California bear hunting season opens Saturday

Bear hunters who haven't yet purchased their 2010 tags and plan to hunt on Saturday's opening day should get to a California Department of Fish and Game office no later than Thursday. That's because all DFG offices may be closed Friday due to state furloughs on the second, third and fourth Fridays each month. (An Alameda County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday blocking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from enforcing the mandatory time off. The Schwarzenegger administration appealed the decision Tuesday.)

Bear tags can only be purchased in person at DFG's regional offices, including the License and Revenue branch in Sacramento, or through the mail. Offices are otherwise open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The general season for black bears opens concurrently with the general deer hunting seasons in deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 (specific dates can be found in the Big Game Hunting Digest, pages 22-28). In the remaining deer X zones, the bear season will open Oct. 9. All of the general bear seasons will end Dec. 26, or earlier if the statewide quota is met.

The 2010 statewide archery bear season starts Aug. 21 and will run for three weeks, closing Sept. 12. The Friday before the archery opening day may also be a furlough day.

Fish and Game will close the bear season early if 1,700 animals have been reported taken statewide. For daily updates on the reported bear harvest, call (888) 277-6398, or visit the bear management website.

Bear hunting is not without controversy in the Golden State. Earlier this year, DFG-proposed changes to the bear hunting season were again shelved after a coalition of more than 70 animal welfare organizations, including Big Wildlife, Los Padres ForestWatch and the Humane Society of the United States vehemently opposed the proposal. The plan, which included increasing bear hunting areas, the number of tags issued and quotas, was tabled because the department was unable to respond in writing to the large number of public comments received on the changes as required by law.

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Black bear. Credit: Lynn Chamberlain / Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

White-tailed deer hunting in focus on '4 Weeks of Whitetail' beginning Friday on Versus

Although white-tailed deer are not found in California, there is still hunter interest in them, for whitetails can be found almost everywhere else in the country (there have been occasional sightings of whitetails in the northeast portion of California but they have never become established here, and the last confirmed sighting was more than 50 years ago).

So to help hunters gear up for the white-tailed deer season, Versus is airing its annual presentation, "4 Weeks of Whitetail," from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning Friday and continuing each Friday through  Aug. 27.

Viewers will see six half-hour episodes each week from three popular hunting series: "The Bucks of  Tecomate," featuring Jeff Foxworthy and David Morris;  "The Buck Stops Here," with host Mike Hanback; and "Winchester Whitetail Revolution."

Versus will also offer a weekly "Rut Report" on its website, to help hunters plan for their outdoor excursion. Featuring information collected from hunting pros and experts about whitetail activity throughout North America, the site includes maps highlighting hot spots, a Q&A and games for hunters to test their skills.

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A white-tailed deer buck stands alert in a field. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Fish and Game Q&A: Are there rules on the number of fishing rods someone can use for ocean fishing?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: Are there any rules on the numbers of fishing rods someone can use for ocean fishing? I had a bad experience recently with an Orange County sheriff [deputy] who saw me on the Newport Beach jetty fishing with several poles. He told me I was allowed only two poles. I told him I’d seen a sign posted at a nearby pier that said, Maximum limit three active poles." The officer said the pier was not following the Fish and Game rules. I told him I thought what applies there also applies here in Newport since Fish and Game rules apply statewide. I presume sheriffs can’t represent Fish and Game regarding fishing rules and should instead be catching fugitives, bad guys and drug traffickers and not bothering fishermen! I didn’t want to argue with an officer with a gun, especially a sheriff who doesn’t know the rules, but I felt the officer was harassing me. (Dandy L., San Bernardino) 

Answer: Sheriff’s deputies do enforce Department of Fish and Game regulations when they see violations, and in this case, the deputy was correct. When fishing in the ocean from a public pier or jetty, DFG regulations allow for only two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two crab nets, crab traps or other appliances for taking crabs (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.88 specifically describes a jetty as a structure that is "connected to land … and whose purpose is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor"). If the sign on the nearby pier indicated a three-pole maximum, then it was not a sign that was posted or authorized by the state. City regulations can be more restrictive than state DFG regulations, but not less restrictive.

Q: I’ve heard that you need to be a certain distance from highways and roads when hunting. How far away from the roadway do you need to be before shooting?

Fall Hunting Classic begins Friday at Bass Pro Shops

The annual Fall Hunting Classic, a series of hunting-related seminars, workshops and activities, begins this Friday at Bass Pro Shops.

The Rancho Cucamonga store is expecting more than 100,000 visitors over the course of the 17-day event, which concludes Sunday, Aug. 22.

"The Bass Pro Shops Fall Classic is a huge event and hunters and other outdoor sportsmen and women look forward to it all year long," said Bass Pro Shops spokeswoman Katie Mitchell. "Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to learn the secret techniques and strategies used by professionals to gain a better advantage in the field, see all the latest products and attend workshops and seminars."

