctive calls that can provide clues to the birds’ roosting spot or direction. Once they are away from cover and foraging, quail tend to stay on the move throughout the day.

Quail are most commonly hunted with 20, 16 or 12 gauge shotguns. A modified or improved cylinder choke is recommended to avoid excessively damaging the bird. Because of their ability to blend in and the brushy habitats, hit quail can be a challenge to find, and dogs can be useful for both locating and retrieving birds. CDFW reminds hunters that wasting game is both unethical and illegal.

CDFW estimates that in the 2014/15 season, approximately 470,000 quail were bagged across all three species by 69,000 hunters over the course of 550,000 hunter-days. Not surprisingly, California quail is the most frequently bagged of the three species.

Grouse

California has two species of native forest-dwelling grouse: the sooty (or blue) grouse and the ruffed grouse. Sooty grouse occur in the mountainous regions in the northern and eastern parts of the state, while the ruffed grouse is restricted to the extreme northwestern part of the state. The general hunting season for both species extends from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12 this year. For sooty and ruffed grouse, the bag limit is two (all of one species or mixed) and possession limit is triple the daily bag. A map of the hunt zones for sooty and ruffed grouse can be found on the CDFW website. A third species, the greater sage-grouse, can be hunted by permit only.

Although they are fairly large birds, grouse camouflage themselves very well. Dogs are useful companions for grouse hunters, due in part to the grouse’s tendency toward a fast, explosive flush. Grouse are easily frightened and will sometimes fly in a zigzag pattern when flushed. A light gun is helpful because a fast swing is often necessary.

Ptarmigan

The white-tailed ptarmigan is a non-native grouse that was introduced by CDFW to the Sierra Nevada in the early 1970s. This is the smallest species of ptarmigan and the only one found in California. They live in high elevation alpine habitats at low densities from the Sonora Pass south to Sequoia National Park. The ptarmigan hunt zone includes Alpine County and portions of Mono County (for specifics, please contact CDFW’s Upland Game Program).

Hunting these birds can be challenging because of the barren an inhospitable terrain. Hunting is permitted from Sept. 12 -20 within a designated zone. The daily bag limit is two per day and the possession limit is two per season. Many hunters prefer using a 20-gauge shotgun and a hunting dog to pursue ptarmigan.

Pigeon

The band-tailed pigeon is California’s only native pigeon and is a close relative of the extinct passenger pigeon. They look similar to domestic (feral) pigeons that are common in urban areas. Band-tailed pigeons are found in mountainous terrain throughout the state, using coniferous forests as well as oak woodlands.

The band-tailed pigeon is locally abundant at times but populations are nomadic and movements can be unpredictable. The federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) estimates that in 2014, 10,700 pigeons were harvested in California, nearly 90 percent of the total Pacific Flyway harvest.

The northern California hunt zone season runs from Sept 19-27. The daily bag limit is two and the possession limit is triple the daily bag. The southern hunt zone does not open until December.

CDFW reminds hunters that an upland game bird stamp is required for licensed adult hunters (18 years and older) but not hunters with a valid junior hunting license. A HIP validation is also required to hunt band-tailed pigeons.

Please note that as of July 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition is required when hunting upland game birds on all CDFW lands. Please plan accordingly. For more information please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition page.

Details

Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Published: 06 September 2015

As the fall archery and falconry-only squirrel season comes to a close in California, the general squirrel hunting season is set to begin.
 
The general season will open on Saturday, Sept. 12, and remain open through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. The daily bag and possession limit is four.
 
A map of the state's squirrel hunt zones can be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Web site, along with the full tree squirrel regulations .
 
Four types of tree squirrels are typically found in California: the Western gray squirrel and the Douglas squirrel (both native), and the Eastern fox squirrel and the Eastern gray squirrel (both non-native).

A fifth species, the Northern Flying Squirrel is not considered a game species but is a small, native, squirrel that is seldom encountered due to its nocturnal nature and preference for mature forest habitats with complex canopy structure.
 
Tree squirrel population levels vary greatly from year to year based on prevailing weather conditions and the annual production of nuts, acorns and seeds for forage.
 
“During any given year, tree squirrels in the state likely number in the millions,” said Matt Meshriy, an environmental scientist with CDFW's Upland Game Program. “We have definitely noticed the numbers of invasive Eastern fox squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels increasing as these species have expanded their range in recent years. The native Western gray squirrels and Douglas squirrels are often displaced where they overlap with invasive eastern species, but the native squirrels also generally occupy forest habitats where introduced species are not found.”

In recent years, approximately 10,000 to 15,000 hunters report hunting tree squirrels annually and their combined statewide bag has ranged from 50,000 to 75,000.

National forests provide some of the best opportunity to hunt tree squirrels in California. Bureau of Land Management lands and CDFW wildlife areas may also provide opportunity for squirrel hunting.

