Fish and Game Q&A: How does managed hunting benefit deer herds?

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

Question: I am quite concerned about the health of our deer herds and would like to know how proper management of deer hunting will contribute to long-term protection of the herds. I know many people still believe hunting will decimate the herds, but I’ve been told that regulated hunting could also help control the population. What is your take on this?  (Bill B., Susanville)

Answer: Managed hunting of deer is designed to smooth out the highly dynamic population cycles of deer. They are a classic “boom or bust” species in that when habitat conditions are good, deer populations can rise very quickly, but when they are bad (or over-utilized by too many deer), they can crash just as quickly. These crashes usually occur through starvation and/or disease issues.  Managing the population through regulated sport hunting can minimize these types of events.

Another way that managed hunting contributes to herd protection is through the payment of fees for tags and licenses. According to Deer Program Manager Craig Stowers, these funds are used for collection of population, habitat use and movement data, information to monitor and research disease issues, and enforcement of the laws and regulations that are the basis of managed sport hunting. Tag monies are used for habitat projects to benefit deer herds in the state as well.

Does color matter when buying outdoor gear?

Does color -- specifically pink -- affect decisions on which equipment hunters and anglers of both genders  purchase?

A survey conducted by Southwick Associates on AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com shows that while color has some importance, quality is key.

Anglers of both sexes preferred black, with 52% of men and 38% of women selecting this color. Sixteen percent of women preferred pink, and 30% overall do not factor color into their purchasing decision. The lowest preferences were reflected in brighter colors such as orange and yellow.

Hunters and target shooters said that the most popular color scheme was camouflage, with 62% of males and 60% of females chiming in with this preference. Other popular colors included black, green and brown, with pink getting 15.4% of women's votes. Again, the lowest preference for both genders included brighter colors -- white, yellow and multicolored. Thirty percent overall did not factor in color when buying firearms and related equipment.

Asked if offering pink outdoor gear is a condescending way to market to women (outside of that offered to promote breast cancer awareness), half the women who took the angler survey believe it is, while 46% of men thought so. Of hunters, 47% of surveyed women find it condescending while 42% of men believe that.

NRA co-sponsors legislation to repeal AB 962

Hunters and target shooters may want to take note: The National Rife Assn. is backing legislation that, if approved, will repeal AB 962, which was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week and will put restrictions on the purchase of certain ammunition beginning Feb. 1, 2011.

Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills) has agreed to amend his bill AB 373 so that it will repeal AB 962. The newly amended bill will be heard in the Legislature in January.

The NRA and California Rifle and Pistol Assn. are now co-sponsoring the revised AB 373, and are also circulating a letter of support for the bill.

"The laundry list of new requirements in Assembly Bill 962 treats law abiding citizens like criminals. The only people this bill will affect are those already following the law," Hagman says on his website. "My bill will ensure that California's responsible gun owners are not punished by this excessive regulation from Sacramento."

AB 962 requires individuals buying handgun ammunition to be fingerprinted and registered at the time of sale and mandates that dealers keep these records and make them available for inspection by the California Department of Justice. Retailers would also have to store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers and all mail order and Internet sales of handgun ammunition and reloading components would be banned.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Handgun ammunition of various calibers. Credit: Judi Bottoni / Associated Press

Related: Sportsmen's and gun groups up in arms over passage of AB 962

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Sportsmen's and gun groups up in arms over passage of AB 962

*Updated to reflect that this law goes into effect on Feb 1, 2011 and not July, 2010

Sportsmen's and pro-gun groups are up in arms over a recent bill signed by Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that puts restrictions on the purchase of certain ammunition beginning Feb. 1, 2011.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation and the California Assn. of Firearms Retailers are highly critical of the decision to sign into law AB 962, which will require firearms dealers and ammunition vendors to keep a registry of all buyers of handgun ammo. The bill also bans all mail order and Internet sales of such ammunition and reloading components.

"The governor vetoed a piece of firearms legislation, SB 41, far less burdensome to retailers than AB 962, stating it was too cumbersome," Lawrence Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general council, said in a news release. (SB 41 would have required additional paperwork and documentation on the date of delivery of all firearms to a buyer.)

NSSF has estimated that AB 962 will cost the state almost $3 million in lost sales tax, $629,000 in increased operating costs for state agencies and more than $35 million in lost retail sales annually.

"This legislation will drive many small, independent retailers already struggling in a poor economy out of business or force them to flee California," said CAFR President Marc Halcon.

"Those retailers who can afford to stay will be forced to substantially raise prices to law-abiding consumers who, under AB 962, will now be fingerprinted like common criminals simply for exercising their Second Amendment rights," continued Halcon. "It is silly, at best, to think criminals will stand in line to be fingerprinted to buy ammunition from licensed retailers."

"Gov. Schwarzenegger has just created an underground black market for ammunition," Halcon added.