Events planned include seminars and workshops hosted by industry pros, contests, binocular trade-ins, ATV test drives and myriad activities for children.

"I’ve heard it said that if you don’t have a fishing rod in the hands of a youngster by the time they are 8 years old, the chances of getting them to go fishing later in life diminishes dramatically," added Mitchell. "I would think the same applies to getting them introduced to hunting and shooting sports."

A complete schedule is available on the store website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: As the sun sets in the west, a couple of hunters in a field look for the last flight of dove. Credit: George Wilhelm / Los Angeles Times

Women outpace men as new hunters

More women than men took up hunting last year, according to new figures from the National Sporting Goods Assn.

While total hunters in the U.S. decreased slightly (.05%) between 2008 and 2009, the number of female hunters increased by 5.4%, netting 163,000 new participants. Growth areas for women included muzzleloading (up 134.6%), bowhunting (up 30.7%) and hunting with firearms (up 3.5%).

The data also show women outpaced men among newcomers to target shooting with a rifle, with female participation growing by 4.1%.

"New hunters, shooters and anglers are a good thing for everyone who loves the outdoors," said Denise Wagner of the Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo., the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

"Hunting and fishing license sales, combined with special taxes on firearms and ammunition, bows and arrows, and rods and reels generate about $100,000 every 30 minutes, totaling more than $1.75 billion per year, for conservation," Wagner added. "When it comes to funding for wildlife and wild places, more is definitely better."

National Hunting and Fishing Day, scheduled for Sept. 25 this year, was established by Congress to recognize America’s sportsmen for their leading role in fish, wildlife and habitat conservation.

The growth in new participation among women is no surprise to Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry.

"Over the past several years, our industry has worked hard to help build this segment of our market. We’ve developed shooting and hunting products especially for women, reached out with welcoming and instructional workshops for women, and encouraged existing hunters and shooters to introduce their spouses, daughters and other newcomers to shooting sports and outdoor lifestyles," Sanetti said. "I believe these efforts are paying off, which is a bright spot for our industry as well as for conservation."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: An unidentified woman shows off the turkey she shot. Credit: Jim Bulger / Colorado Division of Wildlife

Fish and Game Q&A: If the fish will die anyway, shouldn’t I keep it?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: If I catch an undersized fish that swallows the hook so deep that it starts to bleed from the gills, should the fish still be released even though it will most likely die? If I do keep the fish under these circumstances, how could I prove to a game warden that I didn’t want to waste the fish because it was going to die anyway? (Eddie H.)

Answer: Unfortunately, even if your fish is undersized and going to die anyway, you must still return that fish immediately. It won’t be wasted as it will go into the food chain as nourishment for other fish, invertebrates, and maybe marine mammals and birds. The bottom line is you cannot keep any fish that does not meet the minimum size requirements. If you deeply hook an undersized fish, it is best to not lift the fish out of the water and to quickly cut the line as close to the mouth as possible.  Fish are more likely to survive with the hook left inside than if you try to dig it out, tearing the gills or stomach in the process.

Q: I have been hiking upstream though a riverbed to fish the Sespe River in the Los Padres National Forest. A man who thinks he owns the river told me that I’m trespassing. What are my rights and what is the best way to show him I know it is my right to stay on the river in order to pass through "his" property? (Kyle L.)

Deadline to apply for 2010 big-game tag drawing is Wednesday

Hunters who want to pursue deer, elk, pronghorn antelope or bighorn sheep in California have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to submit applications to the Department of Fish and Game's License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento.

With the deadline near, those interested in applying might want to print forms from the website and fax them to (916) 419-7586. Drawing results will be available by phone and online on June 23.

This year’s big-game hunt drawing features a dramatic change in the way tags are allocated for certain deer hunting zones. Due to high demand, tags for zones C, D-12 and D-17 will now be issued through the DFG’s drawing system and will no longer be available over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may apply for one of these zone tags by submitting a First-Deer Tag application into the big-game drawing.

The big-game drawing also awards tags for X zone and special deer hunts, as well as for all elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep hunting. Deer tags for zones A and B, and for the remaining D zones, are available through DFG offices until they are sold out.

Any licensed hunter older than 12 is eligible to apply for the chance to participate in big-game hunts statewide (those applying for bighorn sheep tags must be 16 or older).

Information about the drawing, hunting regulations and how to apply for special deer hunts, and antelope, elk and bighorn sheep hunting applications can be found in the DFG’s 2010 Big Game Hunting Digest. For questions regarding big-game tags or pertaining to the changes for deer tag zones C, D-12 and D-17, call the DFG’s License and Revenue Branch at (916) 928-5805.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Mule deer in a field. Credit: Gary Zahm / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Follow Outposts on Twitter: twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks seeks several changes for 2010 wolf hunting season

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks department has released its proposal for this year's gray wolf hunting season. It includes numerous changes, including an increased quota, a longer open season and a possible archery-hunting season.

