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PROTECT HUNTING
Our hunting tradition and wildlife habitat is under serious threat. Care about the future of our heritage?
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Check out the COHA
Field Wire.
Subscribe to our Field Wire email newsletter and receive immediate updates on issues critical to you and join the COHA Action Team. |
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| "Our Association believes that it is no longer enough to simply conserve and improve habitat, we must also get involved with the 'Decision Makers' that are determining the use of this valuable, renewable resource." |
Andy Wood,
President of the California Deer Association |
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Fish and Wildlife
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In June, the California Fish and Wildlife "Strategic Vision" Executive Committee met for the first time to begin the implementation of AB 2376 (Huffman). The intent of the legislation was to establish a long-term goal to improve and enhance the Department of Fish and Game’s capacity and effectiveness in fulfilling its public trust responsibilities for the protection and management of the state’s fish and wildlife, for their ecological values, and for the benefit of the people of the state.
Among other things, the bill, which was passed in 2010, requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to convene an executive committee made up of the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the Director of Fish and Game, the President of the Fish and Game Commission, the Chair of the State Energy Resources Conservation Development Commission, a representative of the University of California, a representative from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service; and a representative from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
During the 2010 Legislative Session, COHA successfully sought amendments that require the committee to consider recreational and commercial harvest of fish and wildlife and to establish a Stakeholder Advisory Group to ensure that hunters and anglers have a seat at the table for these important discussions.
The measure also called for the executive committee to appoint a Blue Ribbon Citizen Commission (BRCC) charged with assisting the executive committee, and working with the Stakeholder Advisory Group, to develop the Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision. Members of the BRCC were announced in June.
The members of the Blue Ribbon Citizen Commission are:
Dennis Hollingsworth, member, Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, former legislator, and past Chair of the California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus.
Pedro Nava, former Assemblymember, 35th District
Mary Salas, former Assemblymember, 79th District
Richard Frank, director of the California Environmental Law and Policy at UC Davis
Steven Hearst, vice president of Hearst Corporation’s Western Properties
Anne Sheehan, director of corporate governance at CalSTRS
The application period for those who were interested in sitting on the Stakeholder Advisory Group closed in early July. Final make-up of the Stakeholder Advisory Group will be announced later this summer. COHA has applied for a seat on this important body.
The "Vision" process will continue with their second meeting on July 21, 2011. COHA President, Bill Gaines, has been asked by "Vision" staff to sit on a panel at that meeting to discuss the importance of considering the needs of hunters and anglers when outlining the future of the State's fish and wildlife management. |
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Blue Ribbon Citizen Commission to Hold Public Meeting |
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New DFG Director Named
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Governor Jerry Brown has appointed Chuck Bonham of Trout Unlimited (TU) as the new Director of the Department of Fish and Game. Bonham replaces the current Director and Schwarzenegger-appointee, John McCamman, who had served since 2007. Mr. Bonham has an impressive history of working water, land and fish restoration efforts in California and was the winner of the 2009 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. The position requires Senate confirmation. Mr. Bonham will assume the Director's position on September 6th.
"COHA congratulates Mr. Bonham on his appointment and looks forward to working with him over the coming few years," stated Bill Gaines, COHA President. "COHA will schedule to meet with him in the very near future to discuss how we can work closely together on issues of mutual concern."
For a copy of the Governor's announcement, please go to the Govenor's website |
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DFG Private Land Hunting Program Receives Significant Federal Grant
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DFG's Private Lands Hunting Program Receives Significant Federal Grant California's SHARE Program, which provides public hunting and other wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities on private land through incentives to private landowners, will benefit greatly from a recent federal grant secured by the Department of Fish and Game. The grant funding will generate $500,000 for the Program each year for the next two years. California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA), which has helped DFG to administer many of the existing SHARE hunts, was pleased to support the initial grant application
With the addition of the federal funds, many new hunting opportunities should be made available to the public over the next several years, particularly game bird and big game hunting opportunities.
To view the press release, go to:
For more information on the SHARE Program, visit |
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Forest System Land Management Planning Proposed Rules
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The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) provided comment on the recently released National Forest System Land Management Planning Proposed Rules which will ultimately serve as the basis for long term planning on all U.S. Forest Service lands. Among other things, COHA's comments pointed out the draft Rule's lack of emphasis on recreational access, including hunting, and the document's obvious drift from the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 and National Forest Management Act of 1976.
Full consensus has yet to be reached on a new planning rule, which has been in the works in various forms since the late 1990's.
The public input process on the current “proposed” management plan is expected to take several more months. In the meantime, COHA will continue to closely monitor this rule-making process to ensure reasonable and appropriate recreational use of the vast public U.S. Forest Service lands is protected and promoted.
To view COHA's comment letter, click below. |
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COHA USFS Letter |
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COHA Works with DFG to Enhance Hunting Opportunities
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Waterfowl hunters utilizing the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (WA) in Butte County, which includes Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough and Llano Seco WAs this past season may have noticed a few changes to the hunt program.
In response to increasing demand for high quality hunting opportunities and to reduce hunter conflict in the field, COHA staff, members of CWA’s Unattached Hunters Committee and other local hunters worked with Department of Fish and Game to implement assigned ponds in select areas of Howard Slough WA. A party of up to three hunters total is permitted in each assigned pond. In addition, up to three adult hunters are now allowed in the blinds at Little Dry Creek WA.
Reservations applications were also modified for both Howard Slough and Little Dry Creek WAs to allow for at least three hunters per card.
These and other changes will be evaluated by DFG to determine whether additional modifications to the hunt program are warranted. |
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Public Hunt Programs - Sacramento Valley National Wildlife Refuges/State Wildlife Areas and Don Edwards NWR
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COHA, in coordination with California Waterfowl’s Unattached Hunters Committee (UHC), will again be attending and providing hunt program recommendation at the Sacramento NWR Complex hunt program meeting later this month. Issues of concern for COHA include maintaining enough vegetative cover and food in the hunt areas, assuring that flooded out refuges are opened back up as soon as possible, providing an equitable distribution of preferred hunting types (e.g. assigned ponds, free roam, blinds), and lowering water levels in certain ponds.
COHA has also been meeting regularly with DFG staff on ways to enhance hunting opportunities on Region 2 Type A Wildlife Areas (WA). Last year, we helped make several changes at both Howard Slough and Little Dry Creek WAs to both increase hunter opportunity and ensure more high quality hunting opportunities, such as the creation of new assigned ponds and allowing up to three people per blind/pond; these changes will be evaluated this year to determine whether additional modifications are warranted.
COHA’s continuing goal in working with both the USFWS and DFG on their hunt programs is to avoid any new, unreasonable restrictions on hunters, and to ensure an appropriate balance of free roam, assigned pond and blind hunting opportunity - both in terms of quality and quantity.
COHA also recently attended a public meeting and then submitted written comments on the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan Alternatives for the Don Edwards NWR in San Francisco Bay. Our comments focused on the need for more huntable acreage on he Refuge, additional boat launches, fewer restrictions on hunting tidal areas and reducing conflicts with Bay Trail users, amongst others. The final CCP should be available within one year. |
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