Please note that as of July 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition is required when hunting on all state wildlife areas and ecological reserves. Please plan accordingly. For more information please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition page .
 
Squirrel habitat in California
 
Squirrel hunting is a good starting point for the new hunter because tree squirrels are widely distributed throughout the California squirrel hunt zone and provide ample opportunities for hunting. Tree squirrels can be taken with small caliber firearms, such as a pellet gun or .22 caliber rifle or small shotgun (although 10 gauge shotguns are the largest shotguns allowed by regulation they are not recommended for squirrel hunting), which may be more comfortable or appropriate for a younger hunter. Tree squirrels are also relatively easy to clean and prepare for consumption, allowing younger hunters to master all aspects of harvesting wild game.
 
Knowing where to hunt is key to the success of any hunter, regardless of age or experience level. Some species are more prevalent in certain parts of the state than others.
 
– Western gray squirrels are found throughout the state except in Imperial, Contra Costa, San Francisco and King counties. Their typical habitat is in mature stands of conifer, hardwood and mixed hardwood-conifer habitats in the Klamath, Cascade, Transverse, Peninsular and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges as well as in riparian stands in the Central Valley.

– Douglas squirrels are found in conifer, hardwood-conifer and riparian habitats of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade, Klamath, North Coast and Warner Ranges. They may inhabit altitudes from sea level to 11,000 feet elevation. They live in a majority of California counties including Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yuba.

– Eastern fox squirrels are a non-native species that was first introduced in California more than 100 years ago in Los Angeles County. They have been expanding their range in California's valley, foothill riparian, redwood and valley foothill hardwood habitats ever since. They are able to out-compete native gray squirrels in many human-altered habitats thanks to their broader dietary preferences, tolerance of open and urbanized areas and the fact that they produce two litters of pups annually compared with only one litter for the native gray squirrel. Today there are many localized populations of Eastern fox squirrels living mostly in and around urban and nearby rural settings including vineyards and orchards that surround coastal metropolitan areas. Eastern fox squirrels are reported to inhabit Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Merced, Mendocino, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano and Ventura counties.

– Eastern gray squirrels are a non-native species that was introduced to California. They have continued to expand their range, similar to the Eastern fox squirrel. They prefer heavily wooded areas and thrive in urban parks, and occur today in the San Francisco Bay Area, extending south through Santa Cruz County as well as in urban settings in the Central Valley and adjacent to the Calaveras River. There is little evidence that Eastern gray squirrels have displaced native California gray squirrels to an appreciable degree, however, Eastern gray squirrels are known to compete with and displace Eastern fox squirrels where they co-exist in California.

General tips for squirrel hunting success
 
Successful squirrel hunters are stealthy, well-prepared and properly equipped. The following tips are useful for hunting in any habitat.
 
– Be stealthy. Squirrels have excellent hearing and vision and are well adapted to detect and evade predators. Squirrels will often see you before you see them, so being quiet and attentive enough to glimpse or hear a tree squirrel that may move or change its position in reaction to your presence is essential to a successful hunt. Practice walking as quietly as possible and be especially alert when entering into new habitat, such as when you first exit your vehicle or when you top a rise in the trail.

– Be patient. Once a squirrel has become alerted to your presence, it will often cease whatever activity it was engaged in and will wait motionless for a half hour or more for you to leave their area. A good strategy is to look for signs of tree squirrels (piles of stripped pine cone scales under conifers) and sit tight and wait for a while. Use binoculars or a scope to scan tree branches; tree squirrels will often sit or lie down prostrate on a branch while resting or avoiding detection by a predator. Knowing when to take the time to sit and wait can lead to a more successful, more efficient and ultimately more enjoyable hunt!

– Use a hunting dog when possible. A dog can improve your success and minimize the potential for a wounding loss. If a tree squirrel is injured but not killed by your shot, they will likely flee rapidly and attempt to find cover. A dog may be the most effective way to ensure that a squirrel that falls to the ground will not be lost. Dogs may also aid in pointing or chasing a squirrel around to you from the opposite side of a tree. If you are not hunting with a dog, be sure to be prepared for a fast follow up shot to avoid a wounding loss.

– Choose your firearm wisely. The best choice of gun and shot size will depend on both the hunter and local habitat. The gun should be comfortable enough to carry all day and easy to “swing” to take a shot. For youth hunters or those hunting in high-quality habitat, a pellet gun is light and compact and can allow for follow-up shots to take additional tree squirrels in some situations because of its relatively quiet operation. Experienced hunters or those hunting in more open habitats may prefer a shotgun with size 5 or 6 shot. For early season hunts when deciduous trees still hold most of their leaves, a number 4 shot may be a better choice. Small shotguns such as a .410 or 20 gauge are another excellent choice for hunting tree squirrels.

Regulations, requirements and safety concerns
 
Tree squirrels can be hunted in the open zone during the open season under authority of a hunting license in California. No other validations are required.