FWP wildlife managers are seeking to increase the statewide quota to either 186 or 216 wolves, up from the 2009 quota of 75 animals. They would also like to create 14 wolf hunting units in three zones, and allow subquotas in some areas during the early season backcountry hunt, including the area directly north of Yellowstone National Park.

"In a word, it’s all about balance," said Ken McDonald, FWP’s chief of wildlife. "Smaller and more wolf management units represent lessons learned from the 2009 hunting season. Some areas contributed more to the harvest than expected and prevented us from addressing management needs in other areas. We want to adjust that to ensure a widely distributed harvest and yet still target areas where we’re seeing impacts on prey, like elk and deer, and where recurring livestock depredations are anticipated."

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Thursday in Helena to consider the proposal. If approved, a public comment period expected to run through June 14 will follow. A final decision is scheduled to be made July 8.

New eyewear allows for hands-free video recording

Time for a new pair of sunglasses? You might want to check out i-Kam Xtreme eyewear, which allows the wearer to be their own videographer.

That's because each pair features a built-in video recording device, allowing for hands-free recording of your latest outdoor adventure. Be it hunting, fishing, skiing or even a ballgame, outdoor enthusiasts of all types have an easy way to record what they see, and play it back later for future enjoyment.

With no cords or battery packs required, the glasses have a digital camera incorporated into the frame, offering 4GB of built-in memory for up to 3 hours of recording, plus an integral microphone to capture all the sounds to go along with the video. The eyewear  will also accept a Micro SD card for an additional 8 GB of memory. 

The glasses can be hooked directly to a PC or Mac with the supplied USB cable to view video. When using a Micro SD card, it can be inserted into a card reader to watch footage.

DFG offers bow-hunting clinic Saturday at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga

The Department of Fish and Game is hosting a bow-hunting clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga.

Co-sponsored by the Hunter Education Instructor Assn. of Southern California, the clinic is geared to all skill levels and is part of the DFG’s Advanced Hunter Education Program.

Topics will include shooting form, equipment, methods, camouflage, scents, stands, blinds, blood trailing and safety.

The cost of the clinic is $45, with space limited to 30 participants. There is no charge for those 16 and younger, but they must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian.

All necessary class equipment will be provided, though meals are not included. Registration forms are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/bowhunting.aspx. 

After registering, participants will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility, a list of items to bring and a workshop agenda.

Bass Pro Shops is located at 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: An archer takes aim during a practice session. Credit: Frank Wiese / Los Angeles Times

To follow this blog on Twitter, please visit @latimesoutposts.

Fish and Game Q&A: If I catch my limit of fish can I continue fishing catch-and-release?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: If I catch my limit of the fish I’m fishing for, can I continue fishing catch-and-release? If my buddy doesn’t have his limit, can I fish for him? If I don’t want to keep the fish, can I fish for other people? (Michael H.)

Answer: When fishing in freshwater, each person is allowed to take only one daily bag limit per day. Once you catch your daily limit for a species of fish, you are done fishing for that type of fish.

If you want to catch and release fish, you must do that before you take the last fish of the limit. If you want to give someone your fish, you may do so but those fish will still count toward your daily bag limit, and the person receiving the fish cannot have more than the legal limit in their possession either.

In addition, if you take an overlimit (for example, seven trout when the limit is five), and you give two to someone else, that person is now in possession of illegally taken fish and could be cited too, even if they are not over their daily bag limit.

When fishing in the ocean, however, boat limits are allowed for anglers fishing from a boat. This means that all anglers can continue fishing until the total numbers of fish on the boat are equal to the total number of fish allowed for every angler, despite who actually caught each fish. Upon departing the boat, each passenger can only possess one daily bag limit.

Q: If I have been convicted of a felony, can I still apply for a hunting license? My felony was considered "white collar" and was nonviolent with no weapons involved. (Michael S.)

Fish and Game Q&A: Can wild turkeys be aged based on their beards and spurs?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I am fairly new to turkey hunting and hear everyone always referring to their birds by their beards and spurs. Can wild turkeys be aged based on these trophy characteristics? (Jim C., Modesto)

Answer: Yes and no. There is no absolute standard for identifying a wild turkey’s age, but there are some general guidelines that can be used to provide fairly reliable estimates.

While precisely determining a turkey’s age in years may be difficult, there is a surefire method for distinguishing between adults and juveniles using the last two primary flight feathers. In juvenile birds, the feathers will be sharp at the ends. By the time the bird reaches maturity at one year of age, it will molt and the two sharp feathers will be replaced by more rounded ones.