Ammo sales, already at an increased level from gun enthusiasts, including hunters and target shooters fearing stricter gun laws, will likely now become more robust in the coming months.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A Smith & Wesson .357 is shown with various caliber handgun ammunition. Credit: Judi Bottoni / Associated Press

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Popular San Diego shooting range closed due to safety concerns

A popular outdoor shooting area in eastern San Diego County has been closed indefinitely because of concerns about local Border Patrol agents safety.

The Bureau of Land Management has shut down the 210-acre Airport Mesa/Carrizo Creek range to the public effective immediately at the request of the U.S. Border Patrol.

The area, popular for recreational shooting and target practice, is located in an expanse that has seen increased border security activities of late. The U.S. Border Patrol officially requested the closure out of concern that the range is putting agents "in the line of fire or in danger of ricochet bullets," according to the request.

"The safety of federal officers in performance of their duties is important to everyone," said Vicki Wood, El Centro field manager for the BLM. "The closure of this popular recreational shooting [area] is unfortunate, but the closure is necessary to protect the agents who are patrolling the borders."

Those violating the closure order risk penalties including fines and prison sentences.

"Displaced users will want to know where they might practice their sport," added Wood. "The nearest BLM areas are in Imperial County and we recognize users will want us to explore closer areas, if available. We welcome their input."

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Spent shells and casings litter the ground at an outdoor shooting range similar to the Airport Mesa/Carrizo Creek range. Credit: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times

National Police Shooting Championships begin today

More than 400 law enforcement officers will be converging on Albuquerque for the 47th annual National Police Shooting Championships.

The National Rifle Assn.-hosted event takes place today through Thursday and draws officers from federal, state, municipal and private agencies as well as foreign countries.

Using real law enforcement shooting skills, competitors start with their weapons holstered and will fire timed matches with both revolvers and semiautomatic pistols from varying positions and distances.

The combined scores from the matches will be used to crown a national champion.

Competing this year will be defending champion Robert Vadasz, a U.S. Border Patrol senior agent, as well as nine-time tournament champion Capt. Philip Hemphill of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

"The National Police Shooting Championship is a gathering of the finest law enforcement shooters from around the world," NRA President Ron Schmeits said in a news release. "There is no better place for these everyday heroes to test their skills than right here in New Mexico."

-- Kelly Burgess

Image courtesy of NPSC/NRA

Firearm safety classes (and ammo sale) on tap this month at Raahague's

Hunters and gun enthusiasts might note that National Rifle Assn.-certified instructors from Doc Hollyday will conduct firearm safety classes Saturday and Sept. 19 at Raahauge's hunting and shooting range in Corona.

All aspects of handling weapons responsibly will be addressed.

But perhaps more appealing to many are the bold red letters at the bottom of the Raahauge's announcement: "THE RANGE HAS ALL KINDS OF AMMO FOR SALE!"

That's because sales of ammunition, along with some types of weapons, has been so brisk that it has fallen in short supply as more citizens appear to be concerned that tougher gun and ammo laws will be imposed by the Barack Obama administration. 

Class prices are as follows: Shotgun class, $100, includes shotgun rental and ammo; rifle class, $130, includes rifle rental but not ammo; pistol class, $145, includes pistol rental and a Department of Justice handgun safety certificate, but not ammo.

Raahauge's can be reached at (951) 735-7981

-- Pete Thomas

Related:

Gun, ammunition sales remain robust across the U.S.

Fear of gun limits fuels a burst of demand for bullets

Photo: New 5.56mm cartridges are seen at Stone Hart manufacturing in Miami in April. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Gun, ammunition sales remain robust across the U.S.

If we weren't a well-armed society before, we're fast becoming one as hunters, target shooters and regular Joes continue to purchase firearms at a robust pace.

Data released by the FBI's National Instant Background Check System reported 1,225,980 checks in April, marking it the sixth consecutive month of increases and a 30.3% increase compared with last April. The checks are required for all people buying weapons from licensed retailers.

In related news, forearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $98.1 million in federal excise taxes in the fourth calendar quarter of 2008. (These taxes are a major source of wildlife conservation funding.)

I've noticed this trend twice recently after walking into the Turner's Outdoorsman store near my house. The fishing department was virtually empty while the hunting department bustled with people interested in buying firearms.

Reasons for the trend? It began when it became evident Barack Obama would win the presidential election, because of concerns he'd enact stricter gun-control measures. It was fueled by Mexico's drug war as politicians began to demand stricter measures to prevent the flow of weapons into Mexico. Uncertainty caused by the recession is also believed to be a factor.

Are we a safer society because of this? Probably not, but those with new weapons might feel more at ease.

— Pete Thomas

Photo: Newly manufactured 5.56mm cartridges are seen at Stone Hart manufacturing in Miami in April. Ammunition suppliers nationwide are reporting a shortage due in part to a sharp rise in gun sales. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images