Hunters should never shoot into dense vegetation to take a tree squirrel because of the risk of another hunter being on the other side. Never shoot toward rocks or water to avoid the possibility of a projectile bouncing toward you or someone else. Positioning yourself below a tree squirrel allows for a safe shot. While not required, blaze orange should be worn for safety, along with proper safety glasses.
 
Important laws and regulations to consider include the following:

– Tree squirrels may be taken in the open zone during the open season from between one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
– All hunters, including youths with a junior hunting license, are required to carry their hunting license with them.
– Bag limits apply to each hunter and no one can take more than one legal limit.
– It is illegal to shoot within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling.
– It is illegal to shoot from or across a public roadway.

It is the responsibility of every hunter to know and follow all laws.
 
CDFW urges hunters to drink plenty of fluids, wear sun protection and have a plan in case of an emergency.

Details

Written by: Carrie Wilson

Published: 05 September 2015

If land is not posted, can it be hunted?

Question: I have two questions about a recent press release announcing the dove opener.

First of all it states: “Hunters must have written permission from the landowner prior to hunting on private land.”

I believe this is incorrect. If the property is POSTED, a hunter must have written permission. If it is not posted, there is no requirement for the hunter to know it is private and therefore stay out.

The law is written a little odd, but I think this is the agreed interpretation.

My second question is regarding the press release statements, “It is illegal to hunt within 200 yards of an artificial water source for wildlife.”

I have never seen this before. What is that statute?

My understanding of the law was that a hunter many not park a vehicle or camp with one-quarter mile of an artificial water source and that he could not stay on the water source for more than 30 minutes. However, it’s perfectly legal to hunt right up to and across a guzzler (or other artificial water). (Jim Mathews)

Answer: Regarding your first question, you are correct that hunters don’t always need to have written permission from the landowner to hunt on private lands.

Hunters are required to obtain written permission prior to hunting on private land that is fenced, cultivated, or where signs forbidding trespass or hunting are displayed at intervals not less than three to the mile along all exterior boundaries and at all roads and trails entering those lands (Fish and Game Code, section 2016).

However, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) advises hunters to respect the property rights of others. CDFW’s hunting regulations booklets all state:

“If the land you hunt on is not your own, it belongs to someone else. Make sure you have a legal right to be there. Contact the owner or person who administers the property, and secure written permission to hunt. A hunting license does not entitle you to enter private property.”

This is always the best practice. Public land managers may restrict hunting activities, too. Unfortunately, one of the most common perpetuations of a negative image of hunting is hunter trespass. Land owners are never pleased to find strangers with guns on their property without permission.

For the entire language of the hunter trespass law, please go to http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml and search using Code = FGC and Section = 2016.

As far as your second question, you are referring to the regulation for Camping Near or Occupying Wildlife Watering Places (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 730). The regulation does not apply everywhere, and it specifically lists the prohibited activities and the locations where they are prohibited. The press release should have referenced “wildlife watering places” as those are the exact words from the regulation.

Wildlife watering places are defined as: “Waterholes, springs, seeps and man-made watering devices for wildlife such as guzzlers (self-filling, in-the-ground water storage tanks), horizontal wells and small impoundments of less than one surface acre in size.”

“Camping/Occupying” is defined as: “Establishing or inhabiting a camp; resting; picnicking; sleeping; parking or inhabiting any motor vehicle or trailer; hunting; or engaging in any other recreational activity for a period of more than thirty (30) minutes at a given location.”

Under this regulation, hunting and is prohibited within 200 yards of the following:

· Any guzzler or horizontal well for wildlife on public land within the State of California.
· Any of the wildlife watering places on public land within the boundary of the California Desert Conservation Area as depicted on the Bureau of Land Management maps of “Calif. Federal Public Lands Responsibility,” “Calif. Desert Conservation Area” and the new “Desert District, B.L.M.”

Hunting is also prohibited within one-quarter mile of the following wildlife watering places:

(A) Butte Well - Lassen County.
(B) Schaffer Well - Lassen County.
(C) Tableland Well - Lassen County.
(D) Table Mountain Well - Lassen County.
(E) Timber Mountain Well - Modoc National Forest, Modoc County.
(F) Belfast Well - Lassen County.

For the entire language and location information of this section, please go to https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Search/Index and search using Title = 14 and Section = 730.

Shell collecting prohibited on Newport Beach?

Question: I often walk on the beach in Newport and collect any shells that appear to be in good shape. Recently a city official told me I cannot collect shells on the beach.

Are there specific local, state or federal laws or regulations governing the collection of common shells on the beaches of Newport? (Lori, Newport Beach)

Answer: Unless the beach is part of a Marine Protected Area with Title 14 regulations that specifically prohibit collection of shells or nonliving marine resources, Fish and Wildlife laws don’t prohibit shell collection.

If a city official told you that you cannot collect shells, then there may be a city ordinance. You should check with the City of Newport Beach.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .