Winning art chosen for 2011 California duck stamp

The winning design for California’s 2011 duck stamp was selected at a judging event May 19 on the steps of the State Capitol building in Sacramento.

Shari Erickson of Beaver Creek, Ore., won for her painting of a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye, the species for this year's competition and stamp. This was Erickson's first duck stamp contest win.

"I absolutely love Barrow’s Goldeneye. They’re my favorite bird to paint, which is really what provoked me to enter this duck stamp contest," Erickson said. A nature and wildlife artist since 1985, Erickson has been entering duck stamp contests since 2009.

The image beat out 15 other entries submitted by artists nationwide and will adorn the 2011-12 stamp. In past years, waterfowl hunters were required to affix stamps to their hunting license but this year, with California moving to an automated licensing system, hunters are no longer required to carry the physical stamps in the field -- proof of purchase prints directly onto the license. The stamps will now be mailed, upon request, to license-holders at the end of the hunting season.

The Department of Fish and Game sells about 70,000 duck stamps annually, including sales to collectors. In addition to the stamps, the department typically issues signed, limited-edition prints also valued by art collectors. Since its inception in 1971, the California duck stamp program has raised more than $22 million, and the money can only be spent on waterfowl-related conservation projects. It is the first, and oldest, state duck stamp program in the country.

The original art will be on display, along with the second, third and two honorable mention pieces, at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Assn. art show, July 15-17 in Sacramento.

The entire library of California duck stamps can be viewed on the DFG website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: The winning artwork for the 2011 California waterfowl hunting stamp. Credit: Department of Fish and Game

 

Facebook bragging about poaching leads to charges against man

A convicted felon who posted images on Facebook about his poaching exploits attracted the attention of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Internet Crimes Unit and now faces seven felony charges and six misdemeanor charges related to his illegal activities.

The department's investigation into Facebook posts by Darin Lee Waldo, 43, of Davenport, Fla., led it to believe that he and friends may have been poaching game in Florida's Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area during closed season. Waldo is a convicted felon who cannot legally possess firearms.

"Our investigators were able to gain Waldo's confidence over the Internet," said Lt. George Wilson, supervisor of the Internet Crimes Unit.

Waldo not only exchanged images of illegally killed game with FWC investigators via the Internet, but also took part in chat room conversations about his alleged actions and allegedly invited undercover agents to participate in two illegal hunts, eventually leading to his arrest Saturday by Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies.

"Waldo was also trespassing and poaching on private ranches before hunting season, stealing Florida's wildlife from landowners who were maintaining conservation programs," Wilson said.

Waldo's third-degree felony charges, each punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or five years in prison, include four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and three counts of armed trespass. He also faces six second-degree misdemeanor charges, each punishable by up to a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail.

In the first year since the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission created its Internet Crimes Unit, investigators initiated 168 investigations that have resulted in 177 arrests and 92 warnings.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: This Facebook photo posted by Darin Lee Waldo posing with white-tailed deer eventually led to his arrest on felony charges. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

 

Fish and Game Q&A: Is it legal to use lights to monitor wildlife if you do not have any guns in your possession?

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: Is it legal to use lights to monitor wildlife if you do not have any guns in your possession? Watching wildlife at night is a very interesting way to educate kids to be on the lookout for and gain an interest in wildlife. I’ve always wondered if using lights to do this would be considered harassment somehow and not be allowed? (Bill T.)

Answer: It is not illegal to shine lights since you won’t have a "method of take" with you, but your activities could alert a game warden who might think you are using the spotlights to poach game at night. Be aware that there are vehicle code laws that prohibit shining a hand-held spotlight from a motor vehicle and another provision that requires "off road" lights to be covered while traveling on a public roadway or highway.

Instead, you might consider using a trail cam like those sold through most outdoor-gear stores. These will allow you to capture (with night-vision equipment) images or video of wildlife that might be visiting a watering hole or passing through an area. There are some cameras that take photos when a light sensor is tripped and some that take photos at certain time intervals. The trail cams would not bother or harass the wildlife, and you’d be able to take photos of them while they are acting normally, doing whatever they naturally do at night. You might also be surprised by the different species that will appear that you probably would not expect!

Q: I helped my boss, who is legally blind, get a disabled license for fishing. However, due to her disability, she will need help baiting her hook. Can I legally help her without needing a two-pole stamp? (Sandy B.)

Fish and Game Q&A: Can a disabled war veteran hunt with a canine companion?

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’m a 100% disabled war veteran and have a canine companion dog (yellow lab) that goes with me everywhere as my hearing dog. I lost most of my hearing in the war from enemy fire. Is it legal to take a companion dog turkey or deer hunting? Can my dog go turkey hunting on a leash, not as a hunting dog but as a hearing dog? My dog has never been trained to hunt and he won’t be part of that life. He wouldn’t be chasing game but because he is my second set of ears, can he be used for hearing? (Larry L.)

Answer: Yes, you can use your dog in the situations described. Generally, there’s no prohibition against using dogs (having them with you) while bird hunting, but there is a one dog per hunter limit during general deer season. No dogs are allowed during archery deer season or while hunting with an archery-only tag (California Code of Regulations, section 265).

Q: While bank fishing in the Delta recently, I watched some people nearby land a legal-sized sturgeon. They took some pictures and were about to release the 63-incher when a family came running up and asked if they could keep it for dinner. It appeared to me that the catch-and-release fisherman felt compelled to give it to them, and he did. I could not tell if the sturgeon was properly tagged prior to the transfer of ownership because the family left pretty quickly. I thought I might offer one of my tags as I am also a catch-and-release fisherman who has never landed a sturgeon and would never need three tags, but I am wondering if this would be legal. Not knowing, I decided not to give up my tag. My question is, can someone donate a sturgeon tag to another fisherman? (Rob Grasso)

Deer hunting clinic offered by California Department of Fish and Game

The California Department of Fish and Game will be holding a deer hunting clinic on June 18 as part of its advanced hunter education program.

Co-sponsored by the Pacific Coast Hunter Education Assn. and the California Deer Assn., the class will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Canada De Los Osos Ecological Reserve in Santa Clara County.

The clinic, specifically designed for hunting deer in California, will cover deer biology; hunting locations, techniques and requirements; methods for locating deer; field dressing and care of game.

The cost is $45 and space is limited, so those interested are advised to register early. A barbecue lunch is available for an additional $10.

Those 16 or younger will be admitted free but must be accompanied by an adult. Registration, including fee payment, closes two weeks before the workshop date and can be completed online. After registering, participants will receive an email with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring. For more information email or call DFG Lt. Dan Lehman at (916) 358-4356.

-- Kelly Burgess
Twitter.com/latimesoutposts

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

Fish and Game Q&A: Is a duck still a duck once it becomes sausage?

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: My question is about possession of waterfowl when processed. A friend shot more than 250 ducks in the just-completed waterfowl season, so I asked him if he was breaking the law by having more than 14 ducks in possession. He said no because he had them regularly processed into duck sausage, and once processed they’re considered out of your possession. Is this correct? Another friend saves all his ducks throughout the 100-day duck season and then gives them all to a butcher to process into sausage. He contends if you process the meat through a meat grinder, then it’s not considered part of the possession limit anymore because it’s now processed.

If you smoke your ducks or process them through a meat grinder and put them in your freezer, are they then out of your possession? A clarification of the "in possession" rule would be greatly appreciated. (Mike)

Answer: Your friends are mistaken and could be cited for possessions of overlimits. Generally, the daily bag limit is seven ducks, and the possession limit is two daily bag limits. Possession is defined as "fresh, frozen or otherwise preserved ..." (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1.17). Making sausage only preserves the birds; they are still in possession until eaten or given away.

Colorado officials unanimously approve regulation banning the hunting of denned bears

The Colorado Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a regulation Thursday that bans the hunting or harassment of black bears in their dens.

The regulation was drafted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife following an incident in November in which hunter Richard Kendall of Craig, Colo., tracked a large black bear to a cave, entered the cave and killed the animal.

Although the killing of the 703-pound bear was legal -- Colorado hunting regulations did not prohibit hunting a bear in a den -- the incident sparked public outrage, generating angry emails and calls to state wildlife authorities.

Colorado Division of Wildlife Regulations Manager Brett Ackerman told the Colorado Wildlife Commission that the den-hunting ban was consistent with a primary objective of the division's strategic plan, which is to maintain and increase public support for wildlife and wildlife management by emphasizing safety and fair chase.

The new regulation will take effect July 1.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

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

California Department of Fish and Game offers clinic on hunting wild pigs

The next advanced hunting clinic offered by the California Department of Fish and Game will focus on wild pigs.

Co-hosted by the Pacific Coast Hunter Education Assn., the class will take place Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Russian River Sportsmen's Club in the Sonoma County town of Duncan Mills.

Topics to be covered include the biology of wild pigs, techniques for locating the animals, methods of take, how to handle and properly care for the game, plus recipes for preparing wild pig. Instructors will also be field dressing and skinning a pig during the clinic.

Hunting season for wild pigs is open year-round in California for licensed hunters, with no daily bag or possession limit, so this clinic seems well worth the registration cost for anyone wanting to learn more about the quarry.

The cost is $45, and space is limited to 30 participants, so those interested are advised to register early. A barbecue lunch is available for an additional $10.

Those 16 or younger will be admitted free but must be accompanied by an adult. Registration, including fee payment, closes two weeks before the workshop date and can be completed online. For more information, email or call DFG Lt. Dan Lehman at (916) 358-4356.

If you miss this one, there will be one more DFG clinic this year on wild-pig hunting: July 30 at Tejon Ranch.

-- Kelly Burgess
Twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A wild pig on the range. Credit: California Department of Fish and Game

Idaho Fish and Game begins selling wolf-hunting tags

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game began selling wolf-hunting tags Thursday, the same day that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the rule that immediately removed wolves in Idaho, Montana and portions of Oregon, Utah and Washington state from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The action comes after the U.S. Department of the Interior on Wednesday declared wolves fully recovered in most of the northern Rockies, returning gray wolves to state management.

Tags are available at license vendors and Idaho Fish and Game offices and cost $11.50 for resident hunters and $186 for nonresidents, with a valid 2011 Idaho hunting license required.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will set seasons, rules and limits later in the summer.

-- Kelly Burgess
Twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Gray wolves. Credit: National Parks Conservation Assn.

 

Fish and Game Q&A: What are the creepy leech-like things in lakes and rivers?

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: My daughter and I love to swim and play in waters wherever we find them. While in French Gulch (Shasta County) last year, we decided to play around in Clear Creek. The creek was running pretty high, but when my daughter and I got out we had these black, worm-like things hanging off us. Our first thought was leeches, which got us out of the water quite quickly! Someone told me they were rock worms and wouldn’t hurt us. We haven’t returned there though because we’re still too scared they were leeches.

We also stopped at Eagle Lake (Lassen County) to go swimming and ended up with these tiny little round slime balls on us. When picking up these slimy things in question, they flattened out on our hands and started slithering like a leech across our hands. This was another trip where my daughter and I ran screaming out of the water to rinse off under the faucet! There were lots of people swimming in the lake who either didn’t seem to notice or else knew something we didn’t.

Clear Creek was a very cold creek, but Eagle Lake was very warm, so I could understand Eagle Lake possibly having leeches. Do these leeches suck human blood? Are they harmful to humans in any way? I love the outdoors and swimming, but too many encounters with creepy leech-like things are making me leery about the safety of it. (Kim B.)

Answer: Without pictures, it’s tough to say, but it sounds like you encountered two different invertebrates. According to Department of Fish and Game associate fish pathologist Garry Kelley, the organism at Clear Creek was likely a free-living caddisfly larvae (Genus Rhyacophila), commonly known as a rock worm. This type of caddisfly crawls around rock bottoms in search of food and is commonly eaten by trout. Caddisflies are not at all harmful to humans.

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use a camera on my bow to film my hunts?

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 have heard it is illegal in California to use a camera (such as the Roscoby Riser camera) that mounts onto your bow to film your hunts. Is this true? If so, why? (Shane S.)

Answer: Mounting a camera (with no spotlight) onto your bow is legal. It would only be a problem if it was an electronic device with lights to assist in the taking of game (California Fish and Game Code, section 2005).

Q: We want to go abalone diving and scuba diving on the same day. I know we have to free dive for abalone, but we also want to scuba dive on the same trip. We live away from the coast but can only do a one-day trip, so which one should we do first? How can we do this without getting in trouble with a game warden who might think that we used the scuba for the abalone? (Matthew P.)

New Zealanders go rabbit hunting for the 'Great Easter Bunny Hunt'

While many may spend Sunday hunting the more traditional Easter egg, some New Zealanders will have finished up a hunt for the animal that supposedly delivers them.

The "Great Easter Bunny Hunt" is an annual rabbit hunting event taking place in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island.

Forty-seven teams are participating in this year's hunt, held as a way of decreasing the non-native rabbit population.

"Each team has 12 shooters, so that means we've got 564 hunters, plus their entourage -- the 'picker-uppers', the cooks, the supporters -- heading out on to farms throughout Central Otago to do battle with the rabbits," event organizer Dave Ramsay told the Otago Daily Times.

The teams shoot throughout the night and have to return by noon Saturday to have their haul counted. With a total prize purse of $3,500 ($2,800 U.S.), most hunters aren't in it for the money but rather the trophy awarded to the team that shoots the greatest number of rabbits, Ramsay said.

Last year, hunters brought in more than 20,000 of the mammals.

"There's no shortage of rabbits," Ramsay added. "There's been plenty of food for them and they have been breeding like ... well, like rabbits. "

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Cottontail rabbit in the snow. Credit: Scott Root / Utah Division of Wildlife Resources