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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With the Jerusalem fire expected to be fully contained this week, the Knoxville Wildlife Area reopened to the public as of Monday, Aug. 17.
The Jerusalem fire has burned 25,118 acres in Lake, Napa and Yolo counties, eventually joining the southern flank of the Rocky fire.
The public is cautioned to be aware of their surroundings when outdoors and report any smoke, which may indicate spot fires.
Visitors also are reminded that campfires are not allowed on the wildlife area.
Two other public closures caused by wildfires last week are still in effect: The Putah Creek Wildlife Area (due to the Wragg fire), and the Cache Creek Natural Area (due to the Rocky fire).
Please note, Putah Creek Fishing Access numbers one to four remain open.
Cal Fire's statewide fire map can be found at www.calfire.ca.gov/general/firemaps.php .
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Tennis Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The board meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Kelseyville Unified School District Office, 4410 Konocti Road.
On the agenda for this meeting will be court and net repair, future development of the public use facility, as well as ongoing maintenance issues.
This also will be a chance for all of the interested parties to gather and share their concerns.
The public is welcome to attend.
Please call Ellen Karnowski at 707-279-9652 for more information.
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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Men's Niners Golf Club held a stroke-play tournament on Aug. 13.
The results were:
– First flight: Dave Mann took first with net 31. Randy Kephart and Bob Chesnut tied for second, 33.
– Second flight: Don Herndon was first, 33. Don Dornbush, Bob Brossier, Ron Clark and Rick Conrad all tied for second, 34.
– Third flight: Mike Riley posted the lowest net of the day, 30. Wayne Schneider was second, 31, and Mike Higman third, 33.
– Fourth flight: Bob Schossler was first, 34. Ed Brooks, Tom Swihart and Bill Stricklan tied for second, 35.
Closest to the par 3 pins were Fred Figg and Randy Kephart.
Chip-ins were scored by Mike Riley and Bill Sticklan.
Bob Chesnut won the low gross competition with 77.
Forty-nine men participated in this event.
Randy Kephart, Ron Clark, Mike Riley and Bill Stricklan will play on Thursday, Aug. 20, for the 2015 Championship.
Ron Hallman is publicist for the Hidden Valley Lake Men's Niners Golf Club.
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Can peace officers carry handguns while archery hunting?
Question: My question is about peace officers carrying a handgun while archery hunting.
The way I read the Fish and Game Code, it only states that you may carry a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person, not that it shall or will be concealed.
I always carry a backpack while hunting, and I usually carry my off-duty weapon on the waist belt under a pouch.
This is not totally concealed, so is it acceptable or is it going to be left to officer discretion in the field? (Ken)
Answer: Yes, this is acceptable, but make sure to carry your peace officer identification to avoid any confusion.
“A peace officer …, whether active or honorably retired, may carry a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person while engaged in the taking of deer with bow and arrow …, but shall not take or attempt to take deer with the firearm” (Fish and Game Code, section 4370(b)).
Lifetime fishing license is too long!
Question: I purchased a lifetime fishing license about 10 years ago. What used to be a small piece of paper that I could put in my wallet or keep in my tackle box has grown to where it’s now more than six feet in length.
How about giving me a credit card type of license I can recharge every year instead of a new one? This would save a lot of money and be a lot easier to carry. (Michael T.)
Answer: When lifetime items are renewed online, multiple items (tags, report cards, etc.) ordered together may arrive in one envelope and be printed out together as one long document.
This accounts for the document length you describe, but just so you know, you should separate your documents on the dotted line printed between documents to make them more manageable.
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Associate Governmental Program Analyst Brent George, our License and Revenue Branch at one time considered a credit card system for lifetime license customers.
Although the idea has some merit, they found that given California’s large population, and the overall complexity of sport fishing and hunting privileges available throughout the state, this solution is not practical. CDFW always tries to consider all viable options when developing licensing solutions for California’s hunters and anglers.
Spearfishing in Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area
Question: I have a question regarding fishing regulations as they apply to spearfishing in the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area.
The regulation provides that “take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 632(a)(2)) from shore and abalone.”
Can I swim from shore and spearfish? I would assume the answer is yes because one has to swim from shore to dive for abalone, so swimming from shore to spearfish should similarly be allowed.
What about using a kayak to get out to the dive spot? Or, what about inner tubes or boogie boards? (Gary R.)
Answer: Although you may swim from shore to take abalone, you may not spearfish in the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area. Finfish may only be taken from shore in this area (CCR Title 14, section 632(b)(50(B)).
Need a definite schedule for upcoming grunion runs
Question: I grew up in California but now live in New York. I am coming for a visit and would love to bring my kids to see a grunion run.
I have your schedule but want to know if it is a definite schedule. I know they follow the full moon cycle but just want to know if there has ever been a time when you predicted the grunion will spawn on a certain day but they did not? (Andrea C., New York)
Answer: Grunion runs will occur on most Southern California beaches, but unfortunately for people trying to see the grunion runs, they may not occur every night on the same beaches and may be limited to small areas of any one beach.
Sometimes grunion choose not to run on beaches that are known for grunion runs; only they know why. Long story short, there are no guarantees, but as with most fishing efforts, if you don’t try you certainly will not see or catch any fish!
Grunion will spawn somewhere in their range on the days predicted; if they do not show up on one beach, they are usually at another beach.
The schedule predicts the best possible times to view the runs, based on years of documentation of their behavior.
Beaches that frequently host grunion runs are listed online under What Every Grunion Hunter Should Know > Best locations, on http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp#hunter .